Is your coffee really coffee?
A few popular hot drink brands like Ricoffy, Koffiehuis and Frisco, can no longer be considered as coffee under the new draft regulation relating to coffee, chicory and related products. Find out why here.
According to a report by Business Insider, your coffee might not really be coffee at all.
Coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages and many of us depend on it to kick start our day.
Coffee can improve energy levels, help burn fat and has essential nutrients. However, new draft regulations relating to coffee, chicory and related products by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has found that many of the popular coffee brands sold in South Africa do not contain the necessary ingredients in order to qualify them to be called 100% coffee.
According to the draft regulation:
- Instant coffee must have at least 2.25% caffeine.
- Instant decaffeinated coffee may contain up to 0.3% caffeine.
- “Mixed coffee" or "coffee mixture", must be at least 75% coffee.
- Neither ground coffee nor instant coffee may contain any flavouring or colouring.
- Coffee essence, or liquid coffee extract, can only contain glycerol or sugar. Any other ingredient is not allowed.
Based on those requirements, popular coffee brands such as Koffiehuis and Frisco do not qualify to be called 100% coffee because they contain glucose. Ricoffy and Frisco do not qualify as coffee, nor as a coffee mixture because both contain only 25% coffee.
Remember, even if you buy a good coffee brand, the recommended daily amount for consumption of coffee should not be more than three teaspoons.
READ: People love coffee and beer for the buzz, not the taste: study
Image courtesy of iStock/ ValentynVolkov