Do Coffee Beans Contain Cockroaches?

If you’ve ever wondered if coffee beans contain cockroaches, you’re not alone. The answer is “it depends.” The FDA allows a certain amount of insect filth in coffee. Approximately ten percent of green coffee beans contain roaches. That’s about four to six percent of your daily serving. So, you don’t have to worry that every tin of coffee you buy is full of cockroaches, but it’s worth being cautious.

The University of Montana biology professor Doug Emlen revealed the truth in 2009, talking about his research on dung beetles. He also said that he once drove across the country with his professor before we had Starbucks on every corner. While his study may have been based on a small sample, his findings are likely based on a lot of samples.

In addition to cockroaches, coffee can contain mold, fungi, and other bugs. The Food and Drug Administration has a maximum level for acceptable bugs in food, but it’s impossible to completely eliminate them. The problem is that coffee manufacturers find it difficult to remove all of these bugs, so they’re mixed in with the ground beans.

Many people worry that cockroaches are in coffee, but they don’t have to be present in coffee to make it unpalatable for people. In fact, many cultures eat bugs as part of their daily diet. The insects are considered a great source of protein, and they’re not harmful in small amounts.