Exploring Momordica Charantia: A Natural Coffee Alternative
Presented to
The Senior High School Faculty
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Subject
PRACTICAL RESEARCH 2
(Quantitative Research)
Cabrido, Lance M.
Cimene, Charley Kristoffer C.
Dumale, Mariel Lyka J.
Jovenez, John Benedict P.
Negapatan, Cliff Jr. S.
Robles, Junrick Karl
Sagarino, Arianne Faith V.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS
SEPTEMEBER 2023
CHAPTER Ⅰ
Introduction
People drink coffee to relieve mental and physical fatigue and to increase mental alertness. Coffee comes
from a genus of plants known as Coffea. The plant produces cherries as a fruit, and inside those cherries are the
beans. A cherry must mature and ripen for its bean to be collected; this process takes about a year. Both
caffeine and chlorogenic acid are present in here. The heart, muscles, and central nervous system are all
stimulated by caffeine in coffee. Chlorogenic acid may have an impact on blood vessels, the body's ability to
regulate blood sugar, and metabolism. Arabica and Robusta are the two commonly used varieties of coffee
beans. The Arabica plant is a big bush with oval, dark-green leaves. It has four sets of chromosomes instead of
two, making it genetically distinct from other coffee species. The fruits are oval, mature in 7-9 months, and
typically contain two flat seeds; if only one bean grows, the fruit is referred to as a pea berry. Due to their
superior quality, Arabica beans account for over two thirds of all coffee produced worldwide, which makes it
the most popular coffee bean. Contrarily, because Robusta are more resilient and simpler to grow, they are less
expensive to purchase. Robusta coffee is rougher and less appealing because it is stronger, has more bitterness,
and contains a lot more caffeine.
Momordica charantia, also known as bitter gourd, is vegetable with green skin, white to translucent
flesh, and a flavor that lives up to its name. It is a plant cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas that belongs
to the Cucurbitaceae family. This vegetable originally emerged as a dry season staple diet of the Kung hunter-
gatherers in Africa and eventually grew throughout Asia. It is called karela in India, nigauri in Japan, goya in
Okinawa, ampalaya in the Philippines, and ku-gua throughout China. Polyphenols are very abundant in bitter
gourd. It is well recognized that these substances can reduce inflammatory responses in the body. The more of
them there are, the greater the anti-inflammatory effects could be.
Studies have shown that bitter gourd has a component that resembles insulin and is frequently referred to
as plant insulin. This ingredient helps lower blood and urine glucose levels. It has also been demonstrated to
have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-dementia, anti-cholesterol, and anti-cancer
properties. More than 60 phytomedicines, most of which are found in fruits and seeds, are present in all plant
parts and are effective against more than 30 medical conditions. Most of the research on the effectiveness of
bitter gourd has focused on proving its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-ulcer properties, as well as its
effects on diabetes, wounds, diabetic wounds, malignancies, ulcers, burns, and menopause. Thus, we would like
to furthermore research how effective it would be as a substitute on arabica coffee beans.
The process of making coffee begins with the immediate contact of roasted beans with hot water, which
extracts the soluble components while partially emulsifying the oils. Coffee made from Arabica beans has a
typical sweet, aromatic flavor that can be enjoyed on its own or combined with various foods.
Statement Of the Problem
This study aims to…
Specifically, it will answer the following questions:
1. Does Ampalaya Seeds (Momordica Charantia) have more health benefits than coffee beans?
2. How will the aromas of Ampalaya Seeds (Momordica Charantia) and Lavazza coffee beans differ
from one another?
Significance of the Study
This research will help consumers to save money by not buying generic coffee that is sold in the market.
This would greatly help the unfortunate families who depend on coffee to aid their hunger. It is also beneficial
to consumers to let them make their own coffee at home using Ampalaya seeds and save money. College
students who often drink coffee and office workers such as call center agents, nurses, businessmen, and other
workers would also benefit from this study. Often, they stay up all night and drink coffee to block their sleep-
promoting receptors. With our study, they could make their own coffee at home without spending a lot of
money.
Definition of Terms
Momordica Charantia – scientific name for Ampalaya or bitter gourd. It is a widely grown and consumed
vegetable in Asia, East Africa, India, and South America.
Arabica Beans - Arabica beans are often considered superior in taste. Arabica tends to have a smoother,
sweeter taste, with flavor notes of chocolate and sugar. They often also have hints of fruit or berries.
