Coffee is loaded with several potential nutrients like antioxidants, caffeine, and essential nutrients like B vitamins, and has a positive effect on your mental alertness. The caffeine in coffee acts as a stimulant, thereby helping in the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. However, adulterated coffee has added chicory powder, which enhances the texture and experience of coffee. What happens when you drink fake coffee? According to experts, adding chicory is not safe for health, especially for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Also, if you are allergic to chicory, you must completely avoid drinking it as chicory stimulates the production of bile and can be problematic for people with gallstones. Chicory is a dandelion-like blooming plant with a stiff, hairy stem and light purple flowers. These flowers, when converted into powder, taste exactly like regular coffee, to be precise, regular coffee. This has an earthy and nutty flavour. Adulterated coffee, which may also have either low-grade beans or harmful ingredients like mold, heavy metals, or chemical preservatives, along with tamarind or date seed powders, can cause havoc with your gastrointestinal system - causing diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, nausea, and even severe stomach-ache. It can also lead to food poisoning, acidity, or bloating, along with potential damage to the kidneys. According to doctors, many people also suffer from headaches, dizziness, or more severe issues over time. How to do a coffee adulteration test at home? It is easy to find out if your coffee powder is safe or fake through a simple test that you can do at home. For doing that, you need:

• Take a glass of water
• Add a teaspoon of coffee powder to the glass
• The unadulterated coffee will float on the surface and will gradually dissolve
• The adulterated coffee will float on the surface of the water with relatively faster dissolution

Also, pure ground has a consistent brown tone, and the adulterated version may have uneven colour or lighter flecks, which come from grains or fillers. You can also do an aroma check where the authentic coffee powder smells earthy, nutty, or floral, and is never burnt, sour, or chemical-like. Pure coffee forms a golden crema layer, while an impure one leaves residue or foam inconsistently. Experts also advise checking labels carefully and being aware of signs of counterfeit products like unusual texture, colour, or smell. Choosing reputable brands, sealed packaging, and certified products can help minimize risk. Awareness and vigilance are key to ensuring that the coffee you consume is safe and authentic.