Green Coffea Arabica Research Articles

케냐 니에리 그린빈(Green Coffea Arabica beans in Kenya Nyeri)의 피부노화에 관한 기초자료 연구

Physiological activity of Green Coffea Arabica beans (Nieri, Kenya) hot water and 70% ethanol extract before (GBKW, GBKE) and after 25 kGy (GBKW-r, GBKE-r) irradiation was verified to confirm the possibility as a natural material. As a results of measuring the total polyphenol content, GBKW and GBKE extract confirmed the content of 297.05 ± 0.99 mg/100 g and 671.34 ± 0.75 mg/100 g. And GBKW-r and GBKE-r extract confirmed the content of 423.47 ± 0.42 mg/100 g and 415.33 ± 0.79 mg/100 g. As a result of measuring the electron donating activity, it was confirmed that at a concentration of 500 μg/ml, GBKW and GBKE were 85.73% and 89.39%, GBKW-r and GBKE-r showed 48.31% and 68.42%. In addition, the results of ABTS radical scavenging activity, it was confirmed that at a concentration of 500 μg/ml, GBKW and GBKE were 52.66% and 67%, GBKW-r and GBKE-r showed 99.17% and 99.96%, respectively. So, all extracts GBKW, GBKE, GBKW-r and GBKE-r were found to have antioxidant activity. Subsequently, as a result of measuring cell viability through MTT assay using RAW 264.7, which is a macrophage, GBKW-r and GBKE-r showed a cell viability more than 95% at a concentration of 10 μg/ml. Afterwards, NO production inhibitory activity was conducted at a concentration of 10 μg/ml or less. As a result, it was confirmed that GBKW-r and GBKE-r showed anti-inflammatory effects of 10.99% and 35.66%, respectively, at a concentration of 10 μg/ml. Therefore, irradiatied Green Coffea Arabica Beans (in Kenya Nyeri) hot water and 70% ethanol extract have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and it is considered that there is a possibility of application as a natural material.

MOISTURE CONTENT AND ITS POSSIBLE EFFECT ON TEXTURAL PROPERTIES AND COLOR OF GREEN COFFEA ARABICA

Consumption of coffee is still high, and consumers demand high-quality coffee. Quality of coffee is a complex term. Moisture content (mc), water activity (aw), textural features, and the color of green coffee are one of the many attributes of the quality. In the research, we focused on these parameters and analyzed 21 samples of green Coffea arabica from different locations in Central America. Our results proved that moisture content did not exceed 14% in any samples. However, some samples had slightly lower values of moisture content. Water activity ranged from 0.391 to 0.582. Pearson's correlation was fairly positive at 0.70 between mc and aw. Regarding textural analysis, we focused on hardness and fracturability. In this case, we observed a low negative correlation between water activity and fracturability. This might suggest that the higher the aw (to a certain point), the lower the fracturability. The color parameter shows no significant difference, which might be caused due to the same post-harvest processing (wet processing), which is crucial for obtaining relatively same color quality despite different harvesting locations. Since coffee is a hygroscopic matrix, the results might have great use regarding storage and minimalizing textural changes and color concerning further roasting and grinding.

IMPACT OF THE HARVESTING YEAR ON THE POSSIBLE AUTHENTICATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL ORIGIN OF GREEN COFFEA ARABICA USING PROFILE OF VOLATILES

Authentication of coffee is highly required. This study aimed to understand the relative abundance of volatiles of green coffee harvested during two years. Using volatiles (GC-MS) and Linear Discriminant Analysis, we focused on the geographical origin identification. We analyzed samples of green Coffea arabica from Africa, Central America, and South America, harvested in 2018 and the same samples harvested in 2019. A total of 215 different volatiles were detected. Based on their chemical structure and the functional chemical group, they were divided into categories: furan derivates, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, organic acids, hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic hydrocarbons), terpenoids, heterocyclic compounds, nitriles, amines. Green Arabica contained mostly organic acids and esters, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, and alcohols. We observed significant differences in aromatic hydrocarbons and furan derivates by comparing the volatiles profiles of African coffee beans collected in 2018 and 2019. The profile of Central American samples (both years) was homogenous; thus, no significant differences were observed. The aroma profile of South American coffees had significant differences in aromatic hydrocarbons and alkanes (p-value < 0.05). Rao’s approximation and Bartlett’s test proved a significant difference between 3 continents by applying LDA. More than 94% of the variability between Africa, Central, and South America coffees harvested in 2018 was explained by organic acids and esters, alkenes, aldehydes, and ketones. By adding samples from 2019, LDA calculations reduced input parameters to aldehydes and ketones, organic acids and esters, alkenes, terpenoids, and aldehydes. These appear to be useful for geographical authentication regardless of the year of harvesting.

2,4,6-Trichloroanisole Off-Flavor Screening in Green Coffea arabica by a Novel Vocus NO+ CI-MS Method: A Study on Green Coffee from Different Geographical Origins.

The Rio defect is a coffee off-flavor associated to unpleasant medicinal, phenolic, and iodine-like notes. 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA) is the main marker of this alteration. A new approach for TCA detection in green coffee beans was evaluated using chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and employing a Vocus ion source and ion-molecule reactor (IMR). The sample set consisted of 22 green Coffea arabica from different geographical origins, four of which presented the Rio defect according to an expert cup-tasting panel. Vocus CI-MS was able to perform TCA detection in 3 s, with a sensitivity comparable to that of a sensory panel and showed remarkably good correlation (R2 ≥ 0.9997) with SPME–GC–MS measurements carried out on coffee headspace and hydro-alcoholic extracts. The results demonstrate how the introduction of new quick and sensitive analytical tools could help provide a more comprehensive picture of the Rio coffee off-flavor.

Comprehensive Composition of Flavor Precursors in Kopi Luwak and Jacu Exotic Green Bioprocessed Coffees

Exotic coffees may be defined as extravagant and unique coffees, primarily due to their production mode, including unusual bioprocessing or fermentation conditions associated with superior sensorial characteristics. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of bioprocessing and of growing conditions on flavor precursors of Jacu and Kopi Luwak exotic green coffees, respectively. Moreover, this is the first study to perform a detailed chemical analysis of these exotic coffees. Thirteen green Coffea arabica bean samples were obtained, five from Espírito Santo state, Brazil, and eight Kopi Luwak from different regions of Indonesia. Samples were analyzed regarding their proximate composition, chlorogenic acids (CGA), sucrose, alkaloids, triacylglycerols (TAG), diacylglycerols, free fatty acids, sterols, diterpenes and tocopherols. Scanning electron micrography confirmed bioprocessing of Jacu and Kopi Luwak coffee samples. Bioprocessing by the Jacu bird caused reductions of 69 and 28% in caffeine and CGA contents, respectively. The TAG profile of Jacu coffee was modified. TAG containing two saturated fatty acids were preferably hydrolyzed in detriment to those containing two unsaturated fatty acids. Other coffee components were not affected by the bird's digestion of the beans. Kopi Luwak coffee samples had a chemical composition in accordance with reported ranges for non-bioprocessed green C. arabica samples, except for caffeine (0.48 g/100 g) and CGA (5.09 g/100 g), which were found in low amounts. Crop year rather than location or post-harvest processing discriminated Kopi Luwak coffee samples, suggesting that weather conditions would be the most crucial aspect for their chemical composition, especially in terms of total lipids, ashes, total CGA, sucrose and proteins.

Volatiles as chemical markers suitable for identification of the geographical origin of green Coffea arabica L

Traceability of geographical origin is a challenging matter for producers and consumers. This research focuses on identifying green Coffea arabica from Africa, South and Central America using volatiles and aqueous-soluble chemical compounds for the first time. Using Linear Discriminant Analysis, we created two models. The first one focused on aqueous soluble compounds and their properties (pH, total antioxidant capacity, total polyphenolic content, caffeine, and chlorogenic acids) showed 91.30% accuracy of identification and, during cross-validation, predicted 82.61% correct identification. The 83.36% of the variability was explained with caffeine and TAC. The second focused on volatiles correctly identifying 100% of testing samples and predicted 86.96% accuracy in cross-validation. 91.17% of the variability between African, South, and Central American coffees was explained based on ketones, aldehydes, organic acids and esters, nitriles, alcohols, and alkenes, while ketones appeared as the strongest parameter among volatiles.

Identification of new glycosidic terpenols and norisoprenoids (aroma precursors) in C. arabica L. green coffee by using a high-resolution mass spectrometry database developed in grape metabolomics

Grape aroma precursors have been extensively studied and many glycosidically-bound terpenols and C13-norisoprenoids were identified. Instead, these compounds were scarcely investigated in green Coffea arabica where just few glycosidic compounds were identified so far. By resorting to knowledge of glycoside aroma precursors in grape and the possibility to identify their structures using a high-resolution mass spectrometry database constructed for grape metabolomics, targeted investigation of glycoside precursors in green C. arabica from different geographical origins, was performed. High linalool hexose-pentose was found in all the investigated samples and hexosyl-pentoside derivatives of geraniol, linalooloxide and another linalool isomer, were identified. Moreover, two putative norisoprenoid glycosides were characterized. β-Damascenone was detected in the volatile fraction of the examined C. arabica coffees only after acid addition, however no signals of β-damascenone glycosides, were found. Findings suggests that this important aroma compound could form by hydrolysis and dehydration of a putative 3-hydroxy-β-damascone glycoside precursor identified for the first time in coffee. Aglycones released during the roasting process contribute to enrich the coffee aroma with their positive sensory notes and the identification of these glycosides can contribute to disclose the coffee biology including biochemical, physiological and genetic aspects.

A Comparative Study on Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Green Coffea arabica Beans by Country of Origin

In this study, the extracts of green Coffea arabica bean by country of origin were tested as a potential source for natural ingredients in cosmetic products. Antioxidative activities were measured by total polyphenol, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), and 2,2 -azino-bis (3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assay. Anti-inflammatory activities were checked by nitric oxide (NO) assay. The total polyphenol content was found to be higher in ethanol extract than in water extracts, and in particular Ethiopia ethanol extracts had 852.39 mg/100 g, making them the highest in content. The antioxidant measurement was measured with DPPH and ABTS, indicating that antioxidant strength increased dependent on the concentration of all extracts to be superior. The cell survival rate of the extracts of green Coffea arabica beans by country of origin was confirmed by MTT assay and was close to 100 ㎍/㎖ to 100%. Anti-inflammatory activity by NO assay showed lipopolysacchride (LPS)-induced NO was significantly inhibited following treatment with extract of green Coffea arabica beans by country of origin and decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. This study confirmed the efficacy of green Coffea arabica beans by country of origin through research related to antioxidants and anti-inflammatory, and confirmed its availability as a natural material for cosmetics.

16-O-Methylated diterpenes in green Coffea arabica: ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method optimization and validation.

Coffee diterpenes are the main constituents of the coffee oil unsaponifiable fraction. The three most important diterpenes are cafestol, kahweol, and 16-O-methylcafestol (16-OMC), and they are produced, except for cafestol, only by plants of the Coffea genus. Recently, in addition to these three major diterpenes, another 16-O-methylated diterpene (16-O-methylkahweol: 16-OMK) has been identified and quantified, for the first time, in Robusta coffee. For many years, 16-OMC has been considered present exclusively in Robusta, and so it has been reputed an excellent authenticity marker for the presence of Robusta in coffee products. For its quantification, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has proved very useful when compared with other methods. Quite recently, the detection of very low levels of the two 16-O-methylated diterpenes (16-OMD) 16-OMC and 16-OMK in roasted Arabica was reported. This finding makes the use of NMR methods in 16-OMD quantification in Arabica coffee particularly challenging in view of both the trace amounts of 16-OMD and the impossibility to discriminate between 16-OMC and 16-OMK. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) method, already used to detect 16-OMC and 16-OMK in Arabica roasted coffee, is then more suitable for quantitative analyses. Up to now however, no quantification of coffee 16-OMD via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) has been carried out; this largely stimulated the present study. For the first time, a simple procedure for the quantitative detection of 16-OMD in Arabica coffee has been developed, and as far as 16-OMC is concerned, fully validated in terms of specificity, linearity, concentration range, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), and repeatability following the criteria specified in the EU Commission Decision 2002/675/EC. This method proved to be very specific and sensitive. In order to avoid the chemical complexity generated by the roasting process, the method was optimized and validated on several green Arabica samples from different geographical origins.

Limited genotypic and geographic variability of 16-O-methylated diterpene content in Coffea arabica green beans

The acknowledged marker of Robusta coffee, 16-O-methylcafestol (16-OMC), can be quantified by NMR as a mixture with 16-O-methylkahweol (16-OMK), which accounts for approximately 10% of the mixture. In the present study, we detected and quantified 16-O-methylated diterpenes (16-OMD) in 248 samples of green Coffea arabica beans by NMR. We did not observe any differences between genotypes introgressed by chromosomal fragments of Robusta and non-introgressed genotypes. Environmental effects suggesting a possible protective role of 16-OMD for adaptation, as well as genotypic effects that support a high heritability of this trait were observed. Altogether, our data confirmed the presence of 16-OMD in green Arabica at a level approximately 1.5% that of a typical Robusta, endorsing the validity of 16-OMD as a marker for the presence of Robusta.

Quality and bioactive compounds of blends of Arabica and Robusta spray-dried coffee

The objective of this study was to develop both a possible process and a spray-dried coffee product with a balanced content of bioactive compounds. Spray-dried coffees were prepared by mixing different ratios of medium-roasted Coffea canephora (R) with green Coffea arabica (A) beans. Overall, quality characteristics of spray-dried coffees were not different. The dominant signals of 1D 1H NMR were identified as trigonelline, caffeine and chlorogenic and organic acids. Principal component analysis explained 81.8% of the total variance. Roasted Robusta spray-dried coffee was clearly distinguished from blended coffees. Forty-two volatile compounds were identified. An increase in green Arabica mixed with roasted Robusta in the blends resulted in an increase in 5-caffeoylquinic acid but a decrease in caffeine contents. Spray-dried coffee prepared from a A35:R65 showed greater total phenolic content and antioxidant activity due to a balance in bioactive compounds. In addition, its coffee brew obtained the highest overall liking score.

Green coffee seed residue: A sustainable source of antioxidant compounds

Oil extraction from green coffee seeds generates residual mass that is discarded by agribusiness and has not been previously studied. Bioactive secondary metabolites in coffee include antioxidant phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic acids. Coffee seeds also contain caffeine, a pharmaceutically important methylxanthine. Here, we report the chemical profile, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity of hydroethanolic extracts of green Coffea arabica L. seed residue. The extracts of the green seeds and the residue have similar chemical profiles, containing the phenolic compounds chlorogenic acid and caffeine. Five monoacyl and three diacyl esters of trans-cinnamic acids and quinic acid were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-quadruple time of flight mass spectrometry. The residue extract showed antioxidant potential in DPPH, ABTS, and pyranine assays and low cytotoxicity. Thus, coffee oil residue has great potential for use as a raw material in dietary supplements, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, or as a source of bioactive compounds.

Unsaponifiable matter from oil of green coffee beans: cosmetic properties and safety evaluation

Context: Unsaponifiable matter (UM), a fraction of green coffee oil (GCO) contains functional compounds responsible for desirable cosmetic properties such as UV-B absorption.Objectives: To evaluate oil content and sun protection factor (SPF) variability of the two most important species of coffee and, the toxic and cytotoxic effects, as well as cosmetic properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of UM obtained from green Coffea arabica seed oil.Materials and methods: The safety and potential cosmetic properties of UM extracted from green coffee oil (GCO) were evaluated by the brine shrimp viability and the MTT cytotoxicity assays. The SPF and antioxidant activity were evaluated using in vitro methods.Results: Relevant cytotoxicity was found against keratinocytes for concentrations ≥25 µg/mL and in the brine shrimp assay (LC50 24 µg/mL). Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities (IC50 1448 µg/mL) were low in UM but SPF was 10 times higher than in GCO.Conclusion: UM is a novel potential UV-B absorbent but its use as a cosmetic ingredient should be better considered due to the considerable cytotoxicity shown in the experimental conditions described.

Green Coffea arabica L. seed oil influences the stability and protective effects of topical formulations

Green Coffea arabica L. seed oil (GCO) has been used as an active ingredient in many skin care products, due to its properties as an emollient, improver of skin hydration and absorbent of UVB radiation. However, to obtain a stable, effective and pleasant formulation containing variable amounts of GCO it is necessary to know specific chemical characteristics of the combined ingredients. Thus, this study evaluated rheological behavior, presence of liquid crystals (LCs) and skin protective effects of GCO-containing formulations aiming to correlate these parameters with GCO concentrations by using a principal component analysis (PCA). Formulations containing GCO or not (0–15%) were submitted to physical stability assays by determinations of rheological behavior after 90 days storage, detection of LCs by polarized light microscopy and in vitro determination of the sun protection factor (SPF). In vivo protective effects in mice were evaluated with biophysical techniques and histological analysis. Data were correlated using PCA. Despite the low SPF values, GCO addition to formulations resulted in significant and proportional increases of these values. It is concluded that formulation stability and skin protective properties are influenced by GCO but desirable effects are only possible when GCO is present in high concentrations.

High-Throughput Metabolic Profiling of Diverse Green Coffea arabica Beans Identified Tryptophan as a Universal Discrimination Factor for Immature Beans

The maturity of green coffee beans is the most influential determinant of the quality and flavor of the resultant coffee beverage. However, the chemical compounds that can be used to discriminate the maturity of the beans remain uncharacterized. We herein analyzed four distinct stages of maturity (immature, semi-mature, mature and overripe) of nine different varieties of green Coffea arabica beans hand-harvested from a single experimental field in Hawaii. After developing a high-throughput experimental system for sample preparation and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) measurement, we applied metabolic profiling, integrated with chemometric techniques, to explore the relationship between the metabolome and maturity of the sample in a non-biased way. For the multivariate statistical analyses, a partial least square (PLS) regression model was successfully created, which allowed us to accurately predict the maturity of the beans based on the metabolomic information. As a result, tryptophan was identified to be the best contributor to the regression model; the relative MS intensity of tryptophan was higher in immature beans than in those after the semi-mature stages in all arabica varieties investigated, demonstrating a universal discrimination factor for diverse arabica beans. Therefore, typtophan, either alone or together with other metabolites, may be utilized for traders as an assessment standard when purchasing qualified trading green arabica bean products. Furthermore, our results suggest that the tryptophan metabolism may be tightly linked to the development of coffee cherries and/or beans.

Anti-inflammatory effect of aqueous extracts of roasted and green Coffea arabica L.

Green coffee contains a large quantity and variety of polyphenols and flavonoids. The roasting affects the composition of the polyphenols in coffee, due to the formation of compounds generated by Maillard reaction, which can have anti-inflammatory or antioxidant potential. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of aqueous extracts of green (AGCa) and roasted (ARCa) coffee beans were investigated in animal models and using a DPPH radical scavenging test. In the formalin test the extracts reduced licking activity only in the late phase. The inhibitory values of oedema at 3h post-carrageenan were 53% and 74% for 100 and 300mg/kg of the AGCa extract and 36% for ARCa (300mg/kg). Leukocyte recruitment into the peritoneal cavity was inhibited by the extracts. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were higher than the reference antioxidants, ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene. These results indicate that coffee extracts exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Effect of green Coffea arabica L. seed oil on extracellular matrix components and water‐channel expression in in vitro and ex vivo human skin models

Green Coffea arabica L. seed oil is being widely used in cosmetic formulations, although its effects on human skin cells are not clear and most observations are unpublished. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro effects of green coffee (C. arabica L.) oil (GCO) on the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and in the release of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by human skin fibroblasts. We also investigated the ability of GCO to increase aquaglycerolporins-3 (AQP-3) mRNA expression in cultured keratinocytes and human skin explants. Human fibroblasts were incubated for 48 h with several GCO concentrations (3.12, 6.25, 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/mL). The levels of growth factors and extracellular matrix compounds in the culture supernatant were measured using commercial kits. To evaluate AQP-3 relative expression, using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, keratinocytes were incubated for 3-6 h with the GCO optimal concentration of 25.0 mg/mL. Histological sections of human skin were also incubated with GCO (25.0 mg/mL) and immunostained by antiserum against AQP-3. Our results demonstrated that incubation with GCO produces a dose-dependent stimulation in the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and GAG, in addition to increasing the release of the growth factors TGF-beta1 and GM-CSF. GCO also induced the expression of AQP-3 mRNA, which reached levels up to 6.5-fold higher than those of the control cultures. The findings presented herein suggest that GCO might improve physiological balance in the skin, thus allowing the formation of new connective tissue, and preventing epidermis dryness by increasing AQP-3 levels. Taking into account the limitations of in vitro studies, it is encouraging in this context to consider CGO as an adjuvant to be used in dermocosmetic formulations. Clinical studies are in progress in our laboratory aiming to further investigate the protective effects of CGO in the skin.

Transfer of Multivariate Classification Models between Laboratory and Process Near-Infrared Spectrometers for the Discrimination of Green Arabica and Robusta Coffee Beans

Analogous to the situation found in calibration, a classification model constructed from spectra measured on one instrument may not be valid for prediction of class from spectra measured on a second instrument. In this paper, the transfer of multivariate classification models between laboratory and process near-infrared spectrometers is investigated for the discrimination of whole, green Coffea arabica (Arabica) and Coffea canefora (Robusta) coffee beans. A modified version of slope/bias correction, orthogonal signal correction trained on a vector of discrete class identities, and model updating were found to perform well in the preprocessing of data to permit the transfer of a classification model developed on data from one instrument to be used on another instrument. These techniques permitted development of robust models for the discrimination of green coffee beans on both spectrometers and resulted in misclassification errors for the transfer process in the range of 5-10%.

Structural features of acetylated galactomannans from green Coffea arabica beans

Polysaccharides were extracted from green Coffea arabica beans with water (90 °C, 1 h). Galactomannans were isolated from the water extract using preparative anion-exchange chromatography. Almost all of the galactomannans eluted in two neutral populations, while almost all of the arabinogalactans bound to the column, indicating that these arabinogalactans contain charged groups. Analysis of the molecular weight distribution of the two neutral populations showed that they differ in their molecular weight. Further characterization of these neutral populations by NMR and by MALDI-TOF MS after enzymatic degradation with an endo-mannanase, showed the presence of acetyl groups linked to the galactomannans, a feature not previously described for this type of polysaccharides from coffee beans. It was found that the high molecular weight (ca. 2000 kDa) neutral fraction was highly substituted both with galactose residues and acetyl groups, while the low molecular weight (ca. 20 kDa) population was much less substituted. Based on these results it can be concluded that at least two distinctly different populations of galactomannans are present in green coffee beans. It was also shown that the degradation of the galactomannans from green coffee beans with an endo-mannanase from A. niger is hindered by the presence of acetyl groups.

3,4-Dimethoxycinnamic acid levels as a tool for differentiation of Coffea canephora var. robusta and Coffea arabica

Thirteen green Coffea canephora var. robusta and seven green Coffea arabica coffee beans from different geographical origins were analysed by HPLC/diode-array detector for hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) discrimination and quantification to assess the possible markers for their botanical and geographical origins. While the HCAs, p-coumaric, o-coumaric and 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acids were detected in the majority of samples, caffeic and ferulic acids were present in all of them. Sinapic and 4-methoxycinnamic acids were found in only one sample from Mexico and Honduras, respectively. In spite of the preliminary nature of this study, it seems that the relative amount of the HCAs could be related to the botanical origin of coffee. In fact, Coffea canephora var. robusta contains a higher level of 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic ( X ±SD:0.433±0.15, ranging from 0.237 to 0.691 g kg −1) than the Coffea arabica samples ( X ±SD:0.059±0.03, ranging from 0.016 to 0.095 g kg −1). 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved