Characterization of Roasted Coffea arabica Species by the Relationship Between Caffeine and Diterpenes Contents

Abstract Commercial roasted and ground coffees are usually blends of Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. Considering the differences in price and sensory characteristics between these two species, the identification of the presence of each species in commercial blends is of great interest. The aim of this study was to describe typical profiles of caffeine and diterpenes (kahweol and cafestol) contents and the ratios among these compounds to support the characterization of Coffea species in roasted coffees. 32 good cup quality Brazilian C. arabica coffees (from coffee quality contests) produced using different postharvest treatments were studied. All analysis were performed by HPLC. Higher ranges were observed in diterpene contents - kahweol varied from 1.75 to 10.68 g/kg (coefficient of variation of 510%) and cafestol from 1.76 to 9.66 g/kg (449%) - than caffeine, that varied from 5.1 to 16.2 g/kg (coefficient of variation of 218%). Wide ranges of the kahweol/cafestol ratio (0.63 to 2.77) and the caffeine/kahweol ratio (0.84 to 5.15) were also observed. Hence it was proposed the additional use of a new parameter, the ratio of caffeine/sum of diterpenes (kahweol + cafestol) that presents values from 0.54 to 2.39. The results indicated that the combined use of these parameters could be a potential tool for discriminating Coffea species in blends of roasted and ground coffee. It was proposed as potentially indicative of C. arabica: values of kahweol/cafestol ratio above 0.50, associated with caffeine/kahweol ratio lower than 5.50 and caffeine/sum of diterpenes ratio lower than 2.50.

Consumo de café segundo métodos de preparo da bebida e associação com perfil lipídico sérico em hipertensos e diabéticos / Intake of different coffee preparations and its association with the serum lipid profile of diabetics and hypertensive individuals

OBJETIVO: Verificar o consumo da bebida café segundo a quantidade ingerida e os métodos de preparo, e sua associação com o perfil lipídico sérico de hipertensos e diabéticos. MÉTODOS: Foram coletados, por meio de entrevista, dados demográficos, de estilo de vida e de consumo alimentar, aferidas medidas antropométricas e colhido sangue para análise de perfil lipídico sérico. Análise descritiva, testes t de Student, qui-quadrado e de correlação linear de Pearson foram utilizados com 5 por cento de probabilidade de erro experimental. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 182 indivíduos hipertensos e diabéticos tipo 2, consumidores de café, distribuídos em dois grupos segundo o método de preparo da bebida: à brasileira e fervido. Os grupos foram semelhantes quanto aos dados demográficos, antropométricos, de estilo de vida, de consumo alimentar e de perfil lipídico sérico. A quantidade per capita de pó utilizado no método à brasileira e no fervido foi de M=7,52, DP=4,99g e M=7,91, DP=5,87g, respectivamente. O volume ingerido e a frequência de consumo dos indivíduos do grupo à brasileira foi de M=517,3, DP=402,7mL e M=2,14, DP=1,06 vezes/dia, e para os consumidores de café fervido, M=513,4, DP=409,8mL e M=2,2, DP=0,94 vezes/dia. Não houve associação significativa entre a quantidade ingerida da bebida café e o perfil lipídico sérico. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve associação entre o consumo de café à brasileira ou fervido e o perfil lipídico sérico, possivelmente em função da quantidade consumida e/ou da diluição utilizada. Se, por um lado, os resultados não permitem desestimular o consumo da bebida na quantidade ingerida pela população estudada, como medida de prevenção cardiovascular, por outro lado autorizam concluir que há necessidade de avançar nessa linha de investigação.

OBJECTIVE: This study determined the amount of coffee consumed, the preparation methods and the association between coffee intake and the serum lipid profile of diabetics and hypertensive individuals. METHODS: Interviews were done to collect demographic and lifestyle data and food intake. Blood was collected to determine serum lipid profiles and anthropometric characteristics were measured. Descriptive analysis and the Student's t-test, chi-square test and Pearson's linear correlation were used with p£0.05 to establish statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 182 hypertensive and type-2 diabetic individuals who consumed coffee were evaluated and categorized according to the preparation method: Brazilian or boiled. The population had similar demographics, anthropometrics, lifestyles, food habits and serum lipid profiles. The per capita amount of powder ingested when the Brazilian preparation method (uses a filter) was used compared with boiling was M=7.52, SD=4.99g and M=7.91, SD=5.87g, respectively. In both groups, those levels were obtained in accordance with the estimated daily intake volume of the drink. The volume ingested by individuals in the "Brazilian" group and intake frequency were: M=517.3, SD=402.7mL and M=2.14, SD=1.06 times/day and in the "boiled" group: M=513.4, SD=409.8mL, and M=2.2 SD=0.94 times/day. There was no significant association between coffee intake and serum lipid profile. CONCLUSION: There was no association between coffee intake and serum lipid profile in the studied population, possibly because of the amount consumed and/or dilution used. If, on the one hand, the results do not allow us to discourage consumption in the amounts consumed by the studied population as a way to prevent cardiovascular disease, on the other hand, it is clear that this line of research requires further investigation.