A New Study Reveals the Relationship Between Coffee Roasting Levels and Caffeine Content

A New Study Reveals the Relationship Between Coffee Roasting Levels and Caffeine Content

 

A recent comprehensive study has unveiled the impact of coffee roasting levels on the extracted caffeine content and its concentration in the final brew, challenging some common beliefs in the coffee industry.
Titled “Caffeine Content in Filter Coffee Brews as a Function of Degree of Roast and Extraction Yield”, the study was conducted by researchers at Berry College and Drexel University. They analyzed 30 different combinations of green coffee types, roasting levels, and extraction times.

The researchers utilized advanced techniques such as refractometry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and scanning electron microscopy to explore the complex dynamics governing caffeine extraction.

According to experts, the relationship between roasting levels and caffeine content has long been a subject of debate. However, this study provides significant insights by isolating the factors that have often confused previous results.

The researchers arrived at several important findings, including:

  1. Caffeine content peaked at roasting levels with mass losses ranging between 14–16%, which corresponds to light to medium roasts. Darker roasts, however, generally exhibited lower caffeine levels.
  2. When comparing brews with the same extraction yield, darker roasts demonstrated higher caffeine concentrations, challenging the common belief that light roasts always contain more caffeine.
  3. As roasting progresses, coffee beans become more porous, enhancing extraction efficiency. However, this effect diminishes due to caffeine losses caused by volatilization at high roasting temperatures.

The researchers adopted a rigorous methodology to ensure accuracy and repeatability. Ethiopian coffee varieties, including natural (dry-processed) and washed (wet-processed) types, were selected for their diverse characteristics. Five different roasting levels were prepared using an advanced electric drum roaster (Aillio Bullet v2). Each roasting level was characterized using precise parameters such as color, density, and mass loss percentage.

The coffee was brewed using the AeroPress device under standardized conditions, including a water-to-coffee ratio of 15:1. Different brewing times (1, 2, and 10 minutes) were tested to observe variations in extraction yield. External factors such as grind size were controlled using sieving, and filtered water with consistent chemical properties was used to minimize external influences.

The study demonstrated that extraction yield—the percentage of soluble compounds extracted from ground coffee—plays a critical role in determining caffeine levels. Results showed a decline in extraction yields with increasing roast darkness, attributed to the breakdown of soluble compounds during roasting.

Interestingly, darker roasted coffee exhibited higher caffeine concentrations at the same extraction yield compared to lighter roasts. This is due to the lower presence of other soluble compounds in darker roasts, allowing caffeine to represent a larger proportion of the extracted material.

The study also highlighted the role of porosity in extraction dynamics. Using scanning electron microscopy, changes in porosity across different roasting levels were measured. The researchers found that coffee beans become more porous as roasting progresses, enhancing the efficiency of extracting soluble compounds during brewing.

However, the results indicated that extremely dark roasting leads to reduced caffeine retention due to the collapse of the internal structure of the beans.

The research did not only focus on caffeine but also investigated chlorogenic acids, which are important antioxidants. The study revealed that these acids decreased significantly with darker roasting levels, making lighter roasts a better option for those seeking their health benefits.

This study provides valuable insights for coffee enthusiasts on how their brewing choices impact caffeine levels. While light and medium roasts typically deliver higher caffeine levels under standard conditions, similar levels can be achieved from dark roasts if extraction parameters are optimized. Furthermore, the findings suggest that lighter roasts may retain more beneficial compounds, such as chlorogenic acids.

The study also addresses the inconsistencies in previous research on roasting levels and caffeine content. Earlier studies produced contradictory results due to variations in brewing methods, grind sizes, and water properties. By standardizing these variables, this research offers a more reliable framework for understanding how roasting affects caffeine.

These findings hold significant value for coffee professionals, from roasters to baristas. Roasters can adjust their profiles to balance caffeine retention with flavor development, while baristas can optimize brewing methods to extract desired compounds.

Additionally, the study aligns with the growing demand for transparency in specialty coffee, enhancing consumer understanding of the scientific aspects of their favorite beverage.

Despite its considerable contributions, the study opens the door for further research. Can different brewing methods, such as espresso or cold brew, yield similar results? How do other factors, like the altitude of coffee cultivation and processing methods, influence caffeine dynamics?

This groundbreaking research underscores the remarkable complexity of coffee, where every variable—from bean origin to roasting level and brewing method—shapes the final outcome. By uncovering the intricate dynamics of caffeine extraction, the study advances coffee science and empowers both professionals and consumers to make informed decisions.

As specialty coffee continues to grow in popularity, this study reminds us that there is always more to discover about the world’s favorite beverage.

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[:ar]Privacy Policy for qahwa world At qahwaworld, accessible from qahwaworld.com, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by qahwaworld and how we use it. If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us. This Privacy Policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website with regards to the information that they shared and/or collect in qahwaworld. This policy is not applicable to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website. Our Privacy Policy was created with the help of the Free Privacy Policy Generator. Consent By using our website, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. 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These are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable. The purpose of the information is for analyzing trends, administering the site, tracking users' movement on the website, and gathering demographic information. Cookies and Web Beacons Like any other website, qahwaworld uses 'cookies'. These cookies are used to store information including visitors' preferences, and the pages on the website that the visitor accessed or visited. The information is used to optimize the users' experience by customizing our web page content based on visitors' browser type and/or other information. For more general information on cookies, please read the Cookies article on Generate Privacy Policy website. Google DoubleClick DART Cookie Google is one of a third-party vendor on our site. It also uses cookies, known as DART cookies, to serve ads to our site visitors based upon their visit to www.website.com and other sites on the internet. 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These technologies are used to measure the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see on websites that you visit. Note that qahwaworld has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers. Third Party Privacy Policies qahwaworld's Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. Thus, we are advising you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information. It may include their practices and instructions about how to opt-out of certain options. You can choose to disable cookies through your individual browser options. To know more detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers, it can be found at the browsers' respective websites. 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Privacy Policy for Qahwa World

At Qahwa World, accessible from https://qahwaworld.com, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by Qahwa World and how we use it. If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us. This Privacy Policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website with regards to the information that they shared and/or collect in Qahwa World. This policy is not applicable to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website. Our Privacy Policy was created with the help of the Free Privacy Policy Generator.

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Third Party Privacy Policies

Qahwa World's Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. Thus, we are advising you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information. It may include their practices and instructions about how to opt-out of certain options. You can choose to disable cookies through your individual browser options. To know more detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers, it can be found at the browsers' respective websites.

CCPA Privacy Rights (Do Not Sell My Personal Information)

Under the CCPA, among other rights, California consumers have the right to: Request that a business that collects a consumer's personal data disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal data that a business has collected about consumers. Request that a business delete any personal data about the consumer that a business has collected. Request that a business that sells a consumer's personal data, not sell the consumer's personal data. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

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We would like to make sure you are fully aware of all of your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following: The right to access – You have the right to request copies of your personal data. We may charge you a small fee for this service. The right to rectification – You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request that we complete the information you believe is incomplete. The right to erasure – You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to object to processing – You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to data portability – You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us.

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Another part of our priority is adding protection for children while using the internet. We encourage parents and guardians to observe, participate in, and/or monitor and guide their online activity. Qahwa World does not knowingly collect any Personal Identifiable Information from children under the age of 13. If you think that your child provided this kind of information on our website, we strongly encourage you to contact us immediately and we will do our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records.[:ru]Privacy Policy for qahwa world At qahwaworld, accessible from qahwaworld.com, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by qahwaworld and how we use it. If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us. This Privacy Policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website with regards to the information that they shared and/or collect in qahwaworld. This policy is not applicable to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website. Our Privacy Policy was created with the help of the Free Privacy Policy Generator. Consent By using our website, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms. Information we collect The personal information that you are asked to provide, and the reasons why you are asked to provide it, will be made clear to you at the point we ask you to provide your personal information. If you contact us directly, we may receive additional information about you such as your name, email address, phone number, the contents of the message and/or attachments you may send us, and any other information you may choose to provide. When you register for an Account, we may ask for your contact information, including items such as name, company name, address, email address, and telephone number. How we use your information We use the information we collect in various ways, including to: Provide, operate, and maintain our website Improve, personalize, and expand our website Understand and analyze how you use our website Develop new products, services, features, and functionality Communicate with you, either directly or through one of our partners, including for customer service, to provide you with updates and other information relating to the website, and for marketing and promotional purposes Send you emails Find and prevent fraud Log Files qahwaworld follows a standard procedure of using log files. These files log visitors when they visit websites. All hosting companies do this and a part of hosting services' analytics. The information collected by log files include internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date and time stamp, referring/exit pages, and possibly the number of clicks. These are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable. The purpose of the information is for analyzing trends, administering the site, tracking users' movement on the website, and gathering demographic information. Cookies and Web Beacons Like any other website, qahwaworld uses 'cookies'. These cookies are used to store information including visitors' preferences, and the pages on the website that the visitor accessed or visited. The information is used to optimize the users' experience by customizing our web page content based on visitors' browser type and/or other information. For more general information on cookies, please read the Cookies article on Generate Privacy Policy website. Google DoubleClick DART Cookie Google is one of a third-party vendor on our site. It also uses cookies, known as DART cookies, to serve ads to our site visitors based upon their visit to www.website.com and other sites on the internet. However, visitors may choose to decline the use of DART cookies by visiting the Google ad and content network Privacy Policy at the following URL – https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads Our Advertising Partners Some of advertisers on our site may use cookies and web beacons. Our advertising partners are listed below. Each of our advertising partners has their own Privacy Policy for their policies on user data. For easier access, we hyperlinked to their Privacy Policies below. Google https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads Advertising Partners Privacy Policies You may consult this list to find the Privacy Policy for each of the advertising partners of qahwaworld. Third-party ad servers or ad networks uses technologies like cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons that are used in their respective advertisements and links that appear on qahwaworld, which are sent directly to users' browser. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. These technologies are used to measure the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see on websites that you visit. Note that qahwaworld has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers. Third Party Privacy Policies qahwaworld's Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. Thus, we are advising you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information. It may include their practices and instructions about how to opt-out of certain options. You can choose to disable cookies through your individual browser options. To know more detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers, it can be found at the browsers' respective websites. CCPA Privacy Rights (Do Not Sell My Personal Information) Under the CCPA, among other rights, California consumers have the right to: Request that a business that collects a consumer's personal data disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal data that a business has collected about consumers. Request that a business delete any personal data about the consumer that a business has collected. Request that a business that sells a consumer's personal data, not sell the consumer's personal data. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us. GDPR Data Protection Rights We would like to make sure you are fully aware of all of your data protection rights. Every user is entitled to the following: The right to access – You have the right to request copies of your personal data. We may charge you a small fee for this service. The right to rectification – You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate. You also have the right to request that we complete the information you believe is incomplete. The right to erasure – You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to object to processing – You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data, under certain conditions. The right to data portability – You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us. Children's Information Another part of our priority is adding protection for children while using the internet. We encourage parents and guardians to observe, participate in, and/or monitor and guide their online activity. qahwaworld does not knowingly collect any Personal Identifiable Information from children under the age of 13. If you think that your child provided this kind of information on our website, we strongly encourage you to contact us immediately and we will do our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records.[:]
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