Geographic determination of coffee beans using multi-element analysis and isotope ratios of boron and strontium

Liu, Hou-Chun, You, Chen-Feng, Chen, Chiou-Yun, Liu, Yu-Ching and Chung, Ming-Tsung (2014) Geographic determination of coffee beans using multi-element analysis and isotope ratios of boron and strontium. Food Chemistry, 142, 439-445. (doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.07.082).

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using chemical and isotopic compositions of coffee beans to identify their geographic origins. Twenty-one Coffea arabica beans collected from 14 countries in 3 major coffee-producing regions, Africa, America and Asia, were analysed for multi-element of B, Rb, Sr, Ba, Fe, Mn and Zn, as well as isotopic compositions of B and Sr. Our results demonstrate that the geographic origin of coffee beans could be classified based on concentrations of Rb, Sr and Ba. However, the isotope ratios of B and Sr provide more sensitive information for the growth localities. Combined with literature data, this study indicates that B and Sr isotopes are excellent indicators of the origin of coffee beans.

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