Antioxidants, phenols, caffeine content and volatile compounds in coffee beverages obtained by different methods

Abstract

The objective of the research was to evaluate the antioxidant activity, phenols and volatile compounds of different types coffee infusions. We worked with the Catimor coffee variety and used five methods to obtain the infusion (espresso, V60, siphon, French press and a traditional local method). For each infusion, the antioxidant capacity was determined with the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid techniques, the phenolic content was determined with the Folin-Ciocalteu technique, and aromatic volatile compounds were determined with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The extraction method that yielded the coffee infusions with the most antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds and caffeine content was espresso; however, this coffee had the fewest aromatic volatile compounds. Although they had lower antioxidant activity, the infusions obtained with the French press had the highest content of volatile aromatic compounds and produced a cup that was free of pyridine, an undesirable compound in coffee due to its rotten smell.