Contents of diterpenes in espresso coffee brews prepared from commercial capsules

Abstract

The objective of this work was to quantify kahweol and cafestol diterpenes in coffee brews prepared from commercial capsules for espresso in the Brazilian market. Four types of brews, with five preparation replications, were evaluated. The capsules had differences in the amount and type of roasted and ground coffees used (blends of arabica and robusta coffee or 100% arabica coffee), and in the conditions of time and volume of extraction (dose) recommended by the manufacturer. The coffee brews presented 1.42 and 4.88 g of solids/100 mL. Concentration of solids decreased with the increase in time/volume extraction. Contents of 0.47 to 1.04 mg of kahweol and 0.38 to 0.92 mg of cafestol by dose (ranging from 35 to 120 mL) were observed. These contents corresponded to a range of 0.40 to 2.96 mg of kahweol/100 mL and 0.32 to 2.62 mg of cafestol/100 mL. The fraction of diterpenes extracted varied from 1.85 to 4.27 % for kahweol and 1.87 to 4.16 % for cafestol. Considering the contents of cafestol, there is no indication of a hypercholesterolemic effect due to a moderate consumption of coffee brews prepared from these commercial capsules.

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho,quantificar os diterpenos caveol e cafestol em bebidas de café preparadas a partir de cápsulas comerciais para espresso do mercado brasileiro. Foram avaliadas bebidas de quatro tipos de cápsulas com 5 repetições de preparo. As cápsulas apresentavam diferenças na quantidade e tipo de café torrado e moído empregado (blends de café arábica e robusta ou cafés 100% arábica), e nas condições de tempo e volume de extração (doses), preconizadas pelo fabricante. As bebidas apresentaram de 1,42 a 4,88 g de sólidos/100 mL. A concentração de sólidos diminuiu com o aumento no tempo/volume de extração. Observaram-se teores de 0,47 a 1,04 mg de caveol e 0,38 a 0,92 mg de cafestol por dose (variando de 35 a 120 mL), correspondentes à faixa de 0,40 a 2,96 mg de caveol/100 mL e 0,32 a 2,62 mg de cafestol/100 mL. A porcentagem de diterpenos extraídos variou de 1,85 a 4,27 % para caveol e 1,87 a 4,16 % para cafestol. Considerando-se os teores de cafestol, há indicação que o consumo moderado de café preparado a partir de cápsulas comerciais não implicaria em efeito hipercolesterolêmico.