Caffeine Extraction

Extraction of Caffeine from Coffee

Coffee in Various States of Processing

Introduction The extraction of caffeine from coffee is a fundamental metric by which one might compare coffee’s grown from around the world. Through the life of a coffee bean there exists multiple points at which caffeine might be extracted and quantified through the use of high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC is conducted the precisely the same no matter the origin of the caffeine sample; be it caffeine extracted from green, roasted, ground, or brewed coffee. What does differ amongst these methods of analysis is the preparation of sample through the extraction of caffeine. In this paper the methods of extraction of caffeine will be reviewed and a method of caffeine analysis using HPLC, with UV/Vis detection, will be elucidated.

Optimal extraction of a chemical species from organic material is highly dependent on the particle size of the organic material being extracted from. Thus, it is understandable that each extraction method will differ in the initial preparation of organic material in order to produce a homogenous organic sample with a minimal particle size. If one’s intent is to compare samples from multiple states of existence (e.g. green coffee vs roasted coffee) one should strive to achieve as close to sample particle homogeneity across the research as possible in order to reduce variability in HPLC data due to non-uniform extraction protocols. (citation needed)

Coffee Bean Variation

Green Coffee

Green Coffee Beans

“Green coffee” is the colloquial name for coffee that has undergone harvesting, processing on a farm, however the coffee has not yet been roasted. The name is derived by the appearance of the bean itself. (picture)

Extraction of Caffeine from Green Coffee only differs from the other extraction methods on this page in that one must first properly prepare, and homogenize, the green coffee sample. Green Coffee beans are very dense and difficult to grind, chop, or otherwise break down using traditional mechanical methods. Thus, one must first freeze the green coffee sample using liquid Nitrogen. Freezing the sample with liquid Nitrogen

Roasted Coffee

Roasted Coffee Beans

Roasted coffee is coffee that has undergone the roasting process; however, has not yet been ground. It is generally understood that a substantial amount of chemical reactions take place within the green coffee bean as it undergoes roasting. Therefore, it is often of interest to investigate coffee before and after roasting in order to ascertain if caffeine content is affected.

Ground Coffee

Ground Coffee Beans

Ground Coffee Variation

Ground coffee has undergone roasting and has been further processed by grinding by any one of a multitude of methods. The primary goal of grinding roasted coffee beans is to produce a homogenous coffee material through which hot water extraction may occur during coffee brewing. The particle size of coffee grounds is directly related to caffeine extraction efficiency and as a fundamental variable under consideration in the preparation of coffee through various methods. (e.g. French Press, Espresso, etc.)

Brewed Coffee

Brewed Coffee

Brewed Coffee is ground coffee that has undergone an aqueous extraction. There is a wide array of methods through which one might brew coffee including methods in which the temperature of water, time of extraction, size of coffee ground, or the pressure of the system might be manipulated in one way or another.

For the purposes of quantifying concentration of caffeine in coffee samples, brewed coffee may be loaded directly into the high pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC) and [caffeine analysis] conducted without further sample preparation.