Arabica acid complex

Figure 12.18 V-I characteristics of Citric acid complex of Arabica (specimen size A=1 cm d = 0.3 mm) [34],...

The principal CGA isomers identified in green coffee include three caffeoylquinic acid isomers, 3-CQA [327-97-9], 4-CQA [905-99-7], and 5-CQA [906-33-2], three dicaffeoylquinic acid isomers, 3,4-diCQA [14534-61-3], 3,5-diCQA [2450-53-5], and 4,5-diCQA [57378-72-0], and three feruloylquinic acid isomers, 3-FQA [1899-29-2], 4-FQA, and 5-FQA [40242-06-6]. The total CGA level is somewhat higher in robustas compared to arabicas. The 5-CQA is the predominant isomer both in arabicas, ie, 4—5% dry basis (db), and in robustas, 5—6% db, and is known to form in vitro and possibly in vivo complexes with caffeine [58-08-2]. Greater compositional differences between robustas and arabicas are found in the minor CGA isomers, eg, 3,4-diCQA, 5-FQA,... 

One of the most significant differences between Arabica and Robusta coffees is in the caffeine content. Robusta coffees contain almost twice the caffeine found in Arabica coffees. There are some other differences recognized thus far Robustas contain almost no sucrose and only very small amounts of the kaurane and furokaurane-type diterpenes they contain higher proportions of phenols, complex carbohydrates (both soluble and hydrolyzable), volatile fatty acids on roasting, and sulfur compounds, all in comparison with Arabicas. References to these distinctions can be found in Chapter 6 of this book. 

More than 700 constituents have been identified in aroma extracts of roasted coffee. Heterocyclic aroma components represent the greatest amount of the steam volatile aroma complex (80 - 85 %) which amounts to 700 -900 ppm in medium roasted Arabica coffees. The concentration of individual components varies depending on coffee varieties and roasting conditions. Typical components are formed by thermal degradation of free and bound amino acid and chlorogenic acid precursors. Compared to other roasted foodstuffs, sulfur containing constituents and phenols are formed in high amounts and contribute to desirable coffee flavor or off-flavor. 

Caffeine and related purines are uncharged under physiological conditions and, due to their dual hydrophilic and lipophilic character, easily penetrate cell-, tissue- and organ-related barriers. In Coffea arabica, compartmentation of purine alkaloids, e.g. caffeine, depends exclusively on the physical chemistry of their vacuolar complexation with chlorogenic acid (Waldhauser and Baumann, 1996). 

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