강정원 (롯데중앙연구소)

이성응 (롯데중앙연구소)

강정원 (롯데중앙연구소)

권서희 (롯데중앙연구소)

이성응 (롯데중앙연구소)

김민경 (롯데중앙연구소)

최수영 (롯데중앙연구소)

윤원주 (롯데중앙연구소)

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, valued for its unique flavor and quality. However, to reduce production costs, the intentional adulteration of coffee beans with foreign substances, including coffee husk, has become a growing concern in the industry. In this study, we aimed to identify reliable makers for detecting husk adulteration in coffee beans using both untargeted and targeted analytical methods. A targeted analytical method using LC-DAD was utilized to quantify tocopherols, revealing the specific presence of γ-tocopherol in coffee husk. At a 10% husk incorporation level, γ-tocopherol was detected at 1.79 mg/kg. However, the limit of quantification (LOQ) for this method was 1.0 mg/kg, making it challenging to detect adulteration levels below this threshold. Untargeted analysis was performed utilizing HR-MS, with Compound Discoverer software. Comparative analysis between coffee and coffee husk revealed four compounds abundant in the husk: glucono-δ-lactone, gluconic acid, L-iditol, and kojic acid. Notably, gluconic acid demonstrated exceptional sensitivity, allowing for the detection of adulteration at levels as low as 5%. These findings highlight the potential of combining targeted and untargeted approaches for sensitive and specific detection of coffee adulteration. However, further validation with a broader range of coffee husk samples is needed to ensure the reliability and generalizability of these markers.

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