Identification of potential quality markers in Indonesia's Arabica specialty coffee using GC/MS-based metabolomics approach

Fitri Amalia; Tomoya Irifune; Tetsuji Takegami; Yusianto; Ucu Sumirat; Sastia Prama Putri; Eiichiro Fukusaki

doi:10.1007/s11306-023-02051-5

Identification of potential quality markers in Indonesia's Arabica specialty coffee using GC/MS-based metabolomics approach

Metabolomics. 2023 Oct 25;19(11):90. doi: 10.1007/s11306-023-02051-5.

Authors

Fitri Amalia¹, Tomoya Irifune¹, Tetsuji Takegami¹, Yusianto², Ucu Sumirat², Sastia Prama Putri^{3

4}, Eiichiro Fukusaki^{1

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
² Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute, Jl. PB. Sudirman 90, Jember, East Java, 68118, Indonesia.
³ Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. sastia_putri@bio.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp.
⁴ Industrial Biotechnology Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. sastia_putri@bio.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp.
⁵ Industrial Biotechnology Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
⁶ Osaka University Shimadzu Omics Innovation Research Laboratories, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.

Abstract

Introduction: The cupping test is a widely used method for quality assessment of Arabica coffee. However, the cupping test is limited by the low number of certified panelists and the low throughput. Therefore, an analytical-based quality assessment may be a promising tool to complement the cupping test. A present, there is no report investigating quality marker candidates, focusing only on "specialty" grade Arabica coffee from Indonesia.

Objective: This study identified the potential quality marker(s) in Arabica Specialty coffee at different stages (green beans, roasted beans, and brewed coffee.

Methods: The metabolite profiles of ten different Arabica specialty-grade coffees were analyzed with different cup scores using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). From the ten samples, green coffee beans, roasted coffee beans, and brewed coffee were selected. In addition, an orthogonal projection to latent structure (OPLS) regression analysis was conducted to obtain a potential quality marker based on the variable importance in projection (VIP). The potential quality marker(s) were validated by GC/MS metabolome profiling and OPLS analysis of different sets of samples consisting of 35 Arabica specialty-grade coffee samples.

Results: In Arabica coffee samples, the OPLS model of the three stages showed galactinol to have a high VIP score. Galactinol showed a consistent positive correlation with cup scores at all stages of coffee production (green beans, roasted beans, and brewed coffee). The correlation suggests galactinol is a potential quality marker after further validation using different samples.

Conclusion: GC/MS combined with OPLS regression analysis suggested galactinol as a quality marker and provide an early screening method for Arabica coffee quality that complements the cupping test performed by certified panelists.

Keywords: Arabica; Coffee; GC/MS; Metabolomics; OPLS; Specialty.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Coffea* / chemistry
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Indonesia
Metabolome
Metabolomics*