A novel UHPLC method for determining the degree of coffee roasting by analysis of furans

The aim of this study was to develop a multi-analyte UHPLC method for furans and to apply it to commercial coffee samples as well as commercial roasting trials. Furans, as rising time–temperature indicators (TTIs), promised to be an alternative to unsatisfactory roasting temperature measurements. Consequently, a UHPLC–UV method for the determination of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF), 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furoic acid (HMFA), 2-furfural (F), 5-methylfurfural (MF), 2-furyl methyl ketone (FMC), 2-furoic acid (FA), and for 3-caffeoylquinic acid (3-CQA) was developed and validated. Commercial roasted coffee beans contained 77.7–322 mg/kg HMF, 73.3–158 mg/kg HMFA, 109–200 mg/kg 2-F, 157–209 mg/kg MF, 12.3–32.8 mg/kg FMC, and 137–205 mg/kg FA. Roasting trial samples showed strong rising HMF contents (max.: Arabica: 769 mg/kg, Robusta: 364 mg/kg) followed by a distinct decline. Only MF and FA appeared as steady rising TTIs in the roasting process in Arabica and Robusta beans. 3-CQA fitted well as a decreasing TTI as expected.