Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Roasted Coffee2

Abstract

Four different commercial brands of roasted coffee were analyzed for their content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Nine hydrocarbons including benzo[a]pyrene were identified in the darkest brand; the amount of these hydrocarbons was small. In two other brands of moderately dark, roasted coffee, pyrene and fluoranthene were identified, but no other hydrocarbons. Another brand of darkly roasted coffee beans did not show any appreciable amount of hydrocarbons.