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Arabica coffee beans have twice the value, or more, compared to Robusta beans, and consequently are susceptible to substitution. In this study, MSI was applied to discriminate roasted Arabica and Robusta coffee beans and perform a quantitative prediction of Arabica coffee bean adulteration with Robusta. Using selected spectral and morphological features from individual coffee beans, and applying an OPLS-DA (orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis) model, a 100% correct classification of the two coffee species in the test dataset was achieved. In addition, the OPLS regression model was able to successfully predict the level of adulteration of Arabica with Robusta. 

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French researchers have developed a DNA-based authentication method that overcomes limitations of metabolic profiling of Robusta and Arabica coffees. The identification of Arabica and Robusta coffee species, as well as the quantification of their relative proportion in blends were performed by High Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis on green and roasted coffee products. Robusta adulteration as low as 1% in Arabica products can be detected.

   Read the abstract at: DNA Coffee Method

This study was carried out on two species of unroasted (green) coffee beans: Arabica (Coffea arabica) from Colombia and Nepal and Robusta (Coffea canephora) from Uganda and Vietnam. The tests were performed using an "electronic nose" consisting of two gas chromatography with sensitive flame ionisation detectors in parallel on stored green coffee beans. Using principle component analysis, it was possible to determine the geographical origin of green beans from the four countries.

Read the full paper at: Aroma profiles for geographic origin of green coffee beans

There has been increasing demand for Robusta coffee in developing and producing countries. Drier weather in Brazil and Vietnam- 2 major producers of Robusta coffee coupled with poorer harvests in Indonesia and India will give a lower production. Adulteration of Robusta coffee extracts have been a problem in the past.

Read the article at: http://agro2b.ru/en/news/32683-Expectations-poor-harvest-Robusta-coffee-can.html