Results of other research works on furan levels in Coffee

Furan and furan derivatives have long been known as intrinsic components of coffee flavours. Green coffee
beans contain only traces of furan. The furan levels in the roasted coffee are correlated with the roast
colour.

The lowest furan concentrations were found in instant coffee with an average of  569  µg/kg. The highest furan levels were found in solid coffee with mean values varying between  600 µg/kg for instant coffee and 3,611 µg/kg for roasted coffee beans with the highest maximum of 6,900 µg/kg found in roasted ground coffee. In the non-coffee categories mean values ranged between 3.2 µg/kg for ‘infant formula’ and 40 µg/kg for certain ‘baby food’ categories. The highest maximum concentrations for the non-coffee categories were found in ’baby food’ with 224 µg/kg and ‘soups’ with 225 µg/kg.

Automatic coffee machines produce brews with higher levels of furan, because a higher ratio of coffee powder to water is often used giving a lower dilution factor and because of the closed system favouring retention of furan. Standard home coffee-making machines produced much lower levels.  Furan will also dissipate from the serving cup, with higher losses at the beginning diminishing over time as the coffee cools down.

Reference

• Coffee made from capsules contains furan, a carcinogenic substance | Spain Review. 2013. Coffee made from capsules contains furan, a carcinogenic substance | Spain Review. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.spainreview.net/index.php/2011/04/14/coffee-made-from-capsules-contains-furan-a-carcinogenic-substance/. [Accessed 24 January 2013].