![Sample our Physical Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110819/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Physical-Sciences.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Coffee prepared from ground roasted coffee beans or from soluble powder is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Moreover, coffee is acknowledged as a rich source of elements, including those essential to human health, as well as nonessential and toxic elements. Therefore, determination of the total concentration of elements in coffee allows characterization of some beneficial and adverse effects on human health. Thirty-seven coffee samples were characterized on the basis of metal concentrations. Sixteen elements including toxic and essential elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Potassium was present at the highest concentration, with values as high as 20.38 g kg−1, and arsenic had the lowest levels, with a mean value of 0.05 mg kg−1. Concentrations of nickel and copper were below 12.25 and 150.75 mg kg−1, and zinc was present at levels between 1.68 and 22.40 mg kg−1. Correlations between elements were made using Pearson correlation. Analysis of variance was used to highlight elements to characterize coffee on the basis of geographical origin or to distinguish ground from instant coffee. Principal component analysis extracted three components that characterized 57.08% of the total variance.