Plants have evolved a panoply of specialized metabolites that increase their environmental fitness. Two examples are caffeine, a purine psychotropic alkaloid, and crocins, a group of glycosylated ...apocarotenoid pigments. Both classes of compounds are found in a handful of distantly related plant genera (Coffea, Camellia, Paullinia, and Ilex for caffeine; Crocus, Buddleja, and Gardenia for crocins) wherein they presumably evolved through convergent evolution. The closely related Coffea and Gardenia genera belong to the Rubiaceae family and synthesize, respectively, caffeine and crocins in their fruits. Here, we report a chromosomal-level genome assembly of Gardenia jasminoides, a crocin-producing species, obtained using Oxford Nanopore sequencing and Hi-C technology. Through genomic and functional assays, we completely deciphered for the first time in any plant the dedicated pathway of crocin biosynthesis. Through comparative analyses with Coffea canephora and other eudicot genomes, we show that Coffea caffeine synthases and the first dedicated gene in the Gardenia crocin pathway, GjCCD4a, evolved through recent tandem gene duplications in the two different genera, respectively. In contrast, genes encoding later steps of the Gardenia crocin pathway, ALDH and UGT, evolved through more ancient gene duplications and were presumably recruited into the crocin biosynthetic pathway only after the evolution of the GjCCD4a gene. This study shows duplication-based divergent evolution within the coffee family (Rubiaceae) of two characteristic secondary metabolic pathways, caffeine and crocin biosynthesis, from a common ancestor that possessed neither complete pathway. These findings provide significant insights on the role of tandem duplications in the evolution of plant specialized metabolism.
Coffee (Coffea arabica) is among the world’s most economically important crops. Coffee was shown to be highly dependent on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in traditionally managed coffee ...plantations in the tropics. The objective of this study was to assess AMF species richness in coffee plantations of four provinces in Perú, to isolate AMF isolates native to these provinces, and to test the effects of selected indigenous AMF strains on coffee growth. AMF species were identified by morphological tools on the genus level, and if possible further to the species level. Two native species, Rhizoglomus variabile and Nanoglomus plukenetiae, recently described from the Peruvian mountain ranges, were successfully cultured in the greenhouse on host plants. In two independent experiments, both species were assessed for their ability to colonize coffee seedlings and improve coffee growth over 135 days. A total of 35 AMF morphospecies were identified from 12 plantations. The two inoculated species effectively colonized coffee roots, which resulted in 3.0–8.6 times higher shoot, root and total biomass, when compared to the non-mycorrhizal controls. R. variabile was superior to N. plukenetiae in all measured parameters, increasing shoot, root, and total biomass dry weight by 4.7, 8.6 and 5.5 times, respectively. The dual inoculation of both species, however, did not further improve plant growth, when compared to single-species inoculations. The colonization of coffee by either R. variabile or N. plukenetiae strongly enhances coffee plant growth. R. variabile, in particular, offers enormous potential for improving coffee establishment and productivity. Assessment of further AMF species, including species from other AMF families should be considered for optimization of coffee growth promotion, both alone and in combination with R. variabile.
Coffee is one of the most important and widely used commercial crops in the world. After ripe coffee cherries are harvested, coffee must pass through several steps to become (green) raw coffee beans. ...Commonly, there are three different processing methods used to obtain green coffee beans from coffee cherries, namely, the wet, dry, and semidry methods. Microorganisms (yeasts and bacteria) play a major role in coffee fermentation process by degrading mucilage by producing different enzymes (pectinase), acids, and alcohols. Starter culture development is crucial and is done by selecting microorganisms that have certain characteristics, such as mucilage degradation ability, tolerance to stress during fermentation, the ability to suppress the growth of pathogenic fungi, and a positive impact on the sensory quality of the coffee. Currently, green coffee beans obtained from farms that use any of the above processing methods are fermented with selected microorganisms to improve the flavour and aroma of the coffee. This is the result of a new insight into the development of unique flavoured coffee and into engaging with the coffee market to better benefit. This review gives a comprehensive overview of the fermentation process, microorganisms and starter cultures, and fermentation’s impact on coffee quality. Future prospects are also discussed through the incorporation of recent research.
Chlorogenic acids and caffeine are important for flavor formation as well as the health effect of green coffee brews and its extracts. The content of these compounds was determined by HPLC–DAD ...analysis in twelve samples of coffee from Robusta and Arabica types of different geographical origin including steamed and decaffeinated coffees. Generally, Robusta coffee extracts contain twice as much caffeine as Arabica, and its content varies from 3.41 % per dry mass in Arabica type from Laos or Rwanda to 8.16 % in Robusta coffee from Indonesia. The highest concentration of 5-
O
-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) was obtained for both coffees from Uganda. Decaffeination process does not affect the concentration of this main chlorogenic acid, but steaming of the coffee beans with hot water produced a significant decrease in the level of 5-CQA. Antioxidant activity of coffee extracts was measured by CUPRAC and F–C assays, which really measure the reducing power of the sample components. Extracts of green coffee beans from Vietnam possessed the highest antioxidant activity in both assays.
Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and is the second largest traded commodity after petroleum. Due to the great demand of this product, large amounts of residues are generated ...in the coffee industry, which are toxic and represent serious environmental problems. Coffee silverskin and spent coffee grounds are the main coffee industry residues, obtained during the beans roasting, and the process to prepare “instant coffee”, respectively. Recently, some attempts have been made to use these residues for energy or value-added compounds production, as strategies to reduce their toxicity levels, while adding value to them. The present article provides an overview regarding coffee and its main industrial residues. In a first part, the composition of beans and their processing, as well as data about the coffee world production and exportation, are presented. In the sequence, the characteristics, chemical composition, and application of the main coffee industry residues are reviewed. Based on these data, it was concluded that coffee may be considered as one of the most valuable primary products in world trade, crucial to the economies and politics of many developing countries since its cultivation, processing, trading, transportation, and marketing provide employment for millions of people. As a consequence of this big market, the reuse of the main coffee industry residues is of large importance from environmental and economical viewpoints.
The coffee industry, one of the world’s most vital commercial value chains, faces severe challenges, especially among its small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) actors. These challenges encompass ...social, economic, and environmental crises, with climate change being particularly menacing. This perspective article highlights business model innovation (BMI) as a proactive strategic option for SMEs in the coffee industry, providing a roadmap from the field to the coffee cup for navigating these uncertainties. Drawing on recent BMI research within the coffee sector and related fields, the piece explores transferable strategies and potential implementations, with an emphasis on sustainability-oriented BMI. The discussion identifies both potential benefits and challenges of implementing BMI. Ultimately, the article positions BMI as a promising field for both researchers and practitioners, offering sustainable solutions to the multifaceted challenges faced by the coffee industry.
The coffee industry is encountering a plethora of challenges amidst a rapidly evolving world. We will delve into the multifaceted landscape of the coffee business, highlighting the emerging hurdles ...that have reshaped its dynamics. Climate change remains an ever-present concern, threatening coffee production with unpredictable weather patterns and diminishing yields. Additionally, growing consumer demands for sustainable and ethically sourced coffee have urged the industry to adopt eco-friendly practices and support fair trade initiatives. The saturation of the market, coupled with changing consumer preferences, compels businesses to remain agile and adapt their offerings to meet evolving demands. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the fragility of global supply chains, highlighting supply chain disruptions, shipping delays, and labor shortages that directly impact the coffee business. Digital transformation has become a pivotal factor in connecting with customers, streamlining operations, and maintaining a competitive edge in an increasingly virtual world. Regulatory compliance, certification, and energy standards pose another layer of complexity. Navigating these challenges requires proactive approaches. Coffee businesses must embrace innovation to optimize processing, roasting, and brewing techniques while fostering sustainability and quality. Embracing e-commerce platforms, leveraging social media, and enhancing digital experiences are essential steps in establishing strong connections with the consumer base. The coffee industry stands at a crossroads, but with determination and ingenuity, businesses can adapt to these challenges. Embracing sustainability, digital transformation, and innovation will enable the coffee sector to thrive amidst changing.
Industrial development and increased energy requirements have led to high consumption of fossil fuels. Thus, environmental pollution has become a profound problem. Every year, a large amount of ...agro-industrial, municipal and forest residues are treated as waste, but they can be recovered and used to produce thermal and electrical energy through biological or thermochemical conversion processes. Among the main types of agro-industrial waste, soluble coffee residues represent a significant quantity all over the world. Silver skin and spent coffee grounds (SCG) are the main residues of the coffee industry. The many organic compounds contained in coffee residues suggest that their recovery and use could be very beneficial. Indeed, thanks to their composition, they can be used in the production of biodiesel, as a source of sugar, as a precursor for the creation of active carbon or as a sorbent for the removal of metals. After a careful evaluation of the possible uses of coffee grounds, the aim of this research was to show a broad characterization of coffee waste for energy purposes through physical and chemical analyses that highlight the most significant quality indexes, the interactions between them and the quantification of their importance. Results identify important tools for the qualification and quantification of the effects of coffee waste properties on energy production processes. They show that (SCG) are an excellent raw material as biomass, with excellent values in terms of calorific value and low ash content, allowing the production of 98% coffee pellets that are highly suitable for use in thermal conversion systems. Combustion tests were also carried out in an 80kW
boiler and the resulting emissions without any type of abatement filter were characterized.
Demand for new and novel natural compounds has intensified the development of plant-derived compounds known as bioactives that either promote health or are toxic when ingested. Enhanced release of ...these bioactives from plant cells by cell disruption and extraction through the cell wall can be optimized using enzyme preparations either alone or in mixtures. However, the biotechnological application of enzymes is not currently exploited to its maximum potential within the food industry. Here, we discuss the use of environmentally friendly enzyme-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from plant sources, particularly for food and nutraceutical purposes. In particular, we discuss an enzyme-assisted extraction of stevioside from Stevia rebaudiana , as an example of a process of potential value to the food industry.
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