Authentication of Roasted Coffee Beans via LIBS: Statistical Principal Component Analysis

Great efforts are constantly being made by industry-specific coffee agencies to standardize the certification of coffee quality. In consequence, international trade requires quick and reliable analyses because of their high cost, the risk of misclassification, the difficulty of large-scale analysis, and, most importantly, the subjectivity generated by tasters. A powerful analytical method that can be used to accurately evaluate and identify coffee varieties is Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). In this study, it provided a quick, cost-effective, and residue-free method commonly used in laboratories for direct analysis, determining multi-elemental composition, and exploring the organic composition of roasted coffee. The mineral composition of eight varieties of pure roasted coffee was determined using a pulsed nanosecond laser produced from a Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm. The most important spectral variables for coffee variety identification were sequestered using LIBS coupled with a chemometric-tool-based principal component analysis (PCA). The nine main wavelengths chosen corresponded to the elements of C(I), Mg(II, I), Ca(II), Fe(I), K(I), H(I), and O(I), in addition to the CN group. The overall findings indicated that using LIBS to identify coffee varieties is feasible based on a simple, quick, and eco-friendly strategy without the requirement for complex preparation or wasting time in preparation. Such studies can help to protect the coffee market and businesses by certifying product quality. Using LIBS and full statistical illustrations with PCA, the prevention of unfair competition, protection of consumers, and determination of coffee quality can be achieved.