28/03/2025
RESEARCH OPENS DOORS FOR SCIENCE-BACKED GREEN COFFEE STANDARDS
For the first time, a research team is working to gather scientific data to create a standard for green coffee. The Coffee Science Foundation and Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) have started a research project to examine how physical defects in green coffee affect its taste, aroma, and chemical makeup.
This project, led by researchers at the Coffee Excellence Center at ZHAW, will review and assess the defects listed in the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) green coffee classification system and the new Coffee Value Assessment (CVA).
While the SCA’s green coffee classification system and other similar systems have been around for a while, this is the first research effort aimed at providing strong scientific evidence for a green coffee standard.
The research will primarily focus on how these defects affect sensory properties, but it will also include chemical analysis. The researchers hope to identify the causes of the defects and any possible health risks linked to defective beans.