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Combining Multi-Element Analysis with Statistical Modeling for Tracing the Origin of Green Coffee Beans from Amhara Region, Ethiopia

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Abstract

Characterization of coffee terroirs is important to determine authenticity and provide confidence for consumers to select the right product. In this regard, Amhara Region, which is located at the northwestern part of Ethiopia, produces various local coffee types with distinct cup qualities. The coffees are, however, not yet registered with certification marks or trademarks for indications of their geographical origins. This study was aimed at developing analytical methodology useful to determine the geographical origin of green coffee beans produced in Amhara Region based on multi-element analysis combined with multivariate statistical techniques. For this, a total of 120 samples of green coffee beans, collected from four major cultivating zones (West Gojjam, East Gojjam, Awi, and Bahir Dar Especial Zones) were analyzed for K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Si, Cr, Cd, and Pb using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. The elemental analysis data were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). PCA was used to explore the natural groupings of samples and the discriminatory ability of elements. Accordingly, the elements K, Mg, Ca, and Na were found to be the main discriminators among samples. LDA provided a model to classify the coffee samples based on their production zones with an accuracy of 94.2% and prediction ability of 93.4%. Thus, the elemental composition of green coffee beans can be used as a chemical descriptor in the authentication of coffee produced in Amhara Region.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Ethiopia (3rd round, 2017) for the project title: “Enhancing the Quality and Market Share of the Underutilized Coffee of Amhara Region Through Chemical Analysis, Postharvest Loss Reduction and Mapping for Authentication (Branding)”. The authors are also thankful to Bahir Dar University for the laboratory facilities and the Amhara Region’s Bureau of Agriculture for its logistic support. Furthermore, Mr. Lakachew Emiru from the Amhara Bureau of Agriculture is also acknowledged for his guidance during sample collection.

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Author notes

  1. Minbale Endaye, Minaleshewa Atlabachew, Bewketu Mehari, Melkamu Alemayehu, Daniel Ayalew and Bizuayehu Kerisew contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Minbale Endaye & Minaleshewa Atlabachew

  2. Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia

    Bewketu Mehari

  3. Department of Plant Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Melkamu Alemayehu

  4. Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, and Geospatial Data and Technology Center, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Daniel Ayalew Mengistu

  5. Department of Biology, College of Science, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Bizuayehu Kerisew

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  1. Minbale Endaye
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  2. Minaleshewa Atlabachew
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  3. Bewketu Mehari
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  4. Melkamu Alemayehu
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  5. Daniel Ayalew Mengistu
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  6. Bizuayehu Kerisew
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Correspondence to Minaleshewa Atlabachew.

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Endaye, M., Atlabachew, M., Mehari, B. et al. Combining Multi-Element Analysis with Statistical Modeling for Tracing the Origin of Green Coffee Beans from Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Biol Trace Elem Res 195, 669–678 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01866-5

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