Tag: Coffee alkaloids

Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance on the planet. But beyond this famous stimulant, many wonder what alkaloid occurs naturally in coffee and what other lesser-known compounds contribute to its unique taste and aroma.

With over 2.25 billion cups consumed globally every day, many know that caffeine is the source of coffee's stimulating kick. However, the stimulating properties and complex flavors of the beverage are attributed to a cocktail of active compounds, leading many to ask: which alkaloids are in coffee besides the most famous one?.

Over 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed daily around the world. While many people associate coffee's stimulating effect with caffeine, a purine alkaloid, it's not the only alkaloid present, and roasting significantly alters the chemical composition of the final brew.

While the coffee plant itself is part of the Rubiaceae family, which contains the Coffea genus, it does not naturally produce harmine in its green state. The answer to whether harmine is in coffee, however, is a bit more nuanced, as a related, but distinct, β-carboline alkaloid, harman, is formed during the roasting process.