Hydrocolloids from coffee: physicochemical and functional properties of an arabinogalactan-protein fraction from green beans

The arabinogalactan-protein (AGP) fraction of green coffee beans accounts for similar to 15% of the dry bean. A procedure was developed to solubilise most of the AGP content of the beans so that its properties as a hydrocolloid could be investigated. An AGP fraction was partially purified from green arabica coffee beans, its rheological properties characterised and compared to those of some commercially important hydrocolloids, particularly acacia gum. The coffee AGP fraction dissolved readily in water to give colourless clear solutions. The polymer was a polyelectrolyte with a high molecular weight (M-w 3.78 x 10(6)), characterised by a narrow polydispersity index (M-w/M-n 1.3). The intrinsic viscosity was close to that of acacia gum ([eta] =0.23 dL g(-1)), but a 1 wt% solution of coffee AGP was three times more viscous than acacia gum at the same concentration. Coffee AGP showed Newtonian flow for concentrations below 6 wt%, but above this concentration the flow behaviour entered a shear-thinning regime. The coffee AGP fraction possessed interesting foaming properties providing that the biopolymer concentration was high enough to initially stabilize the interface that is created. The high molecular weight of coffee AGP combined with its globular structure conferred upon it a high ability to retain water within a foam thin film. However, the structure of the interfacial film was less effective than that of acacia gum to entrap efficiently the gas into the foam. In summary, coffee AGP shows some interesting rheological features which suggest that coffee beans could be used as an alternative source of the class of surface-active polymers which find many commercial applications. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.