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Characterizing Coffee Home Roasting and Grinding Emissions Using Low Cost Sensors
ANIYA KHALILI1, Carmen Pacheco-Borden, Shelly Miller, University of Colorado Boulder
Abstract Number: 613
Working Group: Indoor Aerosols
Abstract
Coffee is one of the most universally consumed nonalcoholic beverages. In 2020, worldwide coffee revenue equaled US$363 billion (Shahbandeh, 2020). Diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, 2,3-hexanedione, particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced during the roasting and grinding of coffee (Pengelly et al. 2019) can boost the development of respiratory diseases such as obliterative bronchiolitis (Kreiss et al., 2002). The growing micro roasting/grinding culture have increased concerns regarding potential respiratory health effects associated with consumer exposure to home roasting and grinding of coffee.
Roasting and grinding experiments were conducted in a residential apartment in Boulder, Colorado using two residential home roasting devices (none of the roasters had an air cleaning filter) and one residential grinding device. Two low-cost sensors were used to collect indoor air samples: the “Awair Element” and the “Airthinx”. In the roasting studies the influence of roast level (dark vs. light), whether windows were open or closed, and two different home coffee roasters were investigated. Similarly, in the grinding experiments the influence of grind size (fine), whether windows were open or closed has been investigated.
Roasting results indicated PM2.5 and VOC emissions are highest when the windows are closed. The average PM2.5 was in the unhealthy range (above 35 ug/m3): PM2.5 average range: 1.3-245.6 ug/m3). VOCs, were also elevated during roasting: the average range was 100.9-954.1 ppb. The results also show that dark roast produced more emissions than light roast with both open and closed windows. The results from grinding at home showed little-to-no emissions during grinding.
PM 2.5 is a major source of respiratory disease; therefore, home roasters must consider using proper exhaust fans and ventilation during roasting. Future research to investigate the effects of home roasting and grinding emissions on human health is recommended.