Analysis of Freshly Brewed Espresso Using a Retronasal Aroma Simulator and Influence of Milk Addition

A quick (headspace: 1 min and retronasal aroma simulator (RAS): 2 min) sampling method for capturing volatiles released from coffee drinks by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) (fiber type; divinylbenzene (DVB)/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)) has been applied to freshly brewed espresso and cafe latte (espresso and milk). Headspace volatiles and volatiles in the RAS effluent were collected from espresso and cafe latte, and examined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and GC/olfactometry (GC/O, CharmAnalysis™). When milk was added to espresso in 60% by weight, aroma release (odor activities) was generally suppressed, both in headspace and RAS aromas. The relative charm value of sweet-caramel odor increased in the headspace aroma, while the phenolic odor increased markedly and the smoke-roast odor decreased in the RAS aroma. These results suggested that milk addition had different effects on the headspace and RAS aromas.