MALIC ACID
Malic acid, which is commonly found in a wide variety of fruits from kiwis to grapefruit, is an important component for the development of ‘fruity’ notes in several foods. Known as ‘apple acid’ due to its high concentration in apples, malic acid is a relatively simple compound composed of only four carbons, and it plays an important role in biochemical reactions.
It, as well as citric acid, are perhaps most associated with the citric acid cycle that govern a plant’s metabolic system. Although its exact formation within the plant is unknown, we do know that changes in the environment will have a tremendous effect on plant chemistry. Experiments conducted in the past have shown that even within the same variety, coffee planted in different regions will produce very different flavor profiles based on environmental conditions. This, along with the plant’s genetic makeup, is what primarily drives the signature chemical and flavor profile locked within each bean.
For experienced cuppers, the taste of malic acid is similar to that of citric acid, in that they both have a pronounced sourness with malic being a bit more balanced. Because of this, malic acid is commonly used in the beverage industry as an effective acidulant used to improve and/or bring out fruity notes in numerous beverages. In coffee, for example, those coffees exhibiting ‘fruitier’ characters will typically have larger concentrations of malic than their less fruity counterparts. Although there are dozens of reasons why one coffee may taste ‘fruitier’ than the other, this correlation tends to hold true in most cases.
In the green bean form, less than one percent of coffee’s composition is made up of malic acid with higher amounts of citric. Upon roasting, malic acid readily decomposes such that about a third is lost in a typical medium roast and even more in roasts taken past second crack. What is ultimately extracted into the cup will play a role in contributing to coffee’s soluble flavor attributes.
ACETIC ACID
Acetic acid, or more commonly known as the active ingredient in vinegar, is created during the roasting process. When the beans are being roasted, carbohydrates composed of six to ten carbons in length are broken into smaller fragments to create a number of different aromatic compounds, including acetic acid. Depending on roasting conditions, acetic acid levels can increase up to twenty times and makeup a significant portion of coffee’s acidity. Because acetic acid originates from the breakdown of carbohydrates, Arabica coffee will typically have larger concentrations due to its higher level of sugar than robusta.
But unlike the other acids we have discussed so far, acetic acid is a relatively weak acid and does not have nearly the strength of citric, or even malic acid for that matter. However, do not be fooled to disregard its importance. For although its contribution of protons (hydrogen) in the cup may not be significant, it is what it does not do that makes it important.
According to research, it has been known for almost a century that perceived acidity, or what we taste in the cup, is not only a function of free protons in solution, but numerous other variables as well. Volatilization or a compound’s ability to evaporate plays an important role any beverage with coffee being no different. Fortunately for acetic acid volatilization comes easy such that it can be readily detected at even parts per million (ppm) concentrations by our noses – yet another example of how big things can come in small packages.
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Joseph A. Rivera holds a degree in food chemistry and was formerly the Director of Science & Technology at the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA). He’s the creator of the coffee science portal coffeechemistry.com and newly developed Coffee Science Certificate (CSC) program.