Tests carried out by Italian magazine Il Salvagente included searching for the presence of dangerous substances such as pesticides and acrylamide but also taste assessment.
Coffee in capsules has become a daily habit for millions of homes in Europe and of course in Greece, since it remains a particularly popular choice due to ease and stability in the result. However, it does not cease to raise questions about both the quality of the raw material and the environmental consequences of its wide use.
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A new test published by Italian magazine Il Salvagente brought to the microscope 17 of the most widespread espresso capsules on the market, combining laboratory analyses for pesticide and acrylamide residues with a taste assessment by special testers. The interest of the investigation is not limited to chemical findings, but also touches on everyday consumption issues, taste and environmental footprint, issues that concern the Greek public more and more, which has largely adopted the capsules as an easy solution for espresso at home.
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Phytopharmaceuticals and acrylamide in capsules
According to the results, all the capsules tested contained traces of pesticides, However, at levels below the permitted limits. The substances found were generally the same in all samples, which indicates that the issue concerns more the wider agricultural production of coffee than individual brands.
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These are two substances: 2-phenylphenol , which is used as bactericide and conservative in agriculture and in certain personal care products. It is irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract and toxic to aquatic organisms. The second ubiquitous substance is
amitraz, an acaricide used in agriculture and considered to be moderate toxic. Decomposes in various metabolites identified as active in the nervous system and capable of causing oxidative stress. According to some studies, those containing Section 2,4-dimethylaniline maintain some biological activity and toxicity. Finally, 10 of the 17 samples received an additional penalty for the presence of trace (under the limit of quantification of 0,005 mg/kg) clothianidine, a pesticide belonging to the family of neonicotinoids, powerful insecticides that have proved widely harmful to bees (since 2018, it has been banned in the EU for external use, and intended for greenhouses). Lavazza Qualità Oro is the only product containing two traces of pesticides other than measurable.
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The situation is different for acrylamide, a potentially carcinogenic pollutant formed during roasting of coffee beans. In the samples analysed, levels ranged between 100 and 250 micrograms per kg, again below the 400 microgram limit of the European Directive, but differences between different brands show that there are cases where the presence of the process pollutant has been reduced and therefore it is possible to do so by appropriate measures.
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Acrylamide is an infectious agent that develops through the famous «Maillard reaction» where starchy and sugary foods are cooked at temperatures above 120 degrees Celsius in low humidity conditions. The substance is currently classified in Group 2A as «carcinogenic potential for humans», but the «Upgrade to confirmed carcinogenic» (Group 1) in the light of recent studies showing correlation with breast, kidney, endometrial and ovarian cancers . Although EFSA has confirmed the genotoxicity and neurotoxicity of the infectious agent, Europe has not set a legal limit Because, in fact, it is not possible to define a «tolerable daily intake». Test operators agreed with simple «indicative values» for individual products for coffee up to 400 μg/kg . Compared to this limit, 11 out of 17 capsules fell below average and received a rating between Medium and Good/Outstanding. In six cases, the score fell below Medium because the acrylamide level detected exceeded 200 μg/kg.
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In addition to laboratory data, however, the taste test was of particular interest. There the differences were more intense, with some coffees distinguished for the complexity of the perfume and balance, while others were found poor in cream and tasty intensity. The overall consumption experience, including body, bitterness, acidity and aftertaste, also played an important role.
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Below are the 17 capsules involved in the test:
A/Amarca & product1Borbone Miscela Decissa2Conad Espresso Forte3Coop Gusto Intenso4Esselunga Intenso5Eurospin Jerez Espresso6Illy Intenso Bold Roast7Kimbo Intenso Napoletano8Lavazza Crema e Gusto9Lavazza Qualità Oro10Lidl Bellarom Intenso Espresso11L’Or Barista Espresso12Nespresso Ispirazione Italiana Napoli13Nespresso Volluto14Starbucks Blonde Espresso Roast15Starbucks Ristretto Shot16Todis Scirocco Caffè Intenso17Vergnano Napoli
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Another issue raised by this test is the environmental footprint of the capsules and the ease of disposal especially considering that the rules of the game will soon change. Since 12 August, with the entry into force of Regulation No 2025/40, each capsule will be considered a packaging. This means that, as a disposable product, we can no longer reject it in undivided waste, but we should follow the instructions that each manufacturer must write on the packaging. It is easy to imagine that many will transfer their work to the consumer to empty the used coffee out of the capsule and discard it as plastic.
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