Furan and Methylfurans in Coffee
Furan and methylfurans are formed when foods are heated, including during the roasting of coffee. Furan is suspected of being carcinogenic and hepatotoxic based on studies conducted in rats and mice.
In its Scientific Opinion of October 2017 on risks to public health related to the presence of furan and methylfurans in food, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that methylfurans may contribute significantly to overall exposure. EFSA also emphasized that additional data on toxicity and, particularly for coffee, data on changes in furan and methylfuran concentrations in the prepared beverage across different preparation methods are needed.
Because furan is a highly volatile compound, it evaporates during coffee preparation. Depending on the brewing method, the furan content in the prepared coffee can vary significantly. The standing time of the coffee and stirring before consumption can also strongly influence the concentration of furan in the beverage.
Since the furan concentration in the beverage depends heavily on the preparation method, coffee is often prepared according to DIN 10792 (Preparation of a Coffee Beverage for Analytical Purposes). Under this standard, the loss of furan during transfer to the beverage is minimized, meaning only small amounts can escape. This results in comparable data across laboratories. However, this procedure does not reflect real consumer behavior. Consumers typically let their coffee sit uncovered until it reaches drinking temperature, or they add milk and sugar. All of these actions greatly reduce furan levels. Therefore, the preparation method should be considered when interpreting results to properly assess actual consumer exposure.
Risk Assessment
According to the EFSA Scientific Opinion (2017), measurable effects for the non-carcinogenic endpoint were observed in animal studies starting at 64 µg/kg body weight per day, and for the carcinogenic endpoint starting at 1310 µg/kg body weight per day. Based on the margin of exposure (MOE) approach, a 60 kg adult should not exceed 38.4 µg/day (non-carcinogenic) or 7.86 µg/day (carcinogenic). Recent consumer magazine evaluations have downgraded products that exceed these values in a daily consumption amount of 500 ml.
There are currently no legal maximum levels for furan or methylfurans in the EU. However, a draft regulation from September 2025 proposes the introduction of maximum levels for furan, 2-methylfuran, and 3-methylfuran in baby food. Additionally, the EU Recommendation (EU) 2022/495 calls for monitoring furan and alkylfurans in food, including explicit data collection for furan, 2-methylfuran, and 3-methylfuran. Where analytical methods permit, data on other alkylfurans (2,5-dimethylfuran, 2-pentylfuran, and 2-ethylfuran) should also be collected and reported to EFSA.
Analysis of Furan and Methylfurans
CR3-Analytik offers sensitive analysis of furan and methylfurans (furan, 2-methylfuran, 3-methylfuran, 2,5-dimethylfuran, and 2-ethylfuran) in both roasted/extract coffee and the prepared beverage. We can also accommodate your specific preparation preferences to reflect the brewing method relevant to your product.
If you have any questions regarding the analysis or assessment of furan and methylfurans, please feel free to contact us.
References
[1] Empfehlung (EU) 2022/495 betreffend die Überwachung des Vorkommens von Furan und Alkylfuranen in Lebensmitteln
[2] EFSA Scientific Opinion (2017) Risks for public health related to the presence of furan and methylfurans in food
[3] Draft Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2023/915 vom 12.09.2025