Determination of Caffeine in Coffee Samples by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Ultra Violet - Visible Spectrophotometry Methods from Wollega, Ethiopia

In this research caffeine content in coffee sample from Abe Dongoro, Sasiga, Gida Ayana and Sibu Sire of Wollega administrative zone of Ethiopia were determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and UV-Vis Spectrophotometry methods. Caffeine in aqueous extract of coffee samples was extracted with dichloromethane prior to analysis by UV-Vis spectrophotometry method and dichloromethane was evaporated from the extract and the extract was dissolved in water (HPLC grade) to determine caffeine contents in coffee samples using HPLC method. The linearity of the HPLC and UV-Vis spectrophotometry methods were R2 = 0.9999 and R2 = 0.9997 respectively. HPLC and UV-Vis spectrophotometry methods were found to be accurate with recoveries of 97.5% and 117.4%, respectively. Limits of detection (LOD) obtained were 0.148 mg/L for HPLC method and 0.284 mg/L for UV-Vis spectrophotometric method. The caffeine contents in coffee samples obtained using UV-Vis spectrophotometry method was 3.42, 2.638, 2.207 and 2.986 mg/L for Abe Dongoro, Gida Ayana, Sasiga and Sibu Sire coffee samples respectively. Similarly, using HPLC method the caffeine contents in coffee samples obtained was 1.871, 1.601, 1.307, 1.83 mg/L for Abe Dongoro, Gida Ayana, Sasiga and Sibu Sire coffee samples. There is a significant difference between the caffeine contents in coffee samples obtained by the two methods.