COFFEE. 
The seeds of the Coffea arabica, atter roasting at a temperature 
approximating 200° C., are ground and employed in preparing the popular 
beverage termed coffee. Various substitutes have been prepared-by 
manutacturers for the purpose of cheapening the cost of this beverage 
and detrauding the consumers. In the manufacture of these so-called 
substitutes and in the adulteration of genuine coffees, chicory, cereals, 
ete., occupy a prominent place. These substances have little, if anything, 
in common with coffee and possess none of the latter’s valuable prop- 
erties. It is the purpose of this report to deal with methods for the 
detection of these substances in considerable detail, but first certain 
statistical and other data will be considered. ) 
STATISTICS OF COFFEE CONSUMPTION. 
The following statistical statements are based on the Report of the 
United States Treasury Department:! 
Imports of coffees, less the amount exported. 
Pounds. 
NE eae. Eee ee eats Sans oe aes 500, 819, 587 
eh nee ere 8a he EH) At, 408, 562, 775 
MPa Sea ents Bare ort ei sel Ais. do. 2 oe - 561, 132, 100 
LR A ES oer ae ee es mee 490, 181, 755 
The per capita consumption is approximately 7.5 pounds. 
In addition to the consumption of pure coffee, there is a very large 
quantity of so-called substitutes, chicory, etc., sold and consumed as 
coffee. It is impossible to obtain statistics in regard to-these substitutes 
and adulterants. The high prices of coffee prevailing the past year or 
more have induced certain unscrupulous dealers to impose spurious | 
coffee beans upon the public and to adulterate ground and other coffees 
to such an extent that often samples may be purchased having little in 
common with the genuine. 
The fluctuations in the prices of coffees are shown in the accompany- 
ing table. The values of the coffees are those which they bore in the 
markets of the countries from which imported. This does not include 
the cost of transportation, etc. 
1 Commerce and Navigation of the United States. 
899 
20393—No, 13——3 
