Impact of roasting levels and brewing cycles on bioactive compounds in spent coffee grounds

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) represent a potential source of residual bioactive compounds for sustainable reuse. Effects of roasting levels and sequential brewing cycles on recovery of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), caffeine, and chlorogenic acid (CGA) from Arabica and Robusta SCGs were investigated. Coffee beans were roasted (light, medium, dark), brewed through three hydrothermal cycles, and the resulting SCGs extracted with 70% ethanol. The first brewing cycle removed most water-soluble bioactive compounds, while subsequent brews induced smaller compositional changes, indicating the persistence of functional compounds. Roasting influenced the initial bioactive profile, but its impact diminished after brewing. Robusta SCGs retained higher TPC and antioxidant activity while caffeine diminished with brewing cycle, they were relatively stable to roasting while CGA was more heat-sensitive. Principal component analysis confirmed brewing history as the main factor governing SCG chemical profiles. These findings support brewing-informed SCG valorization for sustainable functional food applications. • Light roasting preserves phenolics, flavonoids, CGA, and antioxidant activity. • Brewing cycles reduce soluble bioactives while increasing SCG moisture/porosity. • Caffeine remains stable; chlorogenic acid shows strong heat sensitivity. • Robusta retains slightly more bioactive compounds than Arabica overall. • PCA confirms roasting level and brewing cycle as key drivers of composition.