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Promotive effect of cold brew coffee on the maturation of S. mutans biofilms during the post-initiation stage.

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Title: Promotive effect of cold brew coffee on the maturation of S. mutans biofilms during the post-initiation stage.
Authors: Kim U; Department of Food and Nutrition, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea., Oh SW; Department of Food and Nutrition, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: swoh@kookmin.ac.kr.
Source: International journal of food microbiology [Int J Food Microbiol] 2026 Sep 02; Vol. 458, pp. 111873. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 May 25.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Elsevier Science Publishers Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 8412849 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-3460 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 01681605 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Food Microbiol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Amsterdam : Elsevier Science Publishers, c1984-
MeSH Terms: Biofilms*/growth & development , Biofilms*/drug effects , Streptococcus mutans*/physiology , Streptococcus mutans*/drug effects , Streptococcus mutans*/growth & development , Coffee*/chemistry, Stainless Steel ; Food Microbiology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Abstract: The widespread use of cold brew coffee and reusable stainless steel drinkware has introduced novel considerations for microbial safety in consumer practices. This study investigates the effects of diluted cold brew coffee (dCBC) on the post-initiation maturation of Streptococcus mutans biofilms on stainless steel surfaces, simulating reusable cup conditions. Despite the known antimicrobial properties of chlorogenic acid (CGA), high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that dCBC contained sublethal CGA concentrations (673.825 ± 6.106 μg/mL), which significantly enhanced biofilm biomass and viable cell counts across a range of temperatures (5, 25, and 35 °C). Biofilm development was characterized by increased protein-rich extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and reinforced matrix architecture, as confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), while early-stage adhesion and aggregation remained unchanged. Metabolic assays further indicate elevated acidogenic activity and reduced reactive oxygen species levels, suggesting that dCBC exposure creates a physiologically favorable environment for biofilm maturation. These findings suggest that sub-inhibitory exposure to phenolic compounds in dCBC may promote biofilm maturation rather than suppression, potentially compromising the hygienic integrity of reusable food-contact surfaces. The study underscores the importance of evaluating beverage-material interactions and optimizing cleaning protocols to ensure microbiological safety in sustainable consumption practices.
(Copyright © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Biofilm; Cold brew coffee; Post-initiation stage; Reusable cup; Streptococcus mutans
Substance Nomenclature: 12597-68-1 (Stainless Steel)
0 (Coffee)
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260529 Date Completed: 20260612 Latest Revision: 20260612
Update Code: 20260612
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2026.111873
PMID: 42214915
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Promotive effect of cold brew coffee on the maturation of S. mutans biofilms during the post-initiation stage.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Kim+U%22">Kim U</searchLink>; Department of Food and Nutrition, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Oh+SW%22">Oh SW</searchLink>; Department of Food and Nutrition, Kookmin University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: swoh@kookmin.ac.kr.
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  Data: <i>Original Publication</i>: Amsterdam : Elsevier Science Publishers, c1984-
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Biofilms%22">Biofilms*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Biofilms+growth+%26+development%22">growth & development</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Biofilms%22">Biofilms*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Biofilms+drug+effects%22">drug effects</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Streptococcus+mutans%22">Streptococcus mutans*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Streptococcus+mutans+physiology%22">physiology</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Streptococcus+mutans%22">Streptococcus mutans*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Streptococcus+mutans+drug+effects%22">drug effects</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Streptococcus+mutans%22">Streptococcus mutans*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Streptococcus+mutans+growth+%26+development%22">growth & development</searchLink> <br /><searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Coffee%22">Coffee*</searchLink>/<searchLink fieldCode="MM" term="%22Coffee+chemistry%22">chemistry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Stainless+Steel%22">Stainless Steel</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Food+Microbiology%22">Food Microbiology</searchLink> ; <searchLink fieldCode="MH" term="%22Microscopy%2C+Electron%2C+Scanning%22">Microscopy, Electron, Scanning</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The widespread use of cold brew coffee and reusable stainless steel drinkware has introduced novel considerations for microbial safety in consumer practices. This study investigates the effects of diluted cold brew coffee (dCBC) on the post-initiation maturation of Streptococcus mutans biofilms on stainless steel surfaces, simulating reusable cup conditions. Despite the known antimicrobial properties of chlorogenic acid (CGA), high-performance liquid chromatography revealed that dCBC contained sublethal CGA concentrations (673.825 ± 6.106 μg/mL), which significantly enhanced biofilm biomass and viable cell counts across a range of temperatures (5, 25, and 35 °C). Biofilm development was characterized by increased protein-rich extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and reinforced matrix architecture, as confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), while early-stage adhesion and aggregation remained unchanged. Metabolic assays further indicate elevated acidogenic activity and reduced reactive oxygen species levels, suggesting that dCBC exposure creates a physiologically favorable environment for biofilm maturation. These findings suggest that sub-inhibitory exposure to phenolic compounds in dCBC may promote biofilm maturation rather than suppression, potentially compromising the hygienic integrity of reusable food-contact surfaces. The study underscores the importance of evaluating beverage-material interactions and optimizing cleaning protocols to ensure microbiological safety in sustainable consumption practices.<br /> (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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  Data: <i>Keywords: </i>Biofilm; Cold brew coffee; Post-initiation stage; Reusable cup; Streptococcus mutans
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  Data: 12597-68-1 (Stainless Steel)<br />0 (Coffee)
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  Data: <i>Date Created: </i>20260529 <i>Date Completed: </i>20260612 <i>Latest Revision: </i>20260612
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  Data: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2026.111873
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        Value: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2026.111873
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        Text: English
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        StartPage: 111873
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Food Microbiology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biofilms growth & development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biofilms drug effects
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Streptococcus mutans physiology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Streptococcus mutans drug effects
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Streptococcus mutans growth & development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Coffee chemistry
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Promotive effect of cold brew coffee on the maturation of S. mutans biofilms during the post-initiation stage.
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            NameFull: Kim U
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            NameFull: Oh SW
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              Text: 2026 Sep 02
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