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Research Pathways of Coffee By-Products: A Scientometric Analysis of Biorefinery-Oriented Studies (1977–2025)
Fig. 2. Bubble timeline of specific coffee by-product publications from 1977 to 2025. Bubble size is proportional to the annual number of publications. Vertical dashed lines indicate the three evolutionary phases: P1 (Emergence, 1977–2008), P2 (Development, 2009–2017), and P3 (Expansion, 2018–2025). The visualization highlights a clear transition from early, scattered studies on coffee pulp to a massive, simultaneous expansion across multiple fractions, heavily dominated by spent coffee grounds (SCG) in P3.
Fig. 2. Bubble timeline of specific coffee by-product publications from 1977 to 2025. Bubble size is proportional to the annual number of publications. Vertical dashed lines indicate the three evolutionary phases: P1 (Emergence, 1977–2008), P2 (Development, 2009–2017), and P3 (Expansion, 2018–2025). The visualization highlights a clear transition from early, scattered studies on coffee pulp to a massive, simultaneous expansion across multiple fractions, heavily dominated by spent coffee grounds (SCG) in P3.

Author:Tzu-Huan Hung、Ting-Wei Chiu、Chia-Hui Tang、Fu-Bon Shih、Chia-Jen Liu、Feng-Chyi Lin、Shu-Fen Chang*

Abstract:

This study presents a scientometric analysis of global coffee by-product research from 1977 to 2025, using 1,195 unique publications to elucidate the field’s evolution from waste management to biorefinery applications. Driven by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance mandates, research on related topics has exhibited exponential growth since 2018, with spent coffee grounds (SCG) receiving the most attention (657 publications). A cross-comparison of geography and raw materials reveals a distinct dual-track pattern: consuming nations (e.g., Italy, South Korea, Spain) dominate SCG research, while producing nations (e.g., Brazil, India) prioritize upstream by-products (pulp, husk), reflecting a feedstockoriented research tendency. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified five major research clusters: circular bioeconomy frameworks, thermochemical conversion, bioplastics, agronomic recycling, and bioactive substance recovery. These clusters demonstrate technological divergence based on feedstock characteristics: SCG is closely linked to biofuels and carbon materials, whereas upstream by-products such as pulp, focus on bioactive recovery and agronomic recycling. Thematic evolution analysis further indicates a paradigm shift from early waste management to complex circular bioeconomy architecture. Consequently, this study proposes a “Dual-Track” model for future development, where producers and consumers strengthen industrial and commercial integration within their respective supply chains. Specifically, the producer end should focus on specialized networks to maximize nutritional recovery and agricultural value, while the consumer end targets advanced materials and circular energy industries. This location-adaptive framework provides a strategic roadmap for building a resilient global coffee bioeconomy.

Key words:Coffee by-products, Scientometric analysis, Biorefinery, Circular bioeconomy, Spent coffee grounds

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Journal of
Taiwan Agricultural Research
Vol. 75, No.3 (2026) ISSN: 2790-086X Vol. 75, No.3 (2026)
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