What Does Coffee Scope Cover in Terms of Ingredients?

Coffee scope refers to the range of ingredients and botanical sources that fall under the definition of coffee. Coffee is made from the roasted and ground seeds of the Coffea plant, then brewed with water. Standard coffee contains only those two components. Any additive beyond water and coffee solids changes the product category, which is why labeling rules distinguish pure coffee from flavored or compound drinks.

The ingredient list matters because food safety standards set permitted additives by category. Vegetable carbon black, for instance, is an insoluble colorant allowed only within specific product scopes under GB 2760-2014. A Shanghai milk tea shop was penalized after adding it to a black-colored drink, showing that what counts as the ingredients in coffee or a coffee-style beverage has legal consequences.

In recent years, dark-themed beverages marketed for their "black" appearance have proliferated in the food and beverage market, drawing in many novelty-seeking consumers with their distinctive looks. However, such products may conceal food safety risks. Recently, the Market Supervision Administration of Xuhui District, Shanghai, inspected a milk tea shop and found that its "Black Coconut Strawberry Milk" was unusually deep black in color. An investigation confirmed that the staff had illegally added "vegetable carbon black" during preparation. This violated food additive usage standards, and the shop was ordered to rectify the issue and was penalized. Notably, the brand involved is none other than "Benzhi Tea," which went viral last year—its first Hangzhou store once set a record with queues of over a thousand people and resale prices reaching 300 yuan per cup. This incident serves as another reminder that creative beverages must also strictly adhere to safety底线.

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In the food and beverage industry, products based on the concept of "black" are commonplace. Many brands create dark-style drinks by adding coloring ingredients to produce a strong visual impact, thereby attracting novelty-seeking customers. However, recent news has revealed that such dark-themed products may harbor food safety risks that cannot be ignored.

Recently, during an inspection of a milk tea shop within its jurisdiction, the Market Supervision Administration of Xuhui District, Shanghai, noticed that a beverage called "Black Coconut Strawberry Milk" had a very deep black color. They immediately launched an in-depth investigation into the ingredients and production process. Upon verification, it was found that the staff had added the food additive "vegetable carbon black" during preparation to give the drink a distinctive appearance, which was used as a selling point.

The Shanghai Market Supervision Administration pointed out that the "Black Coconut Strawberry Milk" produced and sold by the shop's person in charge exceeded the permitted scope of use for "vegetable carbon black" under the National Food Safety Standard for Food Additive Use (GB 2760-2014). This violated Article 34, Item (4) of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China. The Xuhui District Market Supervision Administration legally ordered the party to correct the illegal act, confiscated the illegal gains, and imposed a fine.

It is reported that vegetable carbon black is an insoluble colorant, generally used in suspension form, commonly found in candies, mostly as a masking agent, and possesses characteristics such as natural origin, good stability, and strong adsorption capacity.

It is not the same as the "activated carbon" we often refer to. Instead, it is a food additive made from the dried stems and shells of certain plants (usually coconut shells) through carbonization and refining. When used in compliance, vegetable carbon black is safe for human consumption, but excessive intake or improper use may pose health risks. Vegetable carbon black has an adsorptive function and can adsorb other substances in the body; it may also cause indigestion, constipation, and other conditions.

China's Standard for the Use of Food Additives (GB2760-2011) stipulates that vegetable carbon black can be used in frozen drinks (except 03.04 edible ice), candies, rice products, wheat products, pastries, biscuits, etc., with a maximum usage of 5.0g/KG.

It is worth noting that, regarding the shop involved, the Shanghai Market Supervision authorities also published the on-site findings of the food additive "vegetable carbon black" and the sales details page of the related beverage. From the screenshot, it can be clearly seen that the logo on the cup bears "Bonjour," which is exactly the milk tea brand that trended on Weibo last year due to its booming business upon opening, also known as "Benzhi Tea."

Public records show that the brand was founded in Suzhou in 2020 and quickly gained local popularity with celebrity labels such as "Dilraba Dilmurat's same style" and "Dilraba Dilmurat's carefully selected," and was even called "the pride of Suzhou" by fans.

According to multiple media reports, the brand opened its first Hangzhou store in August last year, and at one point saw daily order surges, with queues exceeding 1,000 people at peak times, an estimated wait of about 10 hours, and resale prices being bid up to as high as 300 per cup. It offers nearly 30 products, and the involved "Black Coconut Strawberry Milk" is one of the brand's earlier products featuring a black appearance as a highlight.

Image source: Internet screenshot

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.