Cell-based coffee future-proofs world’s favorite brew – Nature Biotechnology | Maqvi News

Lior Raviv, Pluri’s chief technical officer, says: “We hypothesized we could take the cells from the plant and put them in a bioreactor [to grow coffee].” Through their work in cell therapy and cultivated meat, the Pluri team knew that not all cells like the same growing conditions. Taking plant cell samples, they made cell lines and, instead of growing them swirling around in suspension culture, they used a packed-bed bioreactor. The coffee cells slowly flow through, taking on a tissue-like structure. The cells are fed salts and vitamins, and their natural metabolism then takes over to produce secondary metabolites such as caffeine. The resulting biomass, which forms as small clumps, is dried and gently roasted. The final product looks and tastes like ground coffee. Pluri is now focusing on scaling up and seeking regulatory approvals.

Stem, a Paris-based company, is also propagating and fermenting coffee cells lines derived from coffee plants in bioreactors. The company adds natural flavors taken from coffee byproducts to the resulting green coffee powder, which they dry and roast like coffee beans. Another startup, California Cultured, is applying plant cell culture technology to both coffee and cocoa beans.