“Lab tested” is a starting point for a question: what did the lab test? A report can tell you a great deal about a particular sample, but the sample, method and reporting limits determine what the results mean.
Here is how to read those details, including what the reports available through Purelight do and do not cover.
Start with the sample
Look for the sample description, lot number and dates. Was the material green coffee, roasted beans, ground coffee or a finished instant product? Was it collected by the laboratory or submitted by the client?
The answers matter when a seller makes a claim about a product. A report for one roasted-coffee sample does not automatically describe every later batch, or a different format made from coffee.
An older report can still document its original sample. What it cannot do on its own is establish the result for the bag being sold today.
Read the report in this order
- Laboratory. Find the lab’s name and report number. If accreditation is cited, check the relevant testing scope.
- Sample. Read the description, identifiers and sampling details.
- Dates. Note when the sample was received and when it was tested.
- Tests. Read the named substances or microbial counts rather than relying on a panel’s marketing name.
- Results. Check the units, method and detection or quantification limits.
- Connection to the claim. Ask how this sample relates to the product and lot being described.
A complete report supplied on request can be useful, just as a downloadable report can. The important part is being able to read the document and understand its scope.
Different tests answer different questions
| Information on a report | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Mycotoxins | The individual compounds tested and their reporting limits |
| Metals | The named elements, units and sample basis |
| Yeast and mold | The count, method and units; these are separate from mycotoxin results |
| Pesticide residues | The substances included in the panel |
| Caffeine | Whether the result describes beans, powder or a prepared serving |
For example, the laboratory group Tentamus describes separate coffee analyses for residues, mycotoxins, chemical composition and other questions. One test cannot stand in for all of them.
ISO/IEC 17025 concerns the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. When a laboratory cites accreditation, the activities covered by that accreditation still matter.
What “not detected” means
A result marked “ND” generally means the substance was not detected at the method’s stated limit. It does not mean absolute zero. A result below a quantification limit has a different meaning, so use the report’s own notes to interpret its symbols.
Keep the units attached to any number you quote. A result in parts per billion cannot be compared directly with a number in parts per million without conversion. A concentration in beans is also different from an amount in a cup.
Organic and decaf labels answer other questions
USDA Organic standards concern production and handling practices. An organic label is not a guarantee of zero mold or mycotoxins.
A decaffeination method explains how caffeine was removed. If a seller gives a caffeine amount or a residue claim, look for evidence relevant to that particular measurement. Missing documentation is a reason to ask a question, not proof that a coffee is unsafe.
The reports available through Purelight
Our roastery partner has provided two FoodChain ID reports from July 2025 for roasted-coffee sample Lot #12983284. One covers metals and mycotoxins; the other covers yeast and mold counts.
The results apply to the sample received by the laboratory. The documents do not identify a Purelight product or verify every current product or batch. They do not include a pesticide residue panel or a caffeine measurement.
For copies of the complete reports, email info@purelightcoffee.com. Our Sourcing & Testing page explains the information available alongside our product descriptions.
Two useful questions for any brand
Ask, “What exactly was tested?” and “How does that sample support the claim about this product?” A clear answer will usually tell you more than a broad promise of purity.
When choosing your coffee, use the tasting notes, roast level and format to find a cup you will enjoy. Read any laboratory claim on its own evidence.
