Chemical analyses aiming the examination of free phenolic acids content (re-count to the caffeic acid) in the seeds of 12 bean cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Phaseolus coccineus L. were carried out in years 2002-2004 in the Department of Vegetable Crops and Medicinal Plants in Agricultural University, Lublin. The content of phenolic acids in seeds taken from the bean cultivars of white and colour bean seed coat was compared. The content of phenolic acids in seeds, bean seed coat and seed cotyledons was also determined. As a result of the experiment, a significant difference in content of free phenolic acids in the seeds of particular bean cultivars was observed. An average content of phenolic acids (re-count to caffeic acid) was highest in bean seed coat: 0.04% (white seeds) and 0.12% (colour seeds: claret-coloured, navy blue and black). The content of phenolic acids in whole bean seeds was 0.05% (white seeds) and 0.07% (colour seeds), but in cotyledonos 0.03% and 0.09%, on average. Bean seed coat was 8.7-11.4% of the whole mass of seeds, depending on the cultivar. The one seed mass was different for Phaseolus vulgaris L. (mean 0.28-0.65 g) and Phaseolus coccineus L. (mean 1.06-1.77 g).