Alterações na composição química e sensorial de café (Coffea arabica L.) nos processos pós-colheita

Abstract

An interdisciplinary study was conducted to evaluate the effects of drying and storage time on changes in the quality of natural and fully washed coffees beans dried out in the yard and mechanically dried at a temperature of 60/40°C in air dryer machine. The coffee beans (Coffea arabica L.) harvested in cherries were processed by dry and wet methods, being subjected to pre-drying yard, followed by drying yard in the sun with air heated of 60/40°C until it reached the water content of 11% (wb). After reached the thermal equilibrium with the environment, the beans were packed in jute bag with a capacity of five kilograms and stored in uncontrolled environment during the period of one year, and removing material from each treatment every three months. To characterize the effect of drying and storage time on the coffee quality different methodologies was evaluated. It was observed less drying time for the fully washed coffee 60/40°C, and thus less energy consumed in the drying process until the point of storage, for the natural coffee there was significant effect of time on the chemical quality, biochemical and sensory; fully washed coffee proved to be more tolerant to drying than natural coffee, regardless of drying method, showing a better drink quality and less variation in chemical composition and biochemistry.