Influence of the postharvest processing of the “Garnica” coffee variety on the sensory characteristics and overall acceptance of the beverage

The Influence of Maceration and Flavoring on the Composition and Health-Promoting Properties of Roasted Coffee

Over the years, many methods of refining green beans have been developed, including maceration aimed at enriching the coffee aroma and improving the overall quality. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different methods of maceration (fruit and wine) and the addition of food flavors to coffee beans on antioxidant activity, caffeine, phenolic and organic acid content, as well as health-promoting properties. This research showed that the use of the maceration in melon and apple fruit pulp (100 g of fruit pulp per 100 g of green coffee, incubated for 24 h, coffee roasting at 230 °C, control trial roasted coffee) ensured the highest polyphenol (hydroxycinnamic acids and their esters-chlorogenic acids) content (in melon pulp-13.56 g/100 g d.b. (dry bean); in apple pulp-13.22 g/100 g d.b., p < 0.05 (one-way ANOVA)) and antioxidant activity. Melon (92.11%, IC50 = 3.80 mg/mL extract) and apple (84.55%, IC50 = 4.14 mg/mL) showed the highest α-amylase (enzyme concentration 10 μmol/mL) inhibition activity (0.5 mg/mL for both fruits). The addition of food flavors reduced the total content of chlorogenic acids to the range of 4.64 to 6.48 g/100 g d.b. and increased the content of acrylamide and 5-HMF, which positively correlated with a low antioxidant potential compared to the macerated samples and the control. Studies have shown that coffee macerated in the pulp of melon and apple fruit, due to its great potential to inhibit α-amylase in vivo, may have a preventive effect on type II diabetes. This study complements the current knowledge on the potential health-promoting properties of coffee flavored using different methods; further research should include more advanced models for testing these health-promoting properties. Statistical analysis was based on the determination of the average values of six measurements and their standard deviation, as well as on the one-way ANOVA (analysis of variation) and the Pearson correlation coefficient, using Statistic 10.0 software. The significance was defined at p ≤ 0.05.

Influence of Post-Harvest Processing on Functional Properties of Coffee (Coffea arabica L.)

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, valued for its sensory properties as well as for its psychoactive effects that are associated with caffeine content. Nevertheless, coffee also contains antioxidant substances. Therefore, it can be considered a functional beverage. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of four selected post-harvest coffee fruit treatments (natural, full washed, washed-extended fermentation, and anaerobic) on the antioxidant and psychoactive properties of Arabica coffee. Additionally, the impact of coffee processing on the selected quality parameters was checked. For this purpose, results for caffeine content, total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH assay, pH, titratable acidity, and water content were determined. The results show that natural and anaerobic processing allow the highest caffeine concentration to be retained. The selection of the processing method does not have a significant influence on the TPC or antiradical activity of coffee. The identified differences concerning water content and pH along with lack of significant discrepancies in titratable acidity may have an influence on the sensory profile of coffee.

Does Coffee Have Terroir and How Should It Be Assessed?

The terroir of coffee is defined as the unique sensory experience derived from a single origin roasted coffee that embodies its source. Environmental conditions such as temperature, altitude, shade cover, rainfall, and agronomy are considered the major parameters that define coffee terroir. However, many other parameters such as post-harvest processing, roasting, grinding, and brewing can combine to influence the perception of terroir. In this review, we discuss the contribution of these parameters and their influence on coffee terroir. Assessment of terroir requires defined sensory descriptors, as provided by the World Coffee Research Lexicon, and standardized roast level, grind size, and brew method. The choice of the post-harvest processing method is often environmentally dependent, suggesting that an inclusion into the coffee terroir definition is warranted. Coffee terroir is often not intentionally created but results from the contributions of the Coffea species and variety planted, environmental and agricultural parameters, and both the harvest and post-harvest method used. The unique combination of these parameters gives the consumer a unique cup of coffee, reminiscent of the place the coffee was produced.