Analysis of quality of coffee subjected to semi-carbonic fermentation

Abstract

The objective of this this work was to evaluate semi-carbonic fermentation as a post-harvest treatment of coffee subjected to different processing types on the coffee qualities and on the incidence of fungi. The experiment was conducted in IFSULDEMINAS Campus Inconfidentes, Brazil, in a randomized block design. It was carried out in 9 treatments considering the fruits in different fermented and non-fermented phenological stages. The coffee physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters and sensorial quality were analyzed. The sensorial quality of green + ripe, and light green coffee cherries was significantly improved, presenting decreases in incidence of Cladosporium fungi. The fermented coffee presented more reddish hues. The fermentation process improves the quality of light green and green + ripe coffee cherries. Semi-carbonic fermentation process affects resulting in coffee cherries with reddish hues. Semi-carbonic fermentation reduces the incidence of Cladosporium fungi, without altering the coffee quality.