Comparative studies of fermented coffee fruits post-treatments on chemical and sensory properties of roasted beans in Yunnan, China

In this study, medium roasted coffee with four different fermented coffee fruits post-treatments (dry, wet, semi-dry and hot air dry) was used as the material. Chemical profile and sensorial analysis were used to comprehensively analyze the effects of post-treatments on coffee flavor characteristics from multiple dimensions. A total of 31 water-soluble chemical components and 39 volatile compounds were identified in roasted coffee, and distinct post-treatments based on chemical orientation make coffee highly differentiated. In addition, the principal component analysis (PCA) of the chemical composition integrated data set showed that the first two principal components could explain 54.9% of the sample variability. All four post-treatments can be classified as “specialty coffees” according to the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) protocol, with various organoleptic characteristics and flavor attributes. As a result, the fermented coffee fruits post-treatment method further determines the quality characteristics of coffee, thus meeting the needs of different niche markets.