Sensory analysis and mid-infrared spectroscopy for discriminating roasted specialty coffees

Abstract

In general, the process of roasting coffee uses a rotated fix drum or fluidized bed. Theoretically, the fluidized bed can provide more homogenous roastings throughout the process. Thus, in this study, we analyzed the sensorial and chemical attributes for two different coffees submitted to three roasting profiles using fluidized bed roaster. The coffees were roasted for a high temperature for a short time (HTST), medium temperature for a medium time (MTMT), and low temperature for a long time (LTLT). Sensory analysis was performed on the roasted coffees according to the SCA methodology and chemical analy sis through mid-infrared spectroscopy. The results of sensory analysis indicated a preference for MTMT roasting for coffee grown at high altitude and HTST roasting for coffee grown at low altitude. Chemically, coffees show that LTLT and MTMT roasts are most distant from each other in their chemical com position when roasting low altitude coffee, whereas the HTST and MTMT roasts are the most distant from each other when roasting high altitude coffee.