Considering the importance of the chemical compounds in Arabica coffee beans in the definition of the drink sensory quality and authentication of coffee regions, the aim of this study was to evaluate, from principal component analysis—PCA—if there is a relation between the caffeine, trigonelline, and chlorogenic acid (5-CQA) content and the sensory attributes of the drink, and in this context, enabling the differentiation of cultivars in two coffee-producing regions of Brazil. We evaluated seven rust-resistant Coffea arabica cultivars, and two rust-susceptible cultivars in two cultivation environments: Lavras, in the southern region of Minas Gerais state, and Patrocinio in the Cerrado region of Minas Gerais. The flavor and acidity were determinant for differentiation of the cultivars and their interaction with the evaluated environments. Cultivars Araponga MG1, Catigua MG2, and Catigua MG1 are the most suitable for the production of specialty coffee in the state of Minas Gerais. A poor correlation was found between caffeine, trigonelline, 5-CQA contents, and fragrance, flavor, acidity, body, and final score attributes. However, these compounds enabled the differentiation of the environments. The PCA indicated superiority in the sensory quality of cultivars resistant to rust, compared to the control, Bourbon Amarelo, and Topázio MG1190.

Despite the great diversity of available Arabica coffee cultivars it is observed that, even when presenting different phenotypes of interest, new cultivars are adopted at a slow pace by coffee growers. One possible reason may be the lack of information on the performance of these genotypes in different regions and culture conditions. The aim this work was to verify the performance of twelve coffee cultivars in relation to morphoagronomic characteristics at initial stage of development, as well as the beans quality, in a condition of typical cultivation of the Cerrado. The trial was carried out in the municipality of Monte Carmelo - MG, in randomized block design, with four replicates. Morphoagronomic characteristics were evaluated 15 months after the implantation of the crop. The productivity and, subsequently, the quality of the beans, were evaluated at 18 months. Statistical analyzes were performed using the Genes software. The data were submitted to analysis of variance. The F test was used to determine the significance of treatments. The means were grouped by the Scott-Knott test (1974) at 5% probability and the experimental precision was verified by the estimation of the experimental variation coefficient (CV) and the selective accuracy. The sensory attributes were evaluated in a radar diagram, called “Sensogram”. Genetic variability was observed among cultivars for the vegetative characters. The cultivars Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 and MGS Aranãs stood out as more productive, with a high percentage of sieve 16 and above and low percentage of grain type mocha. All the cultivars stood out as special, with emphasis on the cultivar Bourbon Amarelo IAC J10 in the wet processing and Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 in the natural processing.

The quality of the coffee drink is defined by its sensorial attributes which are developed through the chemical predecessors found on raw grains. Due to this relation, this present work had a goal evaluating the sensorial characteristics of resistant coffee cultivars to leaf rust for the production of specialty coffee and correlate them with the profile of fatty acids present on raw grains, enabling the distinction of cultivars in two environments of Minas Gerais. For this purpose, seven cultivars of Coffea arabica resistance to leaf rust were evaluated and two susceptible cultivars, in two growing environments: Lavras, in the South of Minas Gerais and Patrocínio, in the Cerrado of Minas Gerais. The C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1, C18:2 w-6, C18:3 w-3 fatty acids common in coffee grains, were identified in the cultivars. The presence of an acid uncommon in coffee grains, the gamma linolenic acid (C18:3 w-6, GLA) was also detected. The palmitic and alpha linolenic fatty acids presented correlation with the sensorial quality of the drink. The linoleic, palmitic, alpha linolenic and gamma linolenic fatty acids were capable to differentiate the Patrocinio and Lavras environments. The profile of the fatty acids permitted differentiate the leaf rust resistant cultivars, the environments as also the interaction between these two matters related to the sensorial quality.

This study was developed to determine the beverage quality and the sensory profile of Coffea arabica accesses of the Germplasm Collection of Minas Gerais State in two consecutive harvests. Mature coffee fruits from 49 accesses were selectively harvested in the 2015 and 2016 harvests, and after processing and drying they were sensorially evaluated by a team of trained judges in accordance to the protocols of the Specialty Coffee Association. The data were analyzed by Principal Component Analysis, Cluster Hierarchical Analysis, and Content Analysis. The year of harvest influences the scores of the sensory attributes of the beverage of some coffee accesses. The access 27 (Pacamara) stood out with the highest sensory score seen in the first year of harvest. The accesses 36 (Timor Hybrid UFV376-52) and 43 (BE5 WushWush) stood out for the final sensory score in the two years of evaluation. All accesses belonging to the Timor Hybrid Germplasm stood out in the beverage quality in the second year of harvest. A total of 139 sensory attribute descriptors were identified, and the content analysis showed different levels for the frequency of terms in each access group formed as a function of quality. The Germplasm Collection of Minas Gerais has a wide variability for the production of superior quality coffees, and the year of harvest influences to a greater or lesser degree the potential of quality of the accesses.

Pesquisas recentes têm indicado várias alterações nos grãos de café decorrentes do processamento e secagem. Assim, neste trabalho objetivou-se verificar a influência da secagem lenta e secagem rápida sobre alguns parâmetros bioquímicos e fisiológicos de grãos de café e sobre a qualidade da bebida. Cafés da cultivar Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 foram colhidos e submetidos a três formas de processamento, café natural, desmucilado e despolpado, e dois métodos de secagem, lenta à sombra em telados suspensos e secagem rápida em secadores de camada fixa a 35 ºC. Após secagem, os cafés foram submetidos às seguintes avaliações: análise sensorial, condutividade elétrica, lixiviação de potássio, atividade enzimática da polifenoloxidase, acidez total titulável e análises fisiológicas. Há interação entre métodos de processamento e de secagem sobre a qualidade sensorial do café, sendo mais evidentes os efeitos da secagem. Os cafés obtidos por via úmida tem maior tolerância à secagem do que os processados por via seca. Melhor qualidade sensorial é obtida nos cafés submetidos à secagem lenta, independentemente da forma de processamento utilizada. Cafés de melhor qualidade sensorial apresentam melhor qualidade fisiológica.