This study evaluated the impact of different drying methods on the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory qualities of coffees produced in the Campos das Vertentes (CV) and Alta Mogiana (AM) regions of Brazil. The sun-drying (S), sun-drying combined with rotary mechanical dryer (SM), and CoffeeDryer^® mechanical dryer (C) methods were compared at different harvest times for the same crop (2024). The results indicated that CoffeeDryer^® preserved relatively high levels of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, reaching 3.24 g of gallic acid equivalents per 100 g (g EAG·100 g⁻¹) and 47.96% antioxidant protection in the coffees produced in Alta Mogiana, whereas the sun-dried coffees presented relatively low values (2.20 g EAG·100 g⁻¹ and 28.96% protection). In the Campos das Vertentes region, C maintained 2.78 g EAG·100 g⁻¹ phenolic compounds and 50.29% antioxidant protection, outperforming combined drying (2.48 g EAG·100 g⁻¹ and 41.17%). Regardless of the region and time of harvest, the coffees dried by C had a water activity of less than 0.6 and more stable moisture content (7.73–10.42%), reducing the possibility of proliferation of filamentous fungi and, consequently, mycotoxins. In the sensory evaluation, CoffeeDryer^® guaranteed higher scores for fragrance/aroma and flavor, allowing the coffees to reach 80 to 81 points on the SCA scale, which is classified as special. Thus, the use of CoffeeDryer^® proved to be an efficient alternative for optimizing coffee drying, preserving its chemical and microbiological qualities, and enhancing its commercial and sensory value.

Among the fruit species found in the Cerrado biome of Brazil, Campomanesia pubescens stands out. It produces fruits with a sweet and sour taste, known as gabiroba, which are consumed fresh or processed. This study aimed to evaluate Campomanesia pubescens fruits from Campos das Vertentes – MG, Brazil, regarding their phenological and physicochemical characteristics throughout development. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design consisting of seven evaluation periods (9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, and 63 days post-anthesis), with 3 repetitions. The fruits harvested at each developmental stage were subjected to analyses of color, mass, longitudinal and transversal diameter, relative growth rate, respiration rate, firmness, soluble and total pectin, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, and total sugars. The results obtained were subjected to analysis of variance, followed by polynomial regression at the 5% significance level, and grouped according to their similarities based on the Kohonen self-organizing map. Campomanesia pubescens fruits showed cumulative increases in longitudinal and transversal diameters and mass during the 63 days of development, displaying a simple sigmoidal growth pattern. The growth initiated after anthesis overlapped the maturation stage, extending until full ripening at 63 days of development. The fruits exhibited typical climacteric fruit respiration behavior. The Kohonen self-organizing map allowed for the more effective and intuitive identification of similarities and correlation trends. Dentre as espécies frutíferas encontradas no bioma Cerrado do Brasil, destaca-se Campomanesia pubescens, que produz frutos com sabor agridoce, conhecidos como gabiroba, consumidos in natura ou processados. O presente trabalho teve por finalidade avaliar frutos de Campomanesia pubenscens provenientes do Campos das Vertentes –MG, Brasil, quanto às características filológicas e físico-químicas ao longo do desenvolvimento. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado simples constituído por sete períodos de avaliação (9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54 e 63 dias pós-antese), com 3 repetições. Os frutos colhidos em cada estádio de desenvolvimento foram submetidos às análises de cor, massa, diâmetro longitudinal e transversal, taxa de crescimento relativo, taxa respiratória, firmeza, pectina solúvel e total, pH, acidez titulável, sólidos solúveis e açúcares totais. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância, seguida de regressão polinomial, ao nível de 5% de significância, bem como separados em grupos, de acordo com suas semelhanças, como base no mapa auto organizável de Kohonen. Os frutos de Campomanesia pubenscens apresentaram aumento cumulativo nos diâmetros longitudinal, transversal e massa, durante os 63 dias de desenvolvimento, notando-se um comportamento sigmoidal simples de crescimento. O crescimento iniciado após a antese se sobrepôs ao estádio de maturação se estendendo até o pleno amadurecimento, aos 63 dias de desenvolvimento. Os frutos apresentaram comportamento respiratório típico de frutos climatéricos. O mapa auto-organizável de Kohonen permitiu a identificação de semelhanças e tendência de correlação de forma mais eficaz e intuitiva.