GREEN COFFEE BEAN STORAGE IN COOLED ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The objective this work was to evaluate cooling of stored green coffee bean parchment (Coffea arabica L.) to prolong storage period preserving its original quality. The study was done in the split-plot design, having the plots in the 3 x 7 factorial design and seven storage periods as sub-plots, with three replications. The beans with moisture content of 12 ± 0.061% w.b. were stored in environmental chambers cooled to 15 ºC and 53±2% relative humidity (rh) or to 25 ºC and 80±2% rh. The data were compared with the storage in a conventional shed at ambient temperature of 25±5 ºC and 75±10% rh. The sampling was done at 30-day interval for 180 days. The alterations in the color, type, coffee brew, fungal growth, moisture content, 1000 grain weight, ash, total nitrogen, total protein content, total potassium, leached potassium, phenols, and electrical conductivity were monitored. It was concluded that the cooling was effective for preservation and conservation of the qualitative characteristics of the green coffee beans and also maintained brew quality and reduced fungal incidence and development.