Coffee Processing Methods, Coffee Quality and Related Environmental Issues

Abstract

Coffee is among the most valuable agricultural products throughout world. There are over 80 countries that produce and export coffee around the world. Increasing and maintaining coffee quality are of utmost importance due to the fact that the volume of sales depended upon coffee quality. The quality of coffee can be defined as its organoleptic and, physical quality and chemical composition such as sugars, caffeine, volatile and non-volatile phenol contents of a green bean produced. To the coffee industry, quality is of paramount importance. There are various factors affecting coffee quality among which processing methods is one. There are three ways to process coffee: washed, semi-washed and sun-dried. The 60% of coffee quality is determined by this primary and secondary coffee processing. Therefore, to produce coffee of good quality and to remain competitive on the world market, proper processing of coffee is required from both a quality and environmental standpoint in addition to breeding and other pre-harvest activities. However, selection coffee processing methods is not only determined by coffee quality; but also the environmental impact of processing method and accessibility of the methods as well. In this review, the effect of processing methods on coffee quality, environmental issues related to coffee processing, especially wet processing were discussed to identify major research gaps that should be addressed in future research and management practices.