The aim of this work was to evaluate the sensory profile of specialty coffees, natural and pulped, from the region of Matas de Minas in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil and correlate the sensory scores with the chemical composition of the grains. Twenty samples of Arabica coffee were assessed (10 Natural and 10 Pulped), as the sensory profile (Cup of Excellence) and sucrose content, bioactive compounds and fatty acids of raw beans. The processed pulped coffees stood out as the final scores. The attributes sweetness, acidity and flavor were important for the distinction of the pulped coffees, while natural coffees the determining attributes were body and acidity. The bioactive compounds and sucrose showed positive and negative correlation with the sensory attributes, respectively. The acids C14:0, C18:2 and C18:3, were relevant to the sensory distinction of natural coffees. The acids C18:0 and C20:2 showed positive correlation, and acids C18:2 and C18:3, negative, with the sensory attributes of the pulped coffees. The specialty coffees of the region of Matas de Minas feature distinct sensory profiles and it is possible to correlate them with the chemical composition of the grains.

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 ω-6, C18:3 ω-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 ω-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 work aimed to characterize and discriminate genealogical groups of coffee as to the chemical composition of the grains through the model created by PLS-DA method. 22 accessions of Coffea arabica, from the Active Germplasm Bank of Minas Gerais, were divided into groups according to the genealogical origin. Samples of ripe fruits were harvested selectively and processed by the wet method, to obtain pulped coffee beans, with 11% (b.u.) of water content. The raw beans were assessed as to the content of polyphenols, total sugars, total lipids, protein, caffeine, sucrose, and fatty acids. The data were submitted the chemometric analysis, PCA and PLS-DA. The results of PLS-DA identified the variables which most influence the classification of genealogical groups and possible chemical markers to accessions processed by the pulped method. The sucrose content was an important marker for the Exotic accession group. However, the content of polyphenols has been identified as a marker for the group Tymor Hybrid, and the caffeine for the bourbon group. The different fatty acids have been identified as markers for all genealogical groups, at different levels. The model PLS-DA is effective in discriminating genealogical groups from the chemical composition of the beans.