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Post-harvest technologies
Sebastián Velásquez Suárez
svelasquez@colcafe.com.co
Research leader
Colcafé SAS – Grupo Nutresa – Medellín, Colombia
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The third coffee wave & …

“Coffee as a craft”

Picture taken from: https://p1.pxfuel.com/preview/925/18/382/barista-pouring-coffee-kettle-woman-restaurant.jpg

Picture taken from: https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/taza-de-caf%C3%A9-pl%C3%A1stico-saturnbird-con-label-oct-chengdu-china-foto-alta-calidad-232210990.jpg;

https://res.cloudinary.com/hbhhv9rz9/image/upload/f_auto,c_limit,w_3840,q_auto/Coffee/Instant%20Multiserve/Multi-Serve-Craft-Instant-Espresso-M1-Hero.png;
National Coffee Association; Fourth Wave Coffee and the Home Coffee Revolution - webinar; 2022 https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0092/7855/4209/files/sca_social_sharing_logo_480x480.png?v=1605303024; https://live.staticflickr.com/621/22365512634_ed0bfbe1b0_b.jpg
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The forth coffee

“Home coffee revolution +
wave
Cold drink innovation”

Picture taken from: https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mwYtZwJaV5Z2zY35FgZkd9.jpg;

https://res.cloudinary.com/hbhhv9rz9/image/upload/f_auto,c_limit,w_3840,q_auto/Coffee/Instant%20Multiserve/Multi-Serve-Craft-Instant-Espresso-M1-Hero.png;
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0092/7855/4209/files/sca_social_sharing_logo_480x480.png?v=1605303024; https://www.comunicaffe.com/nescafe-launches-ice-roast-a-soluble-coffee-designed-for-
National Coffee Association; Fourth Wave Coffee and the Home Coffee Revolution - webinar; 2022 consumption-with-cold-water-or-milk/
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The impact of
the
postharvest

Back in the day: avoid physical From washed to honeys Handcrafted vs

spoilage of the beans and naturals systematic
Pictures taken from: https://cropandroast.coffee/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/7.jpg; https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Foilslickcoffee.com%2Flibrary%2Fhoney-processed-coffee%2F&psig=AOvVaw05BTy9qZ7cdQf6Fq_Zz1RY&ust=1682020438658000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBEQjRxqFwoTCOC2s87ctv4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD;
https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/09/13/02/18/washed-coffee-2744213_1280.jpg; https://d36bl1cjgcfngd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/08/31114714/B3A3709-min-1024x683.jpg
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Coffee fermentation
Tank immersion Mechanical mucilage removal

Main purpose: mucilage removal for efficient

drying
Efficient water use fermentation
Pictures taken from: https://blog.deproximidad.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Fermentaci%C3%B3n-500.jpg; https://a.storyblok.com/f/160385/97d08aac70/ahorro_agua_cafe_ini.jpg/m/;
https://www.cenicafe.org/es/images/Central_de_beneficio_Belen_de_Umbria_%282%29_.jpg
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Coffee fermentation: other trends

Fruit based starter culture for defect
modulation1

Main purpose: promote microorganism

activity to modify flavor precursors

Fermentation bioreactors: starting culture and Bio-functional (bacteria, yeast, fungi) coffee
process control fermentation2,3
Pictures taken from: https://www.covoyacoffee.com/blog/fruit-fermentation-coffee-processing.htmlhttps://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.baristamagazine.com%2Funderstanding-the-process-koji-
fermentation%2F&psig=AOvVaw2jxgc7KBXk2AhL35UWQM0R&ust=1682028456916000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBEQjRxqFwoTCKCRlMH6tv4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD; https://www.penagos.com/penagos-hermanos-revoluciona-el-mundo-de-los-cafes-de-especialidad-con-su-nuevo-equipo-biomaster/
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Sensory & bioactive profile

Insights
validation

Temperature, pH, conductivity

and oxygen control

Starter culture – ingredients vs. Real impact on the chemical

natural media profile

Metabolic pathways

Solid state fermentation of green

coffee
Pictures from: https://thosecoffeepeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/WhatsApp-Image-2021-04-29-at-17.58.46.jpeg;
https://www.baristahustle.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Starter-Culture-Post-Header.jpg;
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Metabolism_pathways_partly_labeled-es.svg; https://osmotech.it/odour-
assessment-by-gc-olfactometry/; https://i.pinimg.com/736x/3d/1e/d0/3d1ed06061ab84037cac204126462f09.jpg;
https://live.staticflickr.com/5788/21787069075_8161e1f581_b.jpg
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Coffee drying
Mechanical drying Sun drying

Parabolic dryer &

African bed

Pictures from: https://centrodeinformacion.manizales.gov.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Con-marquesinas-prefabricadas-para-el-secado-del-grano-caficultores-de-Manizales-innovan-en-el-secado-

del-cafe-3.jpeg; https://perfectdailygrind.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Coffee-Drying-Guide-Cover.jpg; https://imagens.mfrural.com.br/mfrural-produtos-us/18486-42622-199841-
fredyfreitas_20110322114049_6994.jpg
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Radiation heating principles: volumetric heating

Water molecule: polar (dipole) & complex permittiviy

Pirctures from: https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-42ccc42194e65741f9e9d1084a27b5e7;

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Dielectric_responses.svg/454px-
Dielectric_responses.svg.png; https://cdn.kitsune.tools/v1/5bed49a7299c810001e423bd/01-
5f02e2f43d6c580001dd3391.png
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Radiation heating principles: infrared

Pictures from: Basics of Infrared Heating - Roberts Gordon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mdxXJ1et_o; https://quizizz.com/_media/quizzes/486bb4cb-5970-4fcf-b209-

f5f68f6d3be1_900_900; Pawar, S.B. and Pratape, V. (2017), Mapping of Infrared Drying of Foods. J Food Process Eng, 40: e12308
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Possible microwave/RF applications for coffee

SAIREM high power dryer

MV vacuum drying machine

Pictures from: https://www.sairem.com/es/solutions-for-food-and-industry/heating-of-food-and-industrial-products/;

https://www.microwavedrying.net/microwave-dryer/microwave-vacuum-dryer.html
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Possible microwave/RF applications for coffee

MW coffee roasting – conveyor belt

Pictures from: US2020337330A1 METHOD OF ROASTING RAW COFFEE BEANS USING MICROWAVE HEATING
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Lab scale applications for cascara dehumidifying

Modified household MW for vacuum

based drying
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Possible microwave applications for coffee

Vacuum

Reduction of
Temperature &
moisture
Fast diffusion Convection - drying times
@ Hygroscopic low rate drying
content
range rate (days è
hours)
Distributed MW
power sources

Key elements Hybrid technologies Main effect

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Infrared apps

Roaster

Dryer

Pircures from: https://www.kreyenborg.com/en/applications/food/; KR20170032116A FAR-INFRARED RADIATION COFFEE ROASTING DEVICE USING CATALYST HEATER
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Radiation based heating - insights

Rad-based Chamber
Bean conditions
requirements design

• Temperature 40-50°C - homogeneous • Infrared / optic fiber temperature sensing

• Thin layers (<3cm) • Moisture rate sensing
• Mass agitation – incident wave penetration • Electromagnetic shielding (MW/RF)
depth • Multiple sources / EM field homogenization
• Physicochemical preservation | Cavity design Process time– roasting (~10 min)
• Directivity – infrared emitting source vs. drying (~hours or days)
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Green coffee storage & packaging

Jute & fique bags

Big bags (~300 kg)

Pictures from: https://www.yoamoelcafedecolombia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/fotos-pagina.jpg; https://perfectdailygrind.com/es/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/11/bodega-de-cafe.jpg

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Food safety + sustainibility - packaging

Oxygen, water and light barrier

Pictures from: https://www.grainpro.com/grainpro-bag-premium-zipper; https://library.sweetmarias.com/green-coffee-storage-using-ecotact-hermetic-bags/

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Low temperature storage

Roasted + Green è CO2 + refrigeration Three-stage freeze drying –
moisture loss + preservation

Pictures from:https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/green-roasted-coffee-beans-27066517.jpg; https://newgroundmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/New-Project-42.jpg

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Insights
Avoid mildew formation

Prevent oxidation è
gas displacement

Bean
preservation
Lipid preservation

Maintain moisture
content and color
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Overall insights
Fermentation: process
standardization

Fermentation: understanding
microorganism activities

Storage: avoid
oxidation and
mildew Postharvest scale – in farm vs. processing plant

By product upcycling
Picture from: https://colombia.argos.co/proyectos/central-de-beneficio-de-cafe-farallones/; https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/595a0771e6f2e180dc825946/1592473629048-
CJGILPGCHDCAJPDM0ZPC/green+coffee+grading?format=1000w; https://perfectdailygrind.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Coffee-with-defects-e1516837322688.jpg;
https://www.weschler.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/processcontrolimage.jpg; https://static01.nyt.com/images/2012/09/19/dining/19FERMENT_SPAN/19FERMENT_SPAN-
articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale; https://freshcup.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/SkinsDrying@Origin_ChristyBaugh.jpg

Drying: reduce time while

preserving bean quality