Sensorial Profile and Acceptability of Coffee Blends Submitted to Different Roasting Degrees

Industry of roasted and ground coffee uses Coffea arabicaL. (arabica) and Coffeacane-phora (robusta), main coffee species, to form blends consumed worldwide. In addition to blends composition, industries also vary the roast degree to attend the consumer market. Being that stated, this work aimed to evaluate the influence of roasting degree and blends composition, usingsensorial analysis, over the product acceptability. Arabica and robusta coffee were dehulled, classified, and roasted at Agtrons numbers SCAA#65 (medium-light) e SCAA#45 (moderately dark). Afterward, the authors made a preliminary test to select the blends for conventional consumers as a function of robusta coffee percentage. After the selection and determination of adequate proportion (0, 30, and 60 % m/m) of robusta coffee,the researchers invited 49 consumers to perform the tests. The researchers used preliminary tests to indicate that 29 out of the 49 consumers are capableto complete the tests. They performed the sensorial analysis of the blends, signaling grades from 1 to 9 to flavor, aroma, and appearance. Blend composition presented a higher impact over the coffee acceptability than the roast degree, in which coffee with 0% of robusta coffee, independently of the roast degree, followed by sample with 30% of robusta coffee roasted at medium light, presented the highest grades.