Coffee flavour modification through controlled fermentations of green coffee beans by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia kluyveri: Part I. Effects from individual yeasts

Abstract Direct fermentations of sterilised green coffee beans by monocultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia kluyveri were investigated for coffee flavour biotransformation. During fermentation, fruity esters were generated in the green coffee beans by yeasts. 2-Phenylethyl acetate was elevated by 1.1 mg/kg and 0.03 mg/kg in P. kluyveri- and S. cerevisiae-fermented green beans, respectively, as compared to the untreated sample. Ethyl octanoate (0.51 mg/kg) and isoamyl acetate (1.69 mg/kg) only existed in S. cerevisiae- and P. kluyveri-fermented green beans, respectively. After roasting, higher levels of 2-phenylethyl acetate were detected in fermented coffees, and ethyl octanoate was found only in the S. cerevisiae-fermented sample, despite the loss of isoamyl acetate in P. kluyveri-fermented coffees during roasting. The fruity esters generated by the yeasts during green coffee bean fermentations were directly transferred to the volatile profiles formed after roasting and enhanced the fruity attribute in the roasted coffees, with a more noticeable effect observed from S. cerevisiae fermentation. Higher productions of N-heterocyclic volatiles occurred during roasting of S. cerevisiae-fermented coffees and contributed to elevated nutty and roasted aromas. S. cerevisiae and P. kluyveri are considered suitable starter cultures for controlled coffee flavour biotransformation through controlled fermentations of green coffee beans.