Coffee review

How does the defective flavor of coffee come from? Why does coffee smell like potatoes?

Published: 2024-11-08 Author: World Gafei
Last Updated: 2024/11/08, More information about coffee beans Please follow Coffee Workshop (official Wechat account cafe_style) one reason for the economic miracle of Rwanda's success today is its booming specialty coffee industry, which, along with tea, accounts for a large part of the country's exports. However, despite this success, coffee from Rwanda and neighboring Burundi is still being used.

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One reason for today's successful economic miracle in Rwanda is that its booming specialty coffee industry, along with tea, accounts for a large portion of the country's exports. However, despite this success, coffee from Rwanda and neighbouring Burundi is still plagued by a condition called potato taste defect (PTD), some of which have a smell and taste reminiscent of rotten potatoes.

What is so harmful is that the occurrence of PTD can reduce the value of the whole crop by 1/4 or 1/3. To make matters worse, PTD appears only after processing, roasting, grinding and brewing, and may occur long after coffee is shipped abroad.

One thought to be caused by a chemical produced by microbes that entered the coffee fruit through a bug called antestia, PTD attracted the attention of an international effort called the Potato Taste Project, which has been searching for causes and curing defects for two years.

The taste of potato is unique to East Africa. It may have something to do with volcanic soil. It may also be the unique composition of complex insects here that causes the smell. University of California, entomologist Thomas Miller pointed out: "Potato taste is related to a local stinkbug called antestia. This insect is commonly found in potato-flavored coffee producing areas. These insects live in mulch under abandoned coffee plantations or banana trees, and the insects can damage coffee production by up to 35%."

The dried antestia powder was analyzed by GCMS, and the volatile compounds obtained in the analysis of potato odor were also found. In addition, coffee with obvious insect damage on the surface was also shown in its internal volatile analysis.

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