Dominant microbial communities and biochemical profile of pulped natural fermented coffees growing in different altitudes

Abstract

Altitude changes the coffee fruits and beans composition before and after harvesting. We aimed to evaluate the effect of altitude on the microbial community structure associated with pulped coffee fruits under self-induced anaerobic fermentation (SIAF) and their acids, volatiles, and antioxidants biochemical profiles. The most abundant bacterial genera were Gluconobacter (800 m), Weissella (1,000 m), and Leclercia (1,200 and 1,400 m). Yeasts dominated the pulped natural fermentations within the fungal species, containing high abundances of Cystofilobasidium infirmominiatum, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, and Meyerozyma caribbica. Citric, alcohols, and caffeine were the most dominant compounds in SIAF among acids, volatiles, chemical groups, and antioxidants. High altitude coffees favor alcohols, aldehydes, and esters groups, while low altitude coffees favor phenols.

Keywords: Anaerobic; Antioxidants; Coffee fermentation; Illumina sequencing; Organic acids; Volatiles.