Descriptive sensory tests for evaluating Coffea arabica: A systematic review

Abstract

Coffee is a beverage whose price is closely related to the characteristics of its flavor, necessitating reliable sensory tests. To quantify their sensory attributes, classic sensorial methods such as Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) can be useful. However, uncertainties persist due to protocol variations, which made uncertain the quality of these protocols in evaluating coffee. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review to assess the quality of QDA protocols used for assessing Coffea arabica’s sensory attributes. The review encompassed various critical protocols control points, including pre-test procedures, coffee processing and preparation techniques, test application and data collection procedures. It was also summarized key attributes, highlighting factors impacting coffee’s sensory traits and bias risk of the studies. As the main results, it was saw that the studies have many limitations, such as not citing or controlling critical points in the tests procedures and application, which made most studies having a medium-high bias rating. The primary sensory results findings of the studies included topics such as the impact of brewing time, chemical compounds associated with sensory attributes and the effect of various roasting techniques on the sensory qualities of coffee. In conclusion, standardizing sensory evaluations in future research could enhance consistency and accuracy, yielding less biased results.