Abstract
With the objective of optimizing the roasting of robusta coee (Coea canephora Conillon), a two factor central composite design
(11 samples) was used to optimise the settings for roasting time and the initial internal temperature of the roaster drum on response
variables of acceptance with 25 consuming assessors, for the sensory attributes of beverage aroma, ¯avour and colour. Predictive
models were also obtained for the instumental measurement of the colour of the beans and ground coee. The optimum range for
roasting was shown to be a time of 22±28 min at a temperature of 225±230C, corresponding to the degree of roasting characterized
by the following range of colour of roasted robusta beans: L* between 37.05 and 40.69, a* between 2.29 and 4.15 and b* between
2.70 and 6.29. # 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.