Coffee pulp is a primary by-product produced during coffee processing and represents 30% of the coffee fruit on a
dry-weight basis. A novel potential tannin degrading fungi was isolated from coffee by-products. Among the various
fungi isolated, Penicillium sp. CFR303 was found to be potent with 66.5 ± 0.9% tannin degradation. The potent tannin
degrader was identified as Penicillium verrucosum using internal transcribed spacer’s (ITS) −5.8S rDNA analysis. Solid
state fermentation was carried out on coffee pulp as a sole carbon source and yielded 28.173 ± 1.4 U/gds of tannase.
Further, 3.93 fold increase in tannase production (115.995 U/gds) was achieved using central composite rotatable
design, a statistical approach. Model validations showed excellent agreement between the experimental results
and the predicted responses with a confidence level of 95%. Coffee pulp accounts to 8–10% tannin content and the
present study demonstrates coffee pulp as an excellent substrate for production of value added products. Aonla
and pomegranate juice were treated with partially purified tannase and the degradation of tannins was evident by
changes in the physicochemical parameters of the juice. Thus, the present investigation signifies utilization of coffee
pulp for production of tannase as value addition and its potential application in the food industry