Coffee Pulp: A Sustainable and Affordable Source for Developing Functional Foods

Abstract

Coffee cultivation in the Department of Cauca, Colombia, is vital for much of the department’s economy. Coffee processing generates waste, such as pulp, which accounts to about 40% of the fresh fruit. Currently, in most cases in Cauca, coffee byproducts are discarded, and, in other cases, the coffee pulp is used for fertilizers, generating environmental problems due to its decomposition. This research aims to design a process for supplying a functional food in the form of an energy bar based on coffee pulp and other components of the region, such as quinoa and panela, helping to mitigate the environmental impact of coffee production. Our research included four phases. First, we determined the study area; in the second phase, we studied an energy bar’s nutritional and physical characteristics. Then, the requirements and specifications of the bar were defined, and the authors documented the process diagram, variables within the process, and the quality plan. Finally, the authors conducted experiments to determine optimal mixing proportions. From the experiment with the mixtures, we found a formulation that satisfies the needs and specifications of the bar which is composed of 50% cereals, 30% panela syrup, and 20% coffee pulp. The selected formulation’s qualitative properties (organoleptic, chemical, and microbial) are acceptable for human consumption and provide high energy content of 365.21 and 291.56 kcal/100 g for the energy bar and coffee pulp raisins, respectively.