O consumo de café representa um hábito mundial, sendo essa bebida uma das mais consumidas no mundo. Objetivou-se avaliar a qualidade físico-química e microscópica de café torrado e moído destinados ao mercado consumidor brasileiro. Foram realizadas análises de cinzas, pH e acidez titulável em 14 marcas de café torrado e moído e nas suas infusões, além de análise microscópica. Nas análises de cinzas, houve variação entre as amostras de café torrado e moído, entretanto não houve variação entre as infusões. Para pH e acidez titulável houve variação, tanto para o café torrado e moído, quanto para as infusões. A amostra de pó de café Gourmet apresentou menor teor de cinzas, maior acidez titulável e menor pH. Na microscopia, percebeu-se a presença de matérias estranhas em todas as amostras, variando de intensidade de uma marca para outra. O café Gourmet apresentou-se como de melhor qualidade. Quatro marcas de café Tradicional apresentaram alto teor de cinzas e impurezas, sugerindo adição intencional de compostos estranhos.
Coffee consumption is a global habit. Coffee is being one of the most consumed beverage in the world. Aimed to evaluate the physic-chemical and microscopic quality of roasted and ground coffee for the Brazilian market. Ash analysis, pH and titratable acidity in 14 marks roasted and ground coffee and its infusions were performed, and microscopy roasted and milled powder. Chemical analyzes of ash, there was variation between the samples of roast and ground coffee, however there was no change between infusions. To pH and titratable acidity there were variation for both the roast and ground coffee as for infusions. The sample of Gourmet coffee powder showed lower ash content, higher acidity and lower pH. In microscopy, it was noted the presence of foreign materials in all samples, ranging in intensity from one brand to another. Gourmet coffee introduced himself as best quality. Four Traditional coffee brands had high ash content and impurities, suggesting intentional addition of foreign compounds.
