Effect of Drying Methods on Cup Quality of Selected Cultivars of Arabica Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Grown in South West, Ethiopia

Coffee Arabica is an essential commodity to the livelihood of millions of Ethiopians and its quality had critical importance to the coffee industry. A study was conducted to evaluate coffee quality attributes of nine newly released coffee cultivars subjected to open sun (direct sun light) and lath house-drying methods. The experiment was designed in complete randomized design factorial with two factors (cultivars and drying methods). Coffee cultivars were (Gawe, Dessu, 744, 7440, 74148, Gesha, Merdacheriko, Wushwush and Catimor J-19) prepared using wet (washed) processing method during harvesting of 2017/18 cropping season, which were collected from different altitude of south west, Ethiopia. Cup quality was evaluated by a team of certified panelists at Jimma agricultural research center coffee processing and quality analysis laboratory. The highest value in most cup quality attributes were record in cultivars of Gesha and 74148. Similarly, cultivars of 744 and 7440 were highest in all cup quality parameters. Net lath house drying method was better in all cup quality attributes. Effect of drying method was significant difference (P<0.05) on cup quality parameters such as aromatic quality, astringency, bitterness, body and flavor. The interaction effect of cultivar and drying method shown significant difference (P<0.05) on cup quality parameter except aromatic intensity. In the future to improve and maintain coffee quality different drying method should be practiced.