This research studied the histological and morphological aspects of the dry grain coffee classified as 'mole, 'dura' and 'rio' beverage. Concomitantly to these studies there were realized in each group of grains, potassium lixiviation, electric conductivity and polyphenol oxidase activity. A higher potassium lixiviation with the consequent increase in electric conductivity showed to be a strong indicator of membrane and cell wall damage. This damage was confirmed by histological and morphological studies of coffee grains. These studies showed that coffee beverage 'mole' had well defined lipidic bodies in the interior of protoplasts. During the beverage quality loss to 'dura' and 'rio', it was observed that lipids did not appear in well defined lipidic bodies like 'mole' coffee beverage, were localized in periphery of the protoplasts and sometimes extravased into the tissue due the degradation in cell wall.
morphology; lipids; flavor; oil
