Electronic nose for coffee quality control

Two groups of seven coffees have been analyzed with the Pico-1 Electronic Nose (EN) developed at Brescia University. Inside each group, coffees have been classified with PCA and multilayer perceptrons giving classification rates above 90%. Cups of coffee were analyzed by two panels of trained judges who assessed quantitative descriptors and a global index (Hedonic Index, HI) characterizing the sensorial appeal of the coffee. These parameters were predicted starting from the measurements performed with Pico-1. The standard deviation for the prediction of the HI are comparable to the uncertainty of the HI itself (0.2 on a 1 to 9 scale)