Om dyrkningen og forarbejdningen - About the Process
Invented by Michel Flanzy in 1934, carbonic maceration involves placing whole coffee berries in a closed tank with a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere. The berries then undergo intracellular fermentation without the intervention of yeast. During this process, complex changes occur, including the conversion of a small amount of sugar to alcohol (1.5–2% alcohol), the reduction of malic acid content by about half, and the formation of secondary products.
Compared to coffee produced by conventional techniques, carbonic maceration produces coffee with a distinctive and high quality, possessing a harmonious balance. The technique can be used to produce a wide range of coffees that can be enjoyed fresh or aged.
The process consists of four steps: mass fermentation of whole berries, "maceration fermentation," pumping over and pressing, followed by a second fermentation phase. During the first stage of the carbonic maceration process, exchanges and interactions occur between the coffee berries, the gaseous atmosphere and the must present at the bottom of the tank. Yeast fermentation begins at this stage in the liquid phase and continues through the second stage, along with malolactic fermentation.
The specific conditions required for good management of carbonic maceration are presented.