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Research shows that coffee peel can replace up to 30% of wheat flour in cookies without additives, while the sector bets on diversification to generate income and value for the producer.
The coffee has ceased to be just a hot drink and has begun to gain new routes of consumption and business in Brazil. In addition to different preparation methods, coffee now appears as a raw material for cookies, honey, and cosmetics, expanding the use of the bean and even what was previously treated as waste.
For producers and companies, this diversification of coffee helps create alternatives in times of instability, including scenarios of economic crisis. The logic is simple: the more viable applications, the more chances to add value and reduce dependence on a single market.
Coffee peel stops being waste and becomes cookie ingredient
One of the clearest examples of this shift came from research presented at the International Coffee Week (SIC) in Belo Horizonte. Cookies made from the coffee peel of fine robusta from the Amazon were shown to the public as a result of a study conducted by food engineer Lívia Lacerda de Oliveira, a professor at the University of Brasília (UnB).
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The point that draws attention is the percentage achieved in the test: according to the researcher, the coffee peel replaced up to 30% of wheat flour in cookies, without any additives, surpassing previous references that tended to be at lower levels. The patent for the study has been registered.
Embrapa enters the path of tea and expands the use of coffee
The idea of using coffee peel in studies, according to the research report, was stimulated by researcher Enrique Alves from Embrapa Rondônia. In addition to cookies, an infusion made from the peel was also presented, treated as a product with sensory diversity that is still undergoing development stages.
The proposal is to study chemically and sensorially, evaluating criteria before expanding the application beyond niches in coffee shops.
Honey, cosmetics, and the value of coffee outside traditional consumption
During the SIC, diversification appeared in various fronts. Honeys obtained from coffee plantations were tasted, and beauty items derived from coffee caught the attention of producers who already see new income possibilities.
An example cited is that of the pharmaceutical and biochemist Vanessa Vilela, who created Kapeh in 2007, with products such as perfumes that include coffee in their composition. For those in the field, the message is clear: coffee can yield more when it becomes more than just a drink.
Why Diversification Became a Trend in the Sector
According to Celírio Inácio da Silva, executive director of Abic, coffee diversification has gained strength in recent years. The added value equation changes when the producer can direct coffee to different industries, such as beverages, cosmetics, flavorings, and other formats.
This trend also appears in international examples cited in the debate, such as China, which has seen an increase in consumption by adopting different forms of use. Iced coffee and combinations outside the traditional standard show how new habits open up markets, especially among younger people.
Brands and Numbers Show How Coffee Becomes a Portfolio
At SIC, Brazilian brands presented products aligned with this change, such as options for iced consumption. In the national market, Três Corações, the main player in the sector, reported that 70% of the group’s revenue comes from roasted and ground coffee, while the rest comes from other products, such as cappuccinos, coffee with milk, and instant coffee.
Within the roasted and ground segment, the company points out that 3% are already specialty coffees, with annual growth above 20% in the portfolio.
Canephora Gains Space and Enters the Coffee Strategy
To diversify applications, canephora varieties, such as conilon and robusta, appear as options due to their different profile from arabica. The discussion mixes price, quality, positioning, and even climate adaptation, placing coffee in a broader equation than just “selling sacks.”
The fair itself reinforces this scenario. SIC gathered 27,000 people from 33 countries and generated about R$ 150 million in business, signaling that coffee, when diversified, moves chains beyond roasting and the cup.
SIf coffee husk became a common product in the market, would you try a cookie or tea made from it?
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