This research was developed with the objective to determine, experimentally, the values of specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity for five different varieties of coffee (Catuaí, Catucaí Vermelho, Catucaí Amarelo, Acaiá and Rubi) in parchment and evaluate their interaction with different moisture contents. The mixture method was used for the determination of the specific heat. The thermal conductivity was determined using experimental equipment based on the theoretically infinite cylinder method and uni-dimensional conduction hypothesis. The thermal diffusivity was determined by the indirect method using the values obtained for the specific mass, specific heat and thermal conductivity. The observed values were submitted to a regression analysis. The values of specific heat and thermal conductivity of coffee in parchment were best-fitted to a positive second-degree polynomial equation while the thermal diffusivity was best-fitted to a negative second-degree polynomial equation in relation to moisture content for all varieties. It was not possible to adjust for each thermal property a single mathematical model for all the five varieties studied which points out an interactive effect of the moisture content and the varieties.
specific heat; thermal conductivity; thermal diffusivity
