First description of bacterial and fungal communities in Colombian coffee beans fermentation analysed using Illumina-based amplicon sequencing.

In Colombia, coffee growers use a traditional method of fermentation to remove the cherry pulp surrounding the beans. This process has a great influence on sensory quality and prestige of Colombian coffee in international markets, but has never been studied. Here we use an Illumina-based amplicon sequencing to investigate bacterial and fungal communities associated with spontaneous coffee-bean fermentation in Colombia.