Dynamic remodeling in lipophilic metabolites during Coffea canephora maturation: A lipidomic study

Lipids in coffee are involved in membrane structure, energy storage, stress response, and beverage quality. However, lipid metabolism during the maturation of Coffea species remains poorly understood. Here, we present the first comprehensive lipidomic analysis of Coffea canephora var. conilon beans across five maturation stages. Samples were analyzed using LC-Orbitrap, and data were processed using Compound Discoverer, MS-FINDER, and molecular networking, followed by multivariate statistical analysis. A total of 220 lipids were putatively annotated, representing 27 classes. Lipid profiles showed stage-specific changes throughout maturation. Stage M4 (45 weeks after flowering) emerged as a metabolic turning point characterized by widespread shifts in several lipid classes, including fatty amides, fatty acids, and hydroxytryptamides. These stage-specific lipid markers demonstrated the potential of lipidomics to guide optimal harvest time and develop predictive models linking lipid composition to coffee quality. These results fill an important gap in understanding C. canephora metabolism.