The generation of high amounts of wastes containing anti-physiological compounds during coffee production, requires options for its appropriate treatment. An interesting biotechnological alternative is to take advantage of the phenolic acids contained in coffee pulp and husk. In both wastes, phenolic acids are esterified mostly in the form of chlorogenic acids, of which caffeic acid can be released by enzymatic hydrolysis. In this work, an extract with chlorogenate esterase activity was produced by solid state fermentation after growing Aspergillus ochraceus on coffee wastes. Highest activity (500 g-1 mU of dry matter) was found after 96 h of culture, using a solid medium formulated with glucose and coffee husks. Chlorogenate esterase activity reached its maximum at 50° C and pH 7, showing a half-life of more than 8 hrs at 40°C. The concentrated enzyme extract released more than 90% of the esterified caffeic acid contained in coffee pulp, in less than 20 min at 40° C and pH 7. The strategy employed in this work allows adding value to coffee wastes, because it is possible to obtain enzymes and antioxidants such as caffeic acid, using coffee husk and pulp respectively.

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