The presence of defective coffee beans is known to depreciate the quality of coffee beverage consumed worldwide. These beans represent about 15-20% of the total coffee produced in Brazil and, although they are separated from the non-defective beans, they are still commercialized in the coffee trading market. Thus, it was the aim of this work to verify if physical characteristics provide an effective discrimination of defective and non-defective coffees of both Arabica and Robusta species, before and after roasting. The evaluated parameters were size (Volume), density and color. The results obtained in the present study showed that, within a given coffee species, defective beans can be separated from non-defective ones by sieving, before roasting. In the case of Arabica coffees, size separation between non-defective and defective can also be accomplished after roasting. Prior to roasting, color separation will be effective for Robusta coffees, but ineffective for separation of non-defective, immature and light sour Arabica beans. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.