Disclosed herein are nucleic acid molecules isolated from coffee (Coffea spp.) comprising sequences that encode UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPP), GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMPP), phosphomannomutase (PMM), and UDP-glucose 4-epimerase (UGE). Also disclosed are methods for using these polynucleotides for gene regulation and manipulation of the content and/or structure of coffee grains, to influence extraction characteristics and other features.
