Frederic Ralph

How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh

Like a banana that is left on the counter coffee beans can go bad. This is due oxidation and loss of volatile flavor compounds.

You can preserve the fresh roast flavor for a few weeks by following some simple guidelines. Moisture, air and heat are your beans' most formidable enemies!

How to store coffee beans

It's no secret that coffee beans deteriorate quickly. To enjoy the best flavor of your beans, you must to store them in a proper manner. Many people are confused on how best to do this, however. Some people think that they can place their beans in the fridge. This isn't the best method.

Store your beans at room temperature in an airtight, opaque container. This will shield your beans from the two biggest enemies: air and moisture. Air can strip beans of their fresh-roasted flavor and moisture may weaken them too. The heat can also ruin the aroma and flavor of the Coffeee Beans. Light (especially sunlight) can also dull the natural shine of the beans.

In fact, keeping coffee beans in a refrigerator can be more harmful than helpful. They could absorb the flavors and odors of other food items that are stored in the refrigerator like cheese and onions, which will negatively impact the flavor of your coffee. They can also be exposed to moisture and condensation from the frig's cold air.

Instead, you can store your beans in the container they came in, or in a bag that can be resealable. Be sure to remove all the air from the bag before resealing it, and store it in a cool, dark location. This can also help the beans last a bit longer, but it's ideal to use them within 72 hours after roasting.

Storing coffee beans to buy beans in the Fridge

A majority of people keep their beans in the refrigerator however it's not an ideal solution. Coffee beans stored in the refrigerator absorb odors of food and moisture and negatively impact their flavor. The best place to store your coffee beans bulk is a dark cabinet, sealed with an airtight and transparent container.

A coffee bag with one-way valves will work perfectly in the fridge however if the beans didn't come in this type of container, you'll have to transfer them to a sealed and opaque container, like a glass container or the Coffee Gator canister mentioned above. It's important to keep in mind that the fridge may be a bit too cold for coffee beans for sale, which may alter the taste.

Air, heat and moisture are the main enemies of coffee beans. To ensure freshness of the coffee beans, you should store your beans in a airtight, opaque (not transparent) container at the room temperature. The ideal place to keep them is a cool, dark pantry, but a wardrobe or a cabinet could also work. It is not recommended to store coffee in the refrigerator. It can prolong the shelf-life of your coffee, but you may want to test it. It can alter the flavor of your coffee and cause them to become stale more quickly due to the cold temperature. The smells of food and the moisture in the refrigerator can also harm your coffee beans.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry

Once the packaging seal on your beans has broken, it is best to keep them in a dark place at temperatures of room temperature and in an airtight container. This will help preserve the aroma, flavor, and freshness of your coffee for a prolonged period (depending on how much oxygen, heat, or moisture is absorbed by the beans). Storing your beans in a cabinet close to an oven or kitchen counters where they are exposed to direct sunlight isn't the best option as these places can become extremely hot and accelerate the process of oxidation.

Moisture is an important factor because beans can absorb moisture from the air and this can alter their natural flavors. Heat can also accelerate oxidation because the bean can alter the molecular structure which provides them with their distinctive aromas. Also, heat deprives the bean of its natural oils, causing them to lose their flavor.

If you keep your beans in the resealable single-way valve bag that they came in or in an airtight, opaque container that is equivalent and fresh, they should last for approximately a week. They will last longer if you put them in the freezer, however you must be cautious since the beans may be affected by freezer burn and they may also absorb food odors floating around in the freezer them.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Freezer

If you're paying 20 bucks or more for the finest coffee beans, it's crucial to be aware of how long they'll keep and what the best methods are to keep them. Coffee absorbs aromas, moisture and flavors which is why keeping it in an opaque airtight container in a dark, cool space will help preserve the flavor. You can also freeze the beans, however, it is advised to place them in the form of a Ziploc bag first to avoid freezing burn.

Although freezing isn't a good idea, it could be beneficial if you have a short time frame or you're on the road and want to bring along some of your favourite roast. However, frozen coffee beans aren't as fresh and will have a less muted flavor than beans that were stored correctly in the fridge or pantry.

It is best to consume the beans as soon as is possible however, we don't always have the luxury of. Storing your coffee beans properly can prolong their shelf-life by up to three times if you're using them in a cool, dark location in an airtight container. Give it a shot (be sure to follow the above guidelines carefully) you may be amazed at how much better your coffee will taste compared to the dull, lifeless beans that rotted in the freezer or fridge.