How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh
As with a banana left on the counter, coffee beans can go bad. This is due to oxidation, and the loss of volatile flavor compounds.
The good coffee beans news is you can preserve your fresh roast flavors for a few weeks by following a few simple guidelines. The beans’ biggest enemies are air, moisture, and heat!
How to store coffee beans
It’s no secret, coffee beans break down quickly. To enjoy the best flavor of your beans, it is essential to store them properly. Many people are confused about the best way to do this, though. Many people think they can put their beans in the refrigerator. This is not the best method.
The key is storing your beans in an airtight and transparent container at room temperature. This will shield your beans from the two biggest enemies: moisture and air. The air can rob beans of their fresh roasted flavor and moisture can weaken them as well. Heat will also break down the aroma and flavor of the beans and light (especially sunlight) can ruin their natural shine, too.
In reality, storing coffee beans in a refrigerator could be more harmful than helpful. They could absorb the flavors of other foods like cheese and onions in the refrigerator, which will alter the taste of your coffee. They may also be exposed to condensation and moisture from the cold air in the refrigerator.
Consider storing your beans in the original container or in a plastic bag that can be resealable. Make sure to push out all of the air before sealing the bag, and store it in cool, dark and dry place. This will help the beans to last a bit longer, but it is ideal to use them within 72 hours of roasting.
Coffee beans are stored in the Fridge
Many people keep their coffee beans in the refrigerator but this isn’t an ideal idea. Coffee beans in the fridge absorb odors from food and water and can negatively affect their flavor. The best place to store your coffee is in a dark cabinet in an airtight and transparent container.
If your beans aren’t in a bag with a single-way valve, you will need to put them in containers that are tightly sealed and opaque, such as the Coffee Gator canister. The fridge may also be too cold for the coffee, which can alter the taste of the cafe coffee beans.
Moisture, heat, and air are the main enemies of online coffee beans beans. To preserve the freshness and quality of your coffee beans store them in a dark container (not transparent) at the room temperature. The best place to keep them is a cool, dark pantry, but cabinets or wardrobes will also work. It is not recommended to store unroasted coffee beans in the refrigerator. It will prolong its shelf-life, however you might want to try it. It can alter the taste of your beverage and cause them to become stale quicker due to its cold temperature. The smells of food and the moisture in the refrigerator can cause damage to your coffee beans.
Coffee beans are stored in the Pantry
Once the packaging seal is broken on the beans, it’s best to store the beans in a dark space at room temperature in an airtight container. This will help preserve the flavor, aroma, and freshness of your coffee for a long period of time (depending on how much oxygen or heat is in contact with the beans). The storage of your coffee beans near an oven or kitchen counter space that is exposed to direct sunlight might be an undesirable idea. These areas can become extremely hot and accelerate oxidation.
Moisture can be a major factor, as the beans are able to absorb moisture from the air. This can dilute the natural flavors. The heat can also accelerate the process of oxidation because the bean can alter the molecular structure which creates their aromas. Heating also deprives the bean of its natural oils and causes them to lose their taste.
If you’re able keep your beans in their sealed, resealable bag that they came in or an equivalent airtight opaque container, the freshness will last about a week before they begin to degrade. They can go longer if you put them in the freezer, but you should be cautious since the beans may be affected by freezer burn and they could also absorb food odors floating around in the freezer with them.
Storing coffee beans in the freezer
If you’re spending 20 dollars or more for bags of premium coffee beans, it is crucial to determine the best method of storing the beans. Coffee absorbs aromas, flavors, and moisture and placing it in an opaque airtight container in a dark, cool location will help preserve the flavor. You can also freeze the beans but it is best to store them in a Ziploc bag first to avoid burning in the freezer.
While freezing isn’t the best option, it can help if you have a short period of time, or if you’re traveling and want to bring along your favorite roast. Frozen coffee beans unroasted beans are not as fresh and have a less intense flavor than beans that are stored in the refrigerator or pantry.
It is recommended to use the beans as quickly as you can, but we don’t always have the luxury of. If you store your coffee beans in a dark, cool space in a dark, airtight container and their shelf life could be extended by as much as 3 times. If you decide to give it a try (be sure to follow the directions above carefully) you might be surprised by how much better your coffee will taste when compared to the dull, lifeless beans that have gone bad in the fridge or freezer.