How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh
As with a banana left on the counter for a few days, coffee decaf beans coffee go bad. This is because of oxidation and loss of flavor compounds that are volatile.
You can preserve the fresh flavor of roasted beans for a few weeks by implementing a few tips. Moisture, air and heat are your beans’ worst enemies!
How to keep coffee beans in storage
It’s no secret, coffee bean coffee beans are degraded quickly. To enjoy the best flavor of your beans, you need to store them in a proper manner. Many people aren’t sure how to best do this, though. Many people believe that they can just put their beans in the fridge, but this isn’t actually the best way to go about it.
The key is to keep your beans in an airtight and transparent container at room temperature. This will protect your beans from their biggest enemies: moisture and air. Air and moisture can rob the beans their fresh-roasted flavor, and moisture can also weaken them. Heat will also break down the aroma and flavor of the beans, and light (especially sunlight) can destroy the natural shine of the beans as well.
In reality, storing coffee beans in a refrigerator can be more harmful than beneficial. They can absorb the flavor and odors of other foods that are stored in the refrigerator like onions and cheese that can adversely affect the taste of your coffee. They are also exposed by the refrigerator’s cool air to condensation and moisture.
Instead, you can store your beans in the container they were packaged in or in a resealable bag. Be sure to eliminate all the air from the bag before resealing it, and store it in a cool, dark space. This can also aid in keeping the beans fresh a bit longer, however the ideal time to use them is 72 hours after they have been roasted.
Coffee beans are stored in the Fridge
Most people store their beans in the fridge but it’s not an ideal solution. Coffee beans stored in the refrigerator absorb odors from food and water and can negatively affect their flavor. The best place to store your coffee is a dark cupboard with an airtight, opaque and airtight container.
A coffee bag with one-way valves will work just fine in the refrigerator, but if your beans didn’t come in this type of container, you’ll need to move them to a sealed and opaque container, like a glass canister or the Coffee Gator canister mentioned above. The fridge can also be too cold for the coffee, which can alter the taste of the coffee.
The most common enemies of coffee beans are heat, air and moisture. To preserve the freshness of their roast, it is recommended to store your beans in an airtight opaque (not transparent) container at temperatures of room temperature. A cool, dark pantry is the ideal location to store them however, a closet or cupboard can also work. It is not recommended to store coffee in the refrigerator. It will extend its shelf-life, however you may want to test it. It can affect the flavors of your beverage and cause them to deteriorate quicker due to its cold temperature. Additionally the food and moisture odors in the fridge can cause damage to your beans.
Storing coffee beans in the Pantry
When the seal on the packaging 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 preserve the flavor, aroma, and freshness of your coffee for a long period of time (depending on how much oxygen or heat is absorbed by the beans). The storage of your coffee beans near an oven, kitchen counter or other location that is exposed to direct sunlight can be an undesirable idea. These areas can become very hot and accelerate the process of oxidation.
Moisture is one of the main reasons because beans can absorb moisture from the air. This could alter the natural flavors. Oxidation also accelerates with heat as the bean has the ability to disintegrate the molecular structures that give them their aromas and flavors. The heat also strips the beans of its natural oils, which causes them to lose taste.
If you can keep your beans in the resealable, one-way valve bag that they came in, or an equivalent airtight opaque container then the freshness will last approximately a week before they begin to decay. You can store them for longer in the fridge however, be aware that they could be prone to freezer burns or absorb any food odors in the fridge.
Storing coffee beans in the freezer
If you’re spending 20 dollars or more on bags of premium coffee beans, it is essential to know the best method to store the beans. Coffee is like sponges and can absorb moisture, aromas and flavors. Keeping it in a cool, dark place in a airtight opaque container will keep the flavor safe. You can also freeze your beans but be careful if you do this, it’s best to transfer them to an Ziploc bag prior to freezing to avoid freezing burn.
While freezing isn’t the best option, it is a good quality coffee beans option if have a short amount of time or if you’re traveling and want to bring along some of your favorite roast. Coffee beans frozen in the freezer aren’t as fresh and have a less distinct flavor than beans stored in the refrigerator or in the pantry.
It’s recommended to use the beans as soon as you can however, we may not always have that luxury. If you store your coffee beans in a dark, cold space in a dark, airtight container and their shelf life could be extended up to 3 times. Give the idea a go (be sure to follow the above guidelines carefully) you may be surprised at how much better your coffee beans delivery (prev) will taste when compared to the dull and lifeless beans that have gone bad in the freezer or fridge.