How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh

As with a banana left on the counter for a few days, coffee beans can go bad. This is due to oxidation, and the loss of volatile soluble flavor compounds.

You can keep the fresh flavor of roasted beans for a few weeks by following some simple tips. Your beans' greatest enemies are air, moisture, and heat!

How do you store coffee beans

It's not a secret that coffee beans go through a process of degradation quickly. In order to enjoy the best flavor of your beans, it is essential to store them in a proper manner. Many people are unsure of how to go about this, though. Some believe they can simply put their beans in the refrigerator, but this isn't actually the most efficient way to do it.

Store your beans at room temperature in an opaque, airtight container. This will shield your beans from their biggest enemies: air and moisture. Moisture and air can both ruin the beans' fresh-roasted taste, while the moisture can make them less flavorful. The heat can also ruin the aroma and flavor of the beans. Light (especially sunlight) will also reduce the natural shine of the beans.

In fact, storing coffee beans in a refrigerator can be more harmful than helpful. They can absorb the flavors and odors from other foods in the refrigerator, including cheese and onions which can negatively affect the flavor of your gourmet coffee beans. They may also be exposed to condensation and moisture from the cold air in the refrigerator.

Instead, consider storing your beans in the container they came in, or in a resealable bag. Be sure to remove all air from the bag prior to resealing it, and store it in a dark, cool space. This will allow the beans to last a bit longer, but it is best to use them within 72 hours of roasting.

Coffee beans are stored in the Fridge

Most people store their beans in the refrigerator but this isn't the best idea. Coffee beans stored in refrigerators absorb the smells of food and moisture and can affect their flavor. The ideal place to store your coffee is in a dark cabinet that has an airtight, transparent container.

If your beans aren't in a coffee bag equipped with a one way valve, you will need to transfer them into an container that is sealed and opaque, like the Coffee Gator canister. The fridge could also be too cold for the coffee, which could affect its taste.

Moisture, air and heat are the primary enemies of coffee bean. To keep their freshness and roast, it is recommended to store your beans in an airtight opaque (not transparent) container at the room temperature. The ideal place to keep them is a cool, dark pantry, but an armoire or cabinet will also work. It is not recommended to store speciality coffee beans in the refrigerator. It will extend its shelf-life, but you might want to try it. The cold temperature can alter the taste of your coffee, causing it to go through a stale-like process faster. Additionally the moisture and food odors in the fridge can also damage your beans.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry

Once the packaging seal on your beans has been broken, it is best to keep them in a dark area at the temperature of room and in an airtight container. This will keep the flavor, aroma and freshness of the coffee for some time (depending on the extent of exposure to oxygen, heat, and moisture). Storing your coffee beans in an oven or kitchen counter location that is exposed to direct sunlight may be not a good idea. These places can get extremely hot and accelerate the process of oxidation.

Moisture is one of the main reasons since beans are able to absorb moisture from the air, and this can dilute their natural flavors. Oxidation can also be accelerated by heat as the bean has the ability to break down the molecular structures that give them their flavors and aromas. Heat also strips the bean of its natural oils, which causes them to lose taste.

If you store your beans in the resealable single-way valve bag they came in or in an airtight container that is equivalent in size, they'll be fresh for about one week. You can store them for longer in the refrigerator, however, be aware that they may suffer from freezer burns or absorb any food odors in the fridge.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Freezer

If you're paying 20 dollars or more for a haute bag of coffee beans it's important to be aware of how long they'll last and what the best ways are to keep them. Coffee absorbs aromas, moisture and flavors, so storing it in an airtight container in a dark, cool space will help preserve the flavor. You can also freeze your beans, but be cautious if you do this, you should transfer them to a Ziploc bag prior to freezing to avoid burning in the freezer.

Although freezing isn't ideal, it could be beneficial if you have a short period of time, or if you're traveling and want to bring along some of your favourite roast. However, frozen coffee beans will not be as fresh and will have a less bland flavor than beans that were properly stored in the refrigerator or pantry.

It's best to use the beans as soon as possible, but we don't always have the luxury of. If you keep your coffee beans in a dark, cold place in an opaque airtight container and their shelf life could be extended up to three times. If you decide to give it a shot (be sure to follow the above instructions carefully) you might be amazed at how much better your coffee will taste compared to the dull and lifeless beans that were rotten in the fridge or freezer.