How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh
Like a banana that is left on the counter coffee beans are prone to going bad. This is caused by oxidation and loss of volatile flavor compounds.
The good news is that you can preserve fresh roast flavors for a few weeks by following a few easy guidelines. Your beans' greatest enemies are moisture, air, and heat!
How do you store coffee beans
It's not a secret that coffee beans are degraded quickly. To maximize the flavor of your beans, you need to properly store them. Many people are unsure of how to go about this, however. Some people think that they can put their beans in the fridge. This is not the best way to go about it.
The key is storing your beans in an airtight, transparent container at room temperature. This will protect your beans from their most formidable enemies such as moisture, air and heat. Moisture and air can both rob the beans their fresh roast flavor, and moisture can also make them taste weaker. Heating can also ruin the flavor and aroma of the beans and light (especially sunlight) can take away their natural shine, too.
It's not a great idea to store coffee beans in your refrigerator. They can absorb the flavors and odors of other food items that are stored in the refrigerator like cheese and onions which could negatively affect the flavor of your coffee. They may also be exposed to moisture and condensation from the refrigerator's cold air.
Instead, you can store your beans in the container they came in, or in a resealable bag. Make sure to remove all air from the bag prior to resealing it, and store it in a cool, dark place. This can help the beans last for a longer time, but the best time to use them is 72 hours after roasting.
Storing Coffee Beans in the Fridge
Many people store their coffee beans in the refrigerator, but this isn't a great idea. Coffee beans kept in the refrigerator absorb moisture and food smells, which can negatively affect their flavor. The ideal place to store your coffee is a dark cabinet with an airtight, opaque container.
If your beans aren't in a bag with a single-way valve, you'll need to move them into the container that is sealed and opaque, like the Coffee Gator canister. The fridge may also be too cold for the coffee, which may affect the taste.
The primary enemies of coffee beans are air, heat and moisture. To ensure the freshness of your coffee beans, place them in an opaque container (not transparent), at ambient temperature. A dark, cool and cool pantry is the best location to store them, but a closet or a cupboard is also acceptable. Storing coffee in the fridge can help extend its shelf life, but it isn't recommended. bulk coffee beans could alter the flavor of your coffee and cause them to become stale more quickly due to the cold temperature. Additionally, the moisture and food smells from the fridge can also harm your beans.
Storing coffee beans in the Pantry
When the seal on the packaging is broken on your beans, it is recommended to store them in a dark area at room temperature in an airtight container. This will help preserve the flavor, aroma and freshness of your coffee for a prolonged period (depending on how much oxygen or heat is in contact with the beans). Storing your coffee beans in an oven or kitchen counter space that is exposed to direct sunlight could be a bad idea. These areas can become very hot and accelerate oxidation.
Moisture is often a major factor, as the beans can absorb moisture in the air. This can alter the natural flavors. It can also accelerate the process of oxidation since beans can destroy the molecular structure, which gives them their distinctive aromas. The heat also strips the beans of its natural oils, which causes them to lose flavor.
If you can keep your beans in the bags that are resealable, one-way valves which they came in or an equivalent airtight opaque container, then their freshness will last approximately a week before they begin to deteriorate. They can go longer if you place them in the freezer, but you must be cautious since the beans may be affected by freezer burn and they may also absorb food odors that are floating around in the freezer along with them.
Storing coffee beans in the freezer
If you're spending 20 dollars or more on a bag of gourmet coffee beans, it's important to understand the best method of storing the beans. Coffee absorbs flavor, aromas and moisture which is why storing it in an airtight container in a cool, dark area will help preserve the flavor. You can also freeze the beans, but it is best to place them in a Ziploc bag first to avoid burning in the freezer.
Although freezing isn't ideal, it can be helpful if you have a limited amount of time or if you're traveling and want to bring along some of your favourite roast. However, coffee beans that have been frozen will not be as fresh and will have a less bland flavor than beans that are properly stored in the refrigerator or pantry.
As you can see it's ideal to use your coffee beans in a lickety-split fashion, but sometimes we simply don't have the luxury. Properly storing your coffee beans can prolong their shelf-life by at least three times if you're using them in a cool, dark place in a sealed airtight container. You may be surprised by how much better the coffee will taste compared to the beans that were rotten in the freezer or fridge.