Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Coffee Beans Fresh?
How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh
Like a banana thrown on the counter coffee beans can turn bad. This is due to oxidation and loss of volatile soluble flavor compounds.
You can preserve the fresh roasted flavor for a few weeks by following a few simple tips. Your beans' greatest enemies are moisture, air and heat!
How do you store coffee beans
It's no secret, coffee beans degrade quickly. In order to get the most flavor out of your beans, it's essential to store them properly. However, a lot of people are unsure of how best to store their beans. Many people believe that they can just put their beans in the refrigerator, 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 shield your beans from their biggest enemies: moisture and air. Moisture and air can both ruin the beans' fresh-roasted taste, while moisture can also dilute them. Heating can also ruin the aroma and flavor of the beans. Light (especially sunlight) can also affect their natural shine.
It's not a good idea to keep coffee beans in the refrigerator. They may absorb the flavor of other food items, like cheese and onions in the fridge which can alter the taste of your espresso. They could also be exposed to moisture and condensation from the refrigerator's cold air.
Consider storing your beans in the original container or in a plastic bag that can be resealable. Be sure to remove all air prior to sealing the bag and store it in a cool, dark location. This can also help the beans to last a bit longer, but it's best to use them within 72 hours of roasting.
Storing coffee beans in the Fridge
Many people store their coffee beans in the refrigerator but this isn't necessarily a great idea. Coffee beans stored in a refrigerator absorb moisture and food smells which can adversely affect their flavor. The best place to store your coffee is a dark cabinet, sealed with an airtight and transparent container.
A coffee bag with one-way valves will work perfectly in the fridge, but if your beans didn't come in this type of packaging you'll have to transfer them into a tightly sealed and opaque container like a glass canister or the Coffee Gator canister mentioned above. It's important to note that the fridge could be a bit cold for coffee, which can impact its taste.
The primary enemies of coffee beans are heat, air and moisture. To ensure the freshness of your coffee beans place them in an opaque container (not transparent), at ambient temperature. A dark, cool pantry is the best location to store them but a closet or cupboard can also be used. Storing coffee in a refrigerator will extend its shelf life, however it isn't recommended. It can alter the taste of your beverage and cause them to go stale quicker due to its cold temperature. The moisture and food smells in the refrigerator can damage your coffee beans.
Coffee beans are stored in the Pantry
When the seal on the packaging of your beans has broken, it is best to keep the beans in a dark, dry place at temperatures of room temperature and in an airtight container. coffeee beans will keep the aroma, flavor and freshness of the coffee for a time (depending on the amount of exposure to oxygen, heat, and moisture). Storing your coffee beans near an oven or kitchen counter, or any other location that is exposed to direct sunlight could be an undesirable idea. These areas can become very hot and accelerate oxidation.
Moisture is a significant factor in the bean's flavor, since it absorb moisture in the air. This can reduce the natural flavors. The heat can also accelerate the process of the process of oxidation as the bean may destroy the molecular structure that gives them their distinctive aromas. Heating also deprives the bean of its natural oils, causing them to lose their taste.
If you can keep your beans in their one-way valve bag that is resealable and resealable that they came from or an equivalent airtight opaque container then freshness should last for around a week or so before they start to degrade. You can store them longer in the fridge but be cautious as they could suffer from freezer burn or absorb any odors from food in the fridge.
Storing Coffee Beans in the Freezer
If you are spending $20 or more for bags of premium coffee beans, it is essential to know the best way to store them. Coffee absorbs flavor, aromas and moisture therefore storing it in an opaque airtight container in a dark, cool space will help preserve the flavor. You can also freeze your beans, but be careful if you decide to do this, it's best to move them into the inside of a Ziploc bag prior to freezing in order to avoid freezing burn.
Although freezing isn't a good idea, it is a good option if have a limited period of time, or if you're traveling and wish to take along a cup of your favorite roast. Frozen coffee beans are not as fresh and have a less distinct flavor than beans that are stored in the refrigerator or in the pantry.
It is best to use the beans as soon as possible however, we don't always have the luxury of. If you keep your coffee beans in a dark, cold space in a dark, airtight container the shelf life of your coffee beans can be extended by up to 3 times. Give it a shot (be sure to follow the directions above carefully) you might be amazed at how much better the coffee will taste as compared to the dull and lifeless beans that went bad in the fridge or freezer.