How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh

Like 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 flavor compounds.

The good news is that you can preserve fresh roast flavors for up to a week with a few simple guidelines. Heat, humidity and air are your beans' biggest enemies!

How to Store Coffee Beans

It's no secret that coffee beans degrade quickly. To ensure the best flavor from your beans, you need to store them properly. However, many people are confused as to how best to store them. Some people believe that they can just put their beans in the fridge. This isn't the best method.

Keep your beans at room temperature in an opaque, airtight container. This will safeguard the beans from their most formidable enemies which are air, moisture and heat. Air can strip beans of their fresh-roasted flavor and moisture may weaken the beans' flavor. Heating can also ruin the aroma and flavor of the beans, and light (especially sunlight) can destroy the natural shine of the beans as well.

It is not a good idea to keep coffee beans in your refrigerator. They can absorb the flavors of other food items, like cheese and onions in the refrigerator which could alter the taste of your coffee. They could also be exposed by the refrigerator's cool air to condensation and moisture.

It is possible to store your beans in the original container or in a resealable plastic bag. Be sure to blow out all air prior to sealing the bag and store it in a cool, dark place. This method will also help the beans to last a bit longer, but it's ideal to use them within 72 hours of roasting.

Coffee beans are stored in the Fridge

Many people store their coffee beans in the refrigerator, but this isn't a great idea. coffee beans unroasted beans stored in the refrigerator absorb moisture and food smells, which can negatively affect their flavor. The best place to store your coffee is in a dark cabinet with an airtight and transparent container.

If your beans aren't in a coffee bag with an open valve, you'll need to transfer them to an container that is sealed and opaque, such as the Coffee Gator canister. The fridge might also be too cold for the coffee, which could affect its taste.

The most common enemies of coffee beans are air, top 10 coffee beans heat and moisture. To keep the freshness of your roasted beans, place them in a container that is opaque (not transparent) at room temperature. The best place to store them is a cool, dark pantry, however cabinets or a wardrobe can also be used. It is not recommended to keep coffee in the refrigerator. It will extend its shelf life, but you might want to try it. It can alter the flavor of your brew and even cause them to become stale quicker due to its cold temperature. The smells of food and moisture in the refrigerator can also affect the coffee beans.

Storing coffee beans in the Pantry

Once the packaging seal is broken on your beans, it is recommended to store them in a dark area at room temperature in an airtight container. This will preserve the aroma, flavor and freshness of the coffee for a while (depending on the extent of exposure to heat, oxygen and moisture). Storing your coffee beans in an oven, kitchen counter or other location that is exposed to direct sunlight may be an undesirable idea. These areas can become extremely hot and accelerate the process of oxidation.

Moisture can be a major factor in the bean's flavor, since it absorb moisture in the air. This can dilute the natural flavors. Also, heat can accelerate the process of oxidation, as beans break the molecular structure that provides them with their distinctive aromas. Heating also deprives the bean of its natural oils and causes them to lose their flavor.

If you keep your beans in the resealable one-way valve bag they came in, or in an airtight, opaque container that is equivalent to it, they'll stay fresh for approximately one week. You can store them for longer in the fridge but be aware that they may suffer from freezer burns or absorb any odors from food in the fridge.

Storing Online coffee beans beans in the freezer

If you're paying $20 or more for an expensive coffee beans bag of coffee beans it's important to be aware of the length of time they'll last and what the best ways are to keep them. Coffee absorbs moisture, aromas 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 careful if you do this, it's best to move them into the inside of a Ziploc bag prior to freezing to avoid freezing burn.

Although freezing isn't a good coffee beans idea, it is a good option if have a short time frame or you're traveling and wish to bring along your favourite roast. However, coffee beans frozen aren't as fresh and will have a more muted flavor than beans that were stored correctly in the refrigerator or in the pantry.

As you can see, it's recommended to use your beans with a single hand, but sometimes you simply don't have the luxury. Storing your coffee beans properly will extend their shelf-life three times if you keep them in a cold dark space in an airtight, opaque container. So go ahead and give it a try (be sure to follow the directions above carefully) you may be surprised at how much better the flavor of your coffee is compared to the dull, lifeless beans that went bad in the freezer or fridge.