How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh
As with a banana left on the counter, coffee beans can go bad. This is due to oxidation and the loss of volatile flavor compounds.
The good news is you can preserve the fresh roast flavors for some weeks with a few simple tips. The beans' biggest enemies are moisture, air and heat!
How do you keep
gourmet coffee Beans beans in storage
It's no secret, coffee beans break down quickly. To maximize the flavor of your beans, it is essential to properly store them. Despite this, many people are confused as to how best to store their beans. Some people believe that they can place their beans into the fridge. This is not the most efficient method.
The most important thing is to store your beans in an airtight and transparent container at room temperatures. This will safeguard the beans from the most formidable enemies such as moisture, air and heat. Air can strip beans of their fresh-roasted taste and moisture could weaken them as well. Heating can also ruin the flavor and aroma of the beans. Light (especially sunlight) can also affect the natural shine of the beans.
It is not a
good coffee beans idea to store coffee beans in your refrigerator. They can absorb the flavors of other foods, such as onions and cheese in the fridge, which will alter the flavor of your espresso. They are also exposed by the cool air in the refrigerator to moisture and condensation.
Instead, think about storing your beans in the container they were packaged in or in a resealable bag. Make sure to push out all the air prior sealing the bag, and store it in a cool, dark area. This method will also help the beans last longer, however it is best to use them within 72 hours after roasting.
Storing coffee beans in the Fridge
Many people store their coffee beans in their refrigerators but this isn't an ideal idea. Coffee beans stored in a refrigerator absorb odors and moisture from food items which can adversely affect their flavor. The best place to keep your coffee is a dark cabinet in an airtight and transparent container.
A coffee bag that has one-way valves will work just fine in the refrigerator however if your beans didn't come in this kind of packaging, you'll need to move them to a tightly sealed and opaque container like a glass canister or the Coffee Gator canister mentioned above. The fridge could also be too cold for the coffee, and this can affect the taste.
Air, heat and moisture are the primary enemies of coffee bean. To preserve the freshness and quality of your beans, place them in a dark container (not transparent), at ambient temperature. A cool, dark pantry is the best place to store them, but a closet or cabinet is also acceptable. It is not recommended to keep
expensive coffee beans in the refrigerator. It can extend its shelf-life, however you might want to consider it. It can alter the flavor of your coffee and make them stale faster due to its cold temperature. Additionally the moisture and food smells that are present in the fridge could also harm your beans.
Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry
After the seal of the packaging has been broken on the beans, it's best to keep them in a dark location at room temperature in an airtight container. This will keep the aroma, flavor and freshness of the
coffee beans price for a long time (depending on the amount of exposure to oxygen, heat and moisture). Storing your coffee beans in an oven, kitchen counter or other area where they are exposed to direct sunlight might be an undesirable idea. These places can get extremely hot and accelerate the process of the process of oxidation.
Moisture is often a major factor, as the beans can absorb moisture from the air. This can weaken the natural flavors. It can also 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 the flavor to fade away.
If you keep your beans in the resealable one-way valve bag they came in or in an airtight container to it, they'll stay fresh for approximately one week. You can store them longer in the fridge, however, be aware that they may be prone to freezer burn or absorb any odors of food in the fridge.
Storing Coffee Beans in the Freezer
If you're paying 20 bucks or more to purchase the finest coffee beans it's important to know how long they'll last and what the best methods are to keep them. Coffee absorbs aromas, moisture and flavors therefore keeping it in an opaque airtight container in a dark, cool place will help to preserve the flavor. You can also freeze the beans, however, it is advised to store them in a Ziploc bag prior to freezing to avoid burns from freezing.
While freezing isn't ideal, it can be useful when you're short on time or you are traveling and want to take a cup of your favorite coffee with you. The
coffee beans unroasted beans that are frozen do not taste as fresh and have a weaker flavor than beans stored in the refrigerator or pantry.
It is recommended to consume the beans as soon as possible however, we do not always have that luxury. If you store your coffee beans in a dark, cold location in an airtight, opaque container the shelf life of your coffee beans can be extended by as much as 3 times. You may be surprised at how much better the coffee will taste in comparison to beans that had gone to rot in the fridge or freezer.