How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh

Just like a banana that's left on the counter for a few days, coffee beans turn bad. This is due to oxidation and the loss of volatile flavor compounds.

The good news is that you can preserve those fresh roasted flavors for up to a week by implementing a few simple tips. Air, moisture and heat are your beans' biggest enemies!

How to Store Coffee Beans

It's no secret, coffee beans are degraded quickly. To get the most flavor out of your beans, it is essential to store them properly. Despite this, many people are unsure of the best to go about it. Many people think they can just put their beans in the fridge. This isn't the best method.

The key is storing your beans in an airtight and opaque container at room temperature. This will shield your beans from two of their greatest enemies: air and moisture. The air can rob beans of their fresh roasted flavor, and moisture can dilute the beans' flavor. Heat will also break down the flavor and aroma of the beans, and light Roast coffee Beans (especially sunlight) can destroy their natural shine, too.

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

You may want to store your beans in the container that you originally used or in a resealable plastic bag. Make sure you remove all the air from the bag before resealing it, and store it in a cool, dark space. This can also aid in keeping the beans fresh a bit longer, however the best time to use them is within 72 hours after they have been roasted.

Storing coffee beans in the Fridge

Many people store their coffee beans in the refrigerator but this isn't necessarily a great idea. highest rated coffee beans beans stored in refrigerators absorb the smells of food and moisture and can affect their flavor. The best place to keep your bulk buy coffee beans is in a dark cupboard with an airtight, opaque container.

A coffee beans in bulk bag with one-way valves will work just fine in the refrigerator however if the beans weren't packaged in this type of packaging you'll need to transfer them into a tightly sealed and opaque container such as a glass canister or the coffee beans uk Gator canister mentioned above. The fridge can also be too cold for the coffee, which may affect the taste.

Moisture, air and heat are the primary enemies of coffee bean. To keep their freshness and roast, you must store your beans in an airtight and opaque (not transparent) container at the temperature of room. The best place to keep them is a cool, dark pantry, but cabinets or a wardrobe can also be used. Storing coffee in the refrigerator can help prolong its shelf life, but it's not recommended. The cold temperature can alter the flavor of your coffee and cause it to go through a stale-like process faster. The smells of food and moisture in the fridge can affect the coffee beans.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry

When the seal on the packaging is broken on your beans, it's recommended to store the beans in a dark space at room temperature in an airtight container. This will preserve the flavor, aroma and freshness of the coffee for some time (depending on the amount of exposure to oxygen, heat, and moisture). Storing your beans in a cabinet close to an oven or counter where they get direct sunlight isn't the ideal option as these places can become very hot and will accelerate the process of oxidation.

Moisture is a significant factor in the bean's flavor, since it can absorb moisture from the air. This can reduce the natural flavors. Also, heat can accelerate the process of oxidation as the bean may destroy the molecular structure, which gives them their distinctive aromas. The heat also strips the beans of their natural oils which makes them taste less.

If you're able keep your beans in the sealed, resealable bag that they came in, or an equivalent airtight opaque container, then the freshness will last approximately a week before they begin to degrade. You can store them for longer in the refrigerator, but be careful as they could suffer from freezer burns or absorb any odors from food in the fridge.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Freezer

If you are spending $20 or more on a bag of gourmet coffee beans, it's essential to know the best method to store the beans. Coffee absorbs aromas, moisture and flavors and keeping it in an opaque airtight container in a cool, dark place will help to 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 an Ziploc bag prior to freezing to avoid freezing burn.

While freezing isn't a good idea, it can be useful if you are short on time or travel and wish to take some of your favorite coffee with you. The quality coffee beans beans that are frozen do not taste as fresh and have a less intense flavor than beans stored in the refrigerator or pantry.

It's best to consume the beans as soon as is possible however, we may not always have that luxury. Properly storing your coffee beans can prolong their shelf-life by up to three times, if you store them in a cool, dark location in an airtight container. So go ahead and give it a try (be sure to follow the above guidelines carefully) you may be surprised by how much better your coffee will taste compared to the dull and lifeless beans that have gone bad in the freezer or fridge.