How Coffee Beans Fresh Is A Secret Life Secret Life Of Coffee Beans Fresh
How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh
As with a banana left on the counter for a few days, coffee beans also go bad. This is due to oxidation and loss of volatile soluble flavor compounds.
The good news is you can preserve those fresh flavors for several weeks with a few simple guidelines. Heat, humidity and air are your beans' greatest enemies!
How to Store Coffee Beans
It's no secret that coffee beans break down quickly. To get the best flavor from your beans, you need to store them in a proper manner. However, a lot of people are confused as to how best to store them. Some people believe that they can put their beans into the fridge. This is not the best option.
The key is storing your beans in an airtight, opaque container at room temperature. This will shield your beans from their most formidable enemies: air and moisture. Moisture and air can both take away the beans' fresh-roasted flavor, and moisture can also dilute them. Heating can also ruin the aroma and flavor of the beans, and light (especially sunlight) can smudge their natural shine too.
It's not a good idea to keep coffee beans in the refrigerator. They could absorb the flavors of other foods, such as cheese and onions in the refrigerator, which will affect the taste of your coffee. They could also be exposed to moisture and condensation from the cold air in the refrigerator.
Consider storing your beans in the original container or in a resealable plastic bag. Make sure to remove all air from the bag prior to resealing it, and store it in a cool, dark area. This will also make the beans last for a longer time, but the optimum length of time to use them is 72 hours after they have been roasted.
Storing Coffee Beans in the Fridge
A majority of people keep their beans in the fridge however it's not a good idea. Coffee beans stored in the fridge absorb odors from food and water which can adversely affect their flavor. The best place to keep your coffee is in a dark cabinet, sealed with an airtight, clear container.
A coffee bag with a one-way valve works just fine in the fridge, but if your beans weren't packaged in this kind 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. The fridge may also be too cold for the coffee, and this can affect its taste.
Moisture, heat, and air are the main enemies of coffee beans. To preserve the freshness and quality of your beans, store them in a dark container (not transparent), at the room temperature. The best place to keep them is a dark, cool pantry, but cabinets or a wardrobe could also work. Storing coffee in a refrigerator can help prolong its shelf life, but it isn't recommended. The cold temperature can alter the taste of your coffee and cause it to deteriorate faster. The moisture and food smells in the refrigerator can also harm your coffee beans.
Coffee beans are stored in the Pantry
When the seal on the packaging of your beans has broken, it's best to store them in a dark location at the temperature of room and in an airtight container. This will help preserve the flavor, aroma, and freshness of your coffee for a long time (depending on how much oxygen or heat is exposed to the beans). Storing your beans in a cupboard near an oven or counter where they receive direct sunlight isn't a good option because these areas can get very hot and accelerate oxidation.
Moisture can be a major factor in the bean's flavor, since it absorb moisture in the air. This can alter the natural flavors. Heat can also accelerate oxidation because the bean can break the molecular structure that gives them their aromas. Also, heat strips the bean of their natural oils which causes them to lose flavor.
If you are able to keep your beans in their one-way valve bag that is resealable and resealable that they came in, or an equivalent airtight opaque container then the freshness will last around a week or so before they begin to deteriorate. You can store them for longer in the fridge however, be aware that they could be prone to freezer burn or absorb any food odors in the fridge.
Storing coffee beans in the freezer
If you are spending $20 or more on bags of premium coffee beans, it is essential to know the best way to store the beans. strong coffee beans absorbs aromas, flavors, and moisture and storing it in an opaque airtight container in a dark, cool place will help to preserve the flavor. You can also freeze the beans, but it is advisable to place them in a Ziploc bag prior to freezing to avoid burns from freezing.
While freezing is not ideal it can be helpful if you have a limited period of time, or if you're on the road and want to bring along your favorite roast. However, coffee beans that have been frozen will not be as fresh and will have a more muted flavor than beans that were stored correctly in the fridge or in the pantry.
It's best to use the beans as soon as is possible however, we don't always have the luxury of. Properly storing your coffee beans can extend their shelf life by at least three times if you store them in a cold dark place in an airtight opaque container. You may be surprised by how much better the coffee will taste compared to the beans that had gone to rot in the freezer or fridge.