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How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh

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

You can keep the fresh roasted flavor for a few weeks by following these simple tips. The beans' biggest enemies are moisture, air, and heat!

How to store Coffee Beans

It's no secret, coffee beans degrade quickly. To get the best flavor of your beans, it's important to properly store them. Many people are unsure of how to go about this, however. Many people think 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, opaque container at room temperature. This will shield your beans from their biggest enemies: air and moisture. Moisture and air can both ruin the beans' fresh-roasted flavor, while moisture can also weaken them. The heat can also ruin the aroma and flavor of the beans. Light (especially sunlight) can also diminish their natural shine.

In fact, storing coffee beans in the refrigerator can be more harmful than helpful. They can absorb the flavor and odors of other food items in the refrigerator, including cheese and onions, which will negatively impact the taste of your coffee. They also are exposed to condensation and moisture due to the cold air in the refrigerator.

You may want to store your beans in the original container or in a resealable plastic bag. Be sure to blow out all of the air before sealing the bag and keep it in a cool, dark and dry place. This can 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

Most people store their beans in the refrigerator but this isn't an ideal solution. Coffee beans stored in a refrigerator absorb odors of food and moisture which can adversely affect their flavor. The ideal place to store your coffee is in a dark cupboard with an airtight, transparent container.

If your beans don't come in a coffee bag with a single-way valve, you will need to transfer them into containers that are tightly sealed and opaque, like the Coffee Gator canister. It's important to note that the fridge might be a little cold for coffee, which may alter the taste.

The most common enemies of coffee beans are air, heat and moisture. To ensure the freshness of your coffee beans, place them in a container that is opaque (not transparent) at room temperature. A dark, cool pantry is the perfect location to store them, but a closet or a cupboard is also acceptable. Storing coffee in the 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 become stale quicker. In addition the food and moisture smells that are present in the fridge could also damage your beans.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry

Once the seal has been broken on your beans, it is best to store them in a dark place at room temperature in an airtight container. This will help preserve the aroma, flavor, and freshness of your coffee for a long time (depending on how much oxygen, heat, or moisture is exposed to the beans). Storing your coffee beans near an oven or kitchen counter place where they are exposed to direct sunlight might be a bad idea. These places can get extremely hot and accelerate oxidation.

Moisture is a major factor because beans can absorb moisture from the air, and this can alter their natural flavors. Oxidation also accelerates with heat because the bean can break down the molecular structures which give them their flavors and aromas. Also, heat deprives the bean of its natural oils and causes the flavor to fade away.

If you can keep your beans in the resealable, one-way valve bag that they came from or an equivalent airtight opaque container then freshness should last for around a week or so before they begin to deteriorate. They will last longer if you place them in the freezer, however you should be aware as the beans may suffer from freezer burn, and they may also absorb food odors floating around in the freezer them.

Storing coffee beans in the freezer

If you're spending 20 dollars or more on a bag of gourmet coffee beans, it is crucial to determine the best method to store the beans. Coffee is like a sponge and can absorb aromas, moisture and flavors. Keeping it in a cool, dark space in an airtight container can help keep the taste secure. You can also freeze your beans, but be careful if you decide to do this it's best to transfer them to an Ziploc bag prior to freezing in order to avoid freezing burn.

While freezing isn't the best option, it can be helpful if you have a limited amount of time or you're on the road and want to bring along your favourite roast. Coffee beans that are frozen aren't as fresh and have a weaker flavor than beans that are stored in the refrigerator or in the pantry.

It is recommended to use your beans as soon as you can, but we don't always have the luxury of. The proper storage of your specialty coffee beans beans can extend their shelf life by three times if you keep them in a cold dark place in an airtight opaque container. If you decide to give the idea a go (be sure to follow the directions above carefully) you may be surprised by how much better the coffee will taste as compared to the dull and uninteresting beans that went bad in the fridge or freezer.