20 Things That Only The Most Devoted Coffee Beans Fresh Fans Are Aware Of
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 loss of volatile soluble flavor compounds.
You can keep the fresh roast taste for a few weeks by implementing a few tips. The beans' biggest enemies are moisture, air and heat!
How to Store Coffee Beans
It's not a secret that coffee beans degrade quickly. To get the best flavor from your beans, you need to store them in a proper manner. Despite this, many are confused as to how best to store them. Many people believe that they can just put their beans in the refrigerator however this isn't the best way to go about it.
The most important thing is to store your beans in an airtight, transparent container at room temperatures. This will protect your beans from their biggest enemies: air and moisture. Air can strip beans of their fresh roasted flavor and moisture can weaken the beans' flavor. Heating can also ruin the aroma and flavor of the beans, and light (especially sunlight) can destroy their natural shine as well.
In fact, storing coffee beans in the refrigerator could be more harmful than helpful. They can absorb the flavors and odors of other foods in the refrigerator, including onions and cheese that can adversely affect the taste of your coffee. They could also be exposed to condensation and moisture from the cold air in the refrigerator.
Consider storing your beans in the original container or in a resealable plastic bag. Be sure to remove all the air from the bag before sealing it again, and then store it in a dark, cool area. This will allow the beans last a bit longer, however it is best to use them within 72 hours of roasting.
Storing coffee beans in the Fridge
Many people keep their coffee beans in their refrigerators but this isn't necessarily an ideal solution. Coffee beans stored in the refrigerator absorb the smells of food and moisture which can adversely affect their flavor. The best place to store your coffee is in a dark cabinet that has an airtight and opaque container.
A coffee bag that has an one-way valve can work just fine in the fridge however if the beans aren't in this kind of packaging, it is necessary to transfer them into a tightly sealed and opaque container such as a glass canister or the Coffee Gator canister mentioned above. The fridge might also be too cold for the coffee, which can affect its taste.
The main enemies of coffee beans are air, heat and moisture. To preserve the freshness and quality of your beans, place them in an opaque container (not transparent) at room temperature. A dark, cool, dark pantry is the ideal location to store them, but a closet or a cupboard is also acceptable. Storing coffee in the fridge can help prolong the shelf life of your coffee, but it's not recommended. It can affect the flavors of your brew and even cause them to deteriorate more quickly due to the cold temperature. In addition, the moisture and food smells that are present in the fridge could also harm your beans.
Storing coffee beans in the Pantry
Once the packaging seal on your beans has been broken, it is recommended to keep them in a dark place at the temperature of room and 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 oxygen, heat, and moisture). The storage of your coffee beans near an oven or kitchen counter area where they are exposed to direct sunlight could be a bad idea. These places can get extremely hot and accelerate the process of the process of oxidation.
good quality coffee beans is often a major factor, as the beans are able to absorb moisture from the air. This can dilute the natural flavors. Oxidation is also accelerated by heat since the beans can disintegrate the molecular structures that provide them with their flavors and aromas. Heat also robs the bean of its natural oils, causing the flavor to fade away.
If you're able keep your beans in the sealed, resealable bag which they came in or an equivalent airtight opaque container the freshness will last about a week before they begin to degrade. They may last longer if you place them in the freezer, but you have to be careful because the beans might suffer from freezer burn, and they could also absorb food odors floating around in the freezer them.
Storing coffee beans in the freezer
If you're spending 20 dollars or more for a premium bag of coffee beans, it's essential to be aware of the length of time they'll keep and what the best methods are to store them. Coffee is like a sponge and can absorb moisture, aromas and flavors. Therefore, keeping it in a cool dark location in an airtight, opaque container will help keep the flavor protected. You can also freeze the beans, but it is recommended to put them in a Ziploc bag first to avoid freezer burn.
While freezing isn't the best option, it is a good option if have a short time frame or you're planning to travel and take along a cup of your favourite roast. However, frozen coffee beans will not be as fresh and will have a less mild flavor than beans that are properly stored in the fridge or in the pantry.
It is recommended to consume the beans as quickly as you can however, we do not always have that luxury. Properly storing your coffee beans can prolong their shelf-life by three times if you store them in a cold dark place in an airtight opaque container. You might be amazed by how much better the coffee will taste when compared to the beans that had gone to rot in the fridge or freezer.