How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh

Like a banana left on the counter for several days, coffee beans go bad. This is because of oxidation and loss of volatile soluble flavor compounds.

You can keep the fresh roast taste for a couple of weeks by implementing a few guidelines. The beans' biggest enemies are air, moisture, and heat!

How do you store coffee beans

It's no secret that coffee beans degrade rapidly. To get the most flavor out of your beans, you need to store them in a proper manner. However, a lot of people are unsure of the best to store them. Some think they can just put their beans in the refrigerator however this isn't the best way to do it.

The most important thing is to store your beans in an airtight and transparent container at room temperatures. This will protect your beans from two of their greatest enemies: air and moisture. Moisture and air can both rob the beans their fresh roast flavor, and moisture can also make them taste weaker. 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 store coffee beans in your refrigerator. They may absorb the flavors and odors of food items in the refrigerator, including cheese and Coffeee onions, which will negatively impact the taste of your coffee. They could also be exposed by the cool air in the refrigerator to moisture and condensation.

Instead, consider storing your beans in the container they came in, or in a resealable bag. Make sure you remove all air from the bag before resealing it, and store it in a cool, dark place. This can make the beans last a little longer, but the ideal time to use them is within 72 hours after roasting.

Coffee beans are stored in the Fridge

The majority of people store their beans in the fridge however it's not an ideal solution. Coffee beans stored in the fridge absorb odors from food and water and can negatively affect their flavor. The best place to keep your coffee is a dark cabinet in an airtight, clear container.

If your beans aren't in a coffee bag equipped with a single-way valve, you'll need to transfer them to containers that are tightly sealed and opaque, such as the Coffee Gator canister. It's important that you note that the fridge may be a little too cold for coffee, which may impact its taste.

The primary enemies of coffee beans are air, heat and moisture. To preserve their roasted freshness it is recommended to store your beans in an airtight opaque (not transparent) container at the temperature of room. A dark, cool and cool pantry is the ideal location to store them but a closet or cupboard can also be used. It is not recommended to keep coffee in the refrigerator. It can prolong the shelf-life of your coffee, but you may want to test it. The cold temperature can alter the flavor of your coffee, causing it to deteriorate faster. The smells of food and moisture in the fridge can harm your coffee beans.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry

When the seal on the packaging is broken on your beans, it's recommended to store them in a dark location at room temperature in an airtight container. This will keep the flavor, aroma and freshness of the coffee for a long time (depending on the degree of exposure to heat, oxygen and moisture). The storage of your coffee beans near an oven or kitchen counter space that is exposed to direct sunlight may be an unwise choice. These places can get extremely hot and accelerate oxidation.

Moisture can be a significant factor, as the beans can absorb moisture from the air. This can reduce the natural flavors. Oxidation also accelerates with heat since the beans can disintegrate the molecular structures which give them their aromas and flavors. Heating also strips the beans of their natural oils, which makes them taste less.

If you're able to keep your beans in their resealable, one-way valve bag that they came in or an equivalent airtight opaque container then freshness should last for approximately a week before they start to degrade. You can store them for longer in the fridge but be cautious as they could suffer from freezer burns or absorb any odors from food in the fridge.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Freezer

If you're shelling out $20 or more for a haute bag of coffee beans it's important to be aware of the length of time they'll keep and what the best ways are to store them. Coffee is a sponge and can absorb moisture, aromas and flavors. Keeping it in a cool, dark location in an airtight, opaque container will help keep the flavor safe. You can also freeze your beans, but be careful if you do this, it's best to move them into an Ziploc bag prior to freezing them to avoid burning in the freezer.

While it's not ideal but it can be helpful if you are short on time or traveling and want to bring some of your favorite coffee with you. Frozen coffee beans are not as fresh and have a less intense flavor than beans that are stored in the refrigerator or pantry.

As you can see it's ideal to use your coffee beans lickety-splitt but sometimes we just don't have that luxury. Storing your coffee beans properly can extend their shelf-life by at least three times if you keep them in a dark, cold location in an airtight container. So go ahead and give your coffee a try (be sure to follow the above instructions carefully) you might be amazed by how much better the coffee will taste as compared to the dull and uninteresting Kimbo Espresso Barista: 100% Arabica Beans from Italy that went bad in the freezer or fridge.