How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh
Like a banana thrown on the counter, coffee beans can go bad. This is due to oxidation and loss of volatile flavor compounds.
You can keep the fresh flavor of roasted beans for a few weeks by following some simple guidelines. Your beans' greatest enemies are moisture, air, and heat!
How to keep coffee beans safe? Beans
It's not a secret that coffee beans degrade quickly. In order to enjoy the best flavor of your beans, it is essential to properly store them. Many people are unsure of how to best do this, though. Some people think that they can place their beans in the fridge. This isn't the best way to go about it.
The key is to keep your beans in an airtight, opaque container at room temperature. This will shield your beans from their most formidable enemies: moisture and air. Moisture and air can both take away the beans' fresh roast flavor, and moisture can also dilute them. Heating can also ruin the flavor and aroma of the beans, and light (especially sunlight) can destroy the natural shine of the beans as well.
In reality, storing coffee beans in the refrigerator could be more harmful than useful. They may absorb the flavors and odors from other foods in the refrigerator, including onions and cheese which can negatively affect the taste of your coffee. They also are exposed to condensation and moisture from the refrigerator's cold air.
Instead, consider storing your beans in the container they were packaged in or in a resealable bag. Be unroasted coffee beans to remove all air from the bag before sealing it and storing it in a dark, cool space. This method will also help the beans last a bit longer, but it is recommended to consume them within 72 hours of roasting.
Coffee beans are stored in the Fridge
Many people keep their coffee beans in the refrigerator but this isn't a great idea. Coffee beans stored in refrigerators absorb moisture and food smells which can adversely affect their flavor. The best place to keep your coffee is in a dark cabinet that is sealed with an airtight, transparent container.
A coffee bag that has one-way valves will work just fine in the refrigerator, but if your beans aren't in this type of packaging you'll have to transfer them into a tightly sealed and opaque container such as a glass jar or the Coffee Gator canister mentioned above. The fridge might also be too cold for the coffee, and this can affect the taste.
Moisture, air and heat are the main enemies of coffee bean. To keep the freshness of your beans, keep them in an opaque container (not transparent), at temperatures that are at room temperature. A dark, cool and cool pantry is the best storage space, but a closet or cupboard can also be used. Storing coffee in the fridge will help extend its shelf life, but it isn't recommended. It can alter the flavor of your beverage and make them stale more quickly due to the cold temperature. Additionally the moisture and food smells from the fridge can also harm your beans.
Coffee beans are stored in the Pantry
When the seal on the packaging is broken on your beans, it's recommended to store them in a dark place at room temperature in an airtight container. This will help preserve the flavor, aroma, and freshness of your coffee for a prolonged period (depending on how much oxygen or heat is in contact with the beans). Storing your coffee beans near an oven or kitchen counter, or any other place where they are exposed to direct sunlight might be a bad idea. These places can get extremely hot and accelerate oxidation.
Moisture is an important factor because beans absorb moisture from the air, and this could alter the natural flavors. Oxidation is also accelerated by heat because the bean can disintegrate the molecular structures which give them their flavors and aromas. Heat also robs the bean of its natural oils and causes them to lose flavor.
If you're able to keep your beans in the resealable, one-way valve bag which they came in or an equivalent airtight opaque container then their freshness will last about a week before they begin to decay. They can be kept longer in the refrigerator, however, be aware that they could suffer from freezer burn or absorb any odors from food in the fridge.
Storing coffee beans in the freezer
If you are spending $20 or more on bags of premium coffee beans, it's crucial to determine the best method to store them. Coffee absorbs aromas, moisture and flavors, so placing it in an opaque airtight container in a cool, dark area will help preserve the flavor. You can also freeze your beans but be careful if you do this, you should move them into an Ziploc bag prior to freezing to avoid freezing burn.
Although freezing isn't ideal, it could be beneficial if you have a limited time frame or you're traveling and wish to bring along some of your favourite roast. Coffee beans that are frozen aren't as fresh and have a less intense flavor than beans stored in the refrigerator or in the pantry.
It's recommended to use the beans as soon as possible, but we don't always have that luxury. If you store your coffee beans in a dark, cool space in a dark, airtight container and their shelf life could be extended by up to three times. Give it a try (be sure to follow the instructions above carefully) you may be amazed at how much better the coffee will taste as compared to the dull and stale beans that have gone bad in the freezer or fridge.