How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh

Like a banana left on the counter coffee beans are prone to going bad. This is due to oxidation and loss of volatile flavor compounds.

You can preserve the fresh flavor of roasted beans for a couple of weeks by implementing a few guidelines. Air, moisture and heat are your beans' biggest enemies!

How to Store Coffee Beans

It's no secret that coffee beans degrade quickly. In order to get the best flavor of your beans, it's important to store them properly. However, many people are unsure of the best to do it. Many people believe that they can just put their beans in the refrigerator, but this isn't actually the best method for doing it.

Store your beans at room temperature in an opaque, airtight container. This will shield your beans from two of their greatest enemies: air and moisture. Moisture and air can both take away the beans' fresh-roasted flavor, while the moisture can make them less flavorful. Heat will also break down the flavor and aroma of the beans, and light (especially sunlight) can smudge the natural shine of the beans as well.

In fact, keeping coffee beans in a refrigerator can be more harmful than beneficial. They could absorb the flavors and odors of food items that are stored in the refrigerator like cheese and onions that can adversely affect the taste of your coffee. They can also be exposed to moisture and condensation from the refrigerator's cold air.

It is possible to store your beans in the container that you originally used or in a resealable plastic bag. Be sure to blow out all the air prior sealing the bag, and then store it in a cool, dark location. This method will also help the beans to last longer, but it is recommended to use them within 72 hours after roasting.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Fridge

Many people keep their coffee beans in their refrigerators but this isn't necessarily a great idea. Coffee beans stored in the refrigerator absorb odors of food and moisture and can negatively affect their flavor. The best place to keep your coffee is a dark cabinet that is sealed with an airtight, clear container.

A coffee bag that has one-way valves will work just fine in the fridge, but if your beans didn't come in this kind of packaging, you'll have to transfer them to a tightly sealed and opaque container like a glass container or the Coffee Gator canister mentioned above. The fridge might also be too cold for the coffee, and this can alter the taste of the coffee.

The primary enemies of coffee beans are heat, air and moisture. To keep the freshness of your beans, place them in a dark container (not transparent), at temperatures that are at room temperature. The best place to keep them is a dark, cool pantry, however cabinets or a wardrobe can also be used. Storing coffee in a refrigerator will help extend the shelf life of your coffee, but it's not recommended. The cold temperature can alter the flavor of your coffee, causing it to deteriorate faster. In addition the moisture and food odors in the fridge can affect the beans.

Coffee beans are stored in the Pantry

When the seal on the packaging of your beans has broken, it is best to keep them in a dark location at temperatures of room temperature and in an airtight container. This will help preserve the aroma, flavor, and freshness of your coffee for a long time (depending on the amount of oxygen, heat, or moisture is in contact with the beans). It is best to store your coffee beans for sale beans close to an oven, kitchen counter or other location that is exposed to direct sunlight may be an unwise choice. These places can get extremely hot and accelerate oxidation.

Moisture is a major factor since beans are able to absorb moisture from the air and this could alter the natural flavors. Oxidation is also enhanced by heat, as beans break down the molecular structures which give them their aromas and flavors. Also, heat strips the bean of their natural oils which results in them losing taste.

If you are able to keep your beans in the resealable single-way valve bag that they came in or in an airtight, opaque container that's similar in size, they'll be fresh for approximately one week. They may last longer if you put them in the freezer, but you must be cautious because the beans might be affected by freezer burn and they may also absorb odors of food that are floating around in the freezer them.

Storing coffee beans in the freezer

If you are spending $20 or more on bags of premium coffee beans, it is important to know the best method of storing the beans. Coffee is like sponges and absorbs moisture, aromas and flavors. Keeping it in a cool, dark place in an airtight opaque container will ensure that the flavor stays protected. You can also freeze the beans but it is recommended to store them in a Ziploc bag prior to freezing to avoid burns from freezing.

While freezing isn't the best option, it is a good option if have a limited amount of time or you're planning to travel and bring along some of your favorite roast. Coffee beans frozen in the freezer aren't as fresh and have a less intense flavor than beans that are stored in the refrigerator or pantry.

As you can see, it's recommended to use your beans lickety-splitt but sometimes we just don't have that luxury coffee Beans. Properly storing your coffee beans can extend their shelf life by up to three times, if you store them in a cool dark place in an airtight opaque container. You may be surprised by how much better the coffee will taste when contrasted with beans that are rotten in the freezer or fridge.