15 Things You Don't Know About Coffee Beans Fresh
How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh As with a banana left on the counter for a few days, coffee beans also go bad. This is because of oxidation and loss of volatile flavor compounds. coffee beans types can preserve the fresh flavor of roasted beans for a couple of weeks by implementing a few guidelines. Your beans' worst enemies are air, moisture, and heat! How to store Coffee Beans It's not a secret that coffee beans degrade rapidly. To maximize the flavor of your beans, it is essential to properly store them. Despite this, many people aren't sure how best to do it. Some people believe that they can place their beans into the fridge. This isn't the best way to go about 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 their biggest enemies: air and moisture. Air can strip beans of their fresh roasted flavor and moisture may weaken them as well. Heat will also break down the flavor and aroma of the beans and light (especially sunlight) can ruin their natural shine, too. In fact, storing coffee beans in a refrigerator could be more harmful than useful. They can absorb the flavors of other food items, like cheese and onions in the fridge which could affect the taste of your espresso. They may also be exposed by the cool air in the refrigerator to moisture and condensation. Consider storing your beans in the container that you originally used or in a plastic bag that can be resealable. Make sure to remove all the air from the bag prior to sealing it again, and then store it in a cool, dark space. This will allow the beans to last longer, but it is recommended to consume them within 72 hours of roasting. Storing Coffee Beans in the Fridge Many people store their coffee beans in their refrigerators however this isn't a great idea. Coffee beans stored in the refrigerator absorb odors and moisture from food items which can adversely affect their flavor. The best place to store your coffee is in a dark cupboard with an airtight, opaque container. A coffee bag with a one-way valve works just fine in the refrigerator however if the beans aren't in this sort of packaging you'll need to move them into a tightly sealed and opaque container such as a glass canister or the Coffee Gator canister mentioned above. The fridge can also be too cold for the coffee, which may affect the taste. Moisture, heat, and air are the primary enemies of coffee beans. To keep the freshness of your beans, store them in a container that is opaque (not transparent), at the room temperature. The best place to keep them is a cool, dark pantry, but a wardrobe or a cabinet will also work. It is not recommended to store coffee in the refrigerator. It will extend its shelf-life, but you might want to consider it. The cold temperature can alter the flavor of your coffee, causing it to deteriorate faster. The moisture and food smells in the refrigerator can also cause damage to your coffee beans. Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry After the seal of packaging on your beans has broken, it is recommended to keep them in a dark area at ambient temperature and in an airtight container. This will keep the flavor, aroma and freshness of the coffee for a long time (depending on the amount of exposure to heat, oxygen, and moisture). Storing your beans in a cabinet close to an oven or counter where they receive direct sunlight isn't a good option because these areas can become very hot and will accelerate the process of oxidation. Moisture is a significant element, as beans can absorb moisture from the air. This can dilute the natural flavors. Oxidation is also enhanced by heat, as beans disintegrate the molecular structures which give them their aromas and flavors. Heating also deprives the bean of its natural oils, causing them to lose their taste. If you are able to keep your beans in the resealable, one-way valve bag that they came in, or an equivalent airtight opaque container then freshness should last for about a week before they begin to decay. You can store them longer in the fridge but be careful 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 paying $20 or more for the finest coffee beans, it's essential to be aware of the length of time they'll last and what the best methods are to store them. Coffee is sponges and absorbs moisture, aromas, and flavors so keeping it in a cool dark place in a airtight opaque container will help keep the flavor safe. You can also freeze your beans, but be cautious if you do this, make sure to move them into an Ziploc bag prior to freezing in order to avoid freezer burn. While it's not ideal but it can be helpful when you're short on time or traveling and want to bring some of your favorite coffee with you. However, coffee beans frozen aren't as fresh and will have a more muted flavor than beans that were stored correctly in the refrigerator or pantry. It is best to use your beans as soon as you can, but we don't always have the luxury of. Properly storing your coffee beans will extend their shelf-life three times if you're using them in a cool dark place in a sealed airtight container. You might be amazed by how much better the coffee will taste when contrasted with beans that are rotten in the fridge or freezer.