How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh

Like a banana left on the counter for a few days, coffee beans turn bad. This is due to oxidation and the loss of volatile soluble flavor compounds.

The good news is that you can preserve the fresh roast flavors for a few weeks by following a few simple tips. Heat, humidity and air are your beans' greatest enemies!

How do you store coffee beans

It's not a secret that coffee beans lose their flavor quickly. In order to get the best flavor of your beans, it's important to store them properly. Many people are confused about how to best do this, however. Some people believe that they can just put their beans in the fridge. This is not the most efficient method.

Store your beans at room temperature in an opaque, airtight container. This will protect your beans from their most formidable enemies which are air, moisture and heat. Air and moisture can ruin the beans' fresh-roasted flavor, and moisture can also make them taste weaker. Also, heat can destroy the flavor and aroma of the beans. Light (especially sunlight) can also diminish the natural shine of the beans.

In fact, keeping coffee beans in a refrigerator could be more harmful than helpful. They can absorb the flavors and odors from other foods that are stored in the refrigerator like cheese and onions which can negatively affect the taste of your coffee. They could also be exposed to the cool air of the refrigerator to moisture and condensation.

Consider storing your beans in the original container or in a resealable plastic bag. Make sure you remove all the air from the bag prior to sealing it, and store it in a dark, cool place. This method can also help the beans last for a longer time, but the ideal time to use them is within 72 hours after roasting.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Fridge

The majority of people store their beans in the fridge but it's not the best idea. Coffee beans stored in the refrigerator absorb odors and moisture from food items and negatively impact their flavor. The ideal place to store your coffee is in a dark cabinet with an airtight and opaque container.

If your beans don't come in a coffee bag with a single-way valve, you'll have to transfer them into a container that is tightly sealed and opaque, like the Coffee Gator canister. It's important to keep in mind that the fridge can also be a bit too cold for coffee, which could affect the taste.

The main enemies of cafe coffee beans beans are heat, air and moisture. To ensure freshness of the coffee beans, you should keep your beans in an airtight opaque (not transparent) container at the temperature of room. The best place to keep them is a cool, dark pantry, but a wardrobe or a cabinet can also be used. It is not recommended to keep coffee in the refrigerator. It can extend its shelf-life, but you might want to consider it. The cold temperatures can alter the flavor of your coffee and cause it to become stale quicker. In addition the moisture and food smells in the fridge can also harm your beans.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry

After the seal of packaging on your beans has broken, it is recommended to store them in a dark area at room temperature and in an airtight container. This will preserve the aroma, flavor and freshness of the coffee for a long time (depending on the degree of exposure to oxygen, heat and moisture). Storing your beans in a cabinet close to an oven or counters that are exposed to direct sunlight isn't a good idea because these places can become very hot and will accelerate the process of oxidation.

Moisture is a major factor because beans can absorb moisture from the air and this can dilute their natural flavors. Oxidation can also be accelerated by heat because the bean can break down the molecular structures that give them their aromas and flavors. The heat also strips the beans of their natural oils, which makes them taste less.

If you are able to keep your beans in the resealable one-way valve bag that they came in, or in an airtight opaque container and fresh, they should last for approximately one week. They can last longer if you place them in the freezer, however you must be cautious since the beans may be prone to freezer burn and they can also absorb odors of food that are floating around in the freezer along with them.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Freezer

If you're spending $20 or more on bags of premium coffee beans coffee beans for sale beans, it is important to understand the best method of storing the beans. Coffee absorbs flavor, aromas and moisture which is why storing it in an airtight container in a dark, cool space will help preserve the flavor. You can also freeze your beans, but be careful if you decide to do this, make sure to transfer them to a Ziploc bag prior to freezing them to avoid freezing burn.

While freezing isn't a good idea, it can be useful in the event that you're strapped for time or you are traveling and want to take some of your favorite coffee beans bulk with you. However, the coffee beans that are frozen will not be as fresh and will have a more muted flavor than beans that were stored correctly in the fridge or in the pantry.

It's best to use your beans as soon as is possible however, we don't always have the luxury coffee beans of. The proper storage of your coffee beans can prolong their shelf-life by up to three times if you're using them in a cold dark place in an airtight opaque container. You may be surprised by how much better the coffee will taste in comparison to beans that had gone to rot in the freezer or fridge.