Why Do So Many People Want To Know About Coffee Beans Fresh?
How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh
Like a banana that is left on the counter coffee beans can turn bad. This is because of oxidation and loss of volatile soluble flavor compounds.
You can keep the fresh flavor of roasted beans for a couple of weeks by following some simple tips. Moisture, air and heat are your beans' biggest enemies!
How to Store Coffee Beans
It's not a secret that coffee beans degrade rapidly. To get the most flavor out of your beans, you have to store them properly. Many people are unsure of how best to do this, however. Some think they can just put their beans in the refrigerator but that's not the best method for doing it.
The key is storing your beans in an airtight, opaque container at room temperature. This will protect your beans from their most formidable enemies: moisture and air. The air can rob beans of their fresh-roasted flavor, and moisture can dilute them as well. Heat will also break down the aroma and flavor of the beans, and light (especially sunlight) can smudge their natural shine too.
In fact, keeping coffee beans in the refrigerator could be more harmful than beneficial. They can absorb the flavors of other food items, like onions and cheese in the fridge which could alter the taste of your espresso. They can also be exposed to condensation and moisture from the cold air in the refrigerator.
You may want to store your beans in the original container or in a resealable plastic bag. Be sure to blow out all the air prior sealing the bag, and store it in cool, dark and dry place. This will also make the beans last longer, but the best time to use them is 72 hours after they have been roasted.
Storing Coffee Beans in the Fridge
Most people store their beans in the fridge, but it's not an ideal solution. Coffee beans stored in a refrigerator absorb food smells and moisture and can affect their flavor. The ideal place to store your coffee is a dark cabinet that has an airtight, transparent container.
If your beans aren't in a coffee bag with a one-way valve, you'll have to move them into containers that are tightly sealed and opaque, like the Coffee Gator canister. Highly recommended Online site might also be too cold for the coffee, which could affect the taste.
Moisture, heat and air are the primary enemies of coffee beans. To ensure freshness of the coffee beans, you must store your beans in an airtight and opaque (not transparent) container at the temperature of room. A dark, cool pantry is the ideal location to store them but a closet or cupboard is also acceptable. 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 taste of your coffee and cause it to get stale faster. The smells of food and the moisture in the refrigerator could harm your coffee beans.
Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry
When the seal on the packaging is broken on the beans, it's recommended to keep them in a dark place at room temperature in an airtight container. This will preserve the flavor, aroma, and freshness of your coffee for a prolonged period (depending on the amount of oxygen or heat is in contact with the beans). Storing your beans in a cabinet close to an oven or counters where they are exposed to direct sunlight isn't the best option because these areas can be extremely hot and accelerate oxidation.
Moisture is one of the main reasons because the beans can absorb moisture from the air, and this can dilute their natural flavors. Oxidation is also accelerated by heat as the bean has the ability to disintegrate the molecular structures which give them their flavors and aromas. Heat also robs the bean of its natural oils, causing them to lose their flavor.
If you store your beans in the resealable single-way valve bag that they came in or in an airtight container and fresh, they should last for about a week. They can go longer if they are placed in the freezer, however you must be cautious because the beans might suffer from freezer burn and they can also absorb odors of food that are floating around in the freezer with them.
Storing Coffee Beans in the Freezer
If you're spending 20 dollars or more for bags of premium coffee beans, it is important to understand the best method to store the beans. Coffee is like a sponge and can absorb aromas, moisture and flavors. Therefore, keeping it in a cool dark space in an airtight container will ensure that the flavor stays protected. You can also freeze the beans, however, it is advised to store them in the form of a Ziploc bag first to avoid freezing burn.
While freezing isn't a good idea but it is a good option when you're short on time or you are traveling and want to take some of your favorite coffee with you. However, frozen coffee beans aren't as fresh and will have a less bland flavor than beans that were properly stored in the refrigerator or pantry.
As you can see it's ideal to use your coffee beans in a lickety-split fashion, but sometimes we just don't have that luxury. Making sure that your coffee beans are stored properly can extend their shelf-life by up to three times if you keep them in a cool, dark location in an airtight container. If you decide to give the idea a go (be sure to follow the above guidelines carefully) you may be surprised at how much better your coffee will taste compared to the dull and stale beans that have gone bad in the fridge or freezer.