The Secret Life Of Coffee Beans Fresh
How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh
Similar to a banana left on the counter for several days, coffee beans turn bad. This is due oxidation and loss of volatile flavor compounds.
You can keep the fresh flavor of roasted beans for a couple of weeks by following a few simple tips. Heat, humidity and air are your beans' biggest enemies!
How to keep coffee beans in storage
It's not a secret that coffee beans degrade rapidly. In order to maximize the flavor of your beans, you need to properly store them. Many people are confused on how best to do this, however. Many people think they can just put their beans in the fridge. This is not the best option.
Keep your beans at room temperature in an opaque, airtight container. This will shield the beans from their greatest enemies which are air, moisture and heat. Moisture and air can both ruin the beans' fresh-roasted flavor, while moisture can also weaken them. www.coffeee.uk can also ruin the flavor and aroma of the beans. Light (especially sunlight) will also reduce the natural shine of the beans.
In reality, storing coffee beans in the refrigerator can be more harmful than useful. They can absorb the flavor 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 cold air from the refrigerator to condensation and moisture.
Instead, you can store your beans in the container they came in or in a resealable bag. Be sure to remove all the air from the bag before sealing it, and store it in a dark, cool space. This will help the beans to last longer, however 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 their refrigerators but this isn't necessarily the best idea. Coffee beans stored in refrigerators absorb the smells of food and moisture which can adversely affect their flavor. The best place to keep your coffee is a dark cabinet in an airtight and transparent container.
A coffee bag that has an one-way valve can work just fine in the fridge, but if your beans aren't in this type of packaging you'll need to move them into a tightly sealed and opaque container, like a glass container or the Coffee Gator canister mentioned above. It's important to keep in mind that the fridge might be a bit too cold for coffee, which may impact its taste.
The primary enemies of coffee beans are heat, air and moisture. To ensure freshness of the coffee beans, you should store your beans in an airtight opaque (not transparent) container at temperatures of room temperature. A dark, cool pantry is a great storage space, however a closet or cabinet 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. It can affect the flavors of your beverage and cause them to deteriorate quicker due to its cold temperature. The smells of food and water in the refrigerator could damage your coffee beans.
Storing coffee beans in the Pantry
Once the seal has been broken on the beans, it's best to store the beans in a dark space at room temperature in an airtight container. This will preserve the flavor, aroma and freshness of the coffee for a while (depending on the extent of exposure to heat, oxygen, and moisture). Storing your coffee beans in an oven, kitchen counter or other location that is exposed to direct sunlight could be an unwise choice. These places can get extremely hot and accelerate the process of the process of oxidation.
Moisture is an important factor because beans can absorb moisture from the air. This can dilute their natural flavors. Heat can also accelerate oxidation because the bean can destroy the molecular structure, which provides them with their aromas. Heat also strips the bean of their natural oils, which causes them to lose taste.
If you store your beans in a resealable one-way valve bag that they came in or in an airtight, opaque container, they will stay fresh for approximately one week. They can be kept longer in the fridge but be cautious as they could suffer from freezer burns or absorb any food odors in the fridge.
Storing Coffee Beans in the Freezer
If you're spending 20 dollars or more for the finest coffee beans, it's essential to know how long they'll last and what the best ways are to keep them. Coffee is sponges and can absorb aromas, moisture and flavors, so keeping it in a cool dark space in an airtight container can help keep the taste protected. You can also freeze your beans but be careful if you decide to do this, it's best to transfer them to an Ziploc bag prior to freezing in order to avoid burning in the freezer.
Although freezing isn't the best option however, it can be beneficial if you are short on time or you are traveling and want to take a cup of your favorite coffee with you. Coffee beans that are frozen aren't as fresh and have a less pronounced flavor than beans stored in the refrigerator or in the pantry.
As you can see it's best to use your beans lickety-splitt but sometimes we aren't able to afford that. Properly storing your coffee beans can extend their shelf-life by 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 compared to the beans that were rotten in the freezer or fridge.