10 Life Lessons That We Can Learn From Coffee Beans Fresh
How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh
As with a banana left on the counter coffee beans are prone to going bad. This is due to oxidation and loss of volatile soluble flavor compounds.
You can keep the fresh flavor of roasted beans for a couple of weeks by implementing a few tips. Moisture, air and heat are your beans' greatest enemies!
How to Keep Coffee Beans in the refrigerator? Beans
It's no secret that coffee beans are degraded quickly. To ensure the best flavor from your beans, you must to store them in a proper manner. Despite this, many people are unsure of how best to store their beans. Some people think they can simply 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 airtight, opaque container. This will protect your beans from the two biggest enemies: air and moisture. Air and moisture can rob the beans their fresh-roasted flavor, while the moisture can make them less flavorful. The heat can also ruin the aroma and flavor of the beans. Light (especially sunlight) can also dull their natural shine.
It is not a good idea to store coffee beans in your refrigerator. They could absorb the flavors of other foods, such as onions and cheese in the fridge, which will alter the flavor of your espresso. coffeee beans Coffeee can also be exposed to condensation and moisture from the refrigerator's cold air.
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 to sealing the bag, and then store it in a cool, dark and dry place. This will help the beans to last a bit longer, however it is ideal to use them within 72 hours of roasting.
Storing Coffee Beans in the Fridge
Most people store their beans in the fridge however it's not an ideal idea. Coffee beans stored in the refrigerator absorb moisture and food smells and can affect their flavor. The ideal place to store your coffee is in a dark cupboard with an airtight and opaque container.
A coffee bag that has a one-way valve will work perfectly in the fridge 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 jar 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 main enemies of coffee beans are air, heat and moisture. To keep the freshness of your coffee beans place them in a container that is opaque (not transparent), at room temperature. The ideal place to store them is a cool, dark pantry, however a wardrobe or a cabinet will also work. It is not recommended to store coffee in the refrigerator. It will prolong the shelf-life of your coffee, but you may want to test it. It could alter the flavor of your coffee and cause them to deteriorate more quickly due to the cold temperature. The smells of food and moisture in the refrigerator can also cause damage to your coffee beans.
Storing coffee beans in the Pantry
Once the seal on the packaging on your beans has broken, it's best to keep them in a dark location at temperatures of room temperature and in an airtight container. This will preserve the flavor, aroma, and freshness of your coffee for a long period of time (depending on how much oxygen, heat, or moisture is absorbed by the beans). Storing your coffee beans in a cabinet next to an oven or counter where they get direct sunlight isn't the best idea because these places can get very hot and accelerate oxidation.
Moisture is one of the main reasons since beans are able to absorb moisture from the air. This can alter their natural flavors. Also, heat can accelerate the process of oxidation since beans can destroy the molecular structure, which provides them with their distinctive aromas. The heat also strips the bean of its natural oils, causing them to lose flavor.
If you're able 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 around a week or so before they start to degrade. They can be kept longer in the fridge but be cautious as they may be prone to freezer burn or absorb any odors of food in the fridge.
Storing Coffee Beans in the Freezer
If you're shelling out $20 or more for an expensive bag of coffee beans it's important to be aware of the length of time they'll last and what the best ways are to keep them. Coffee absorbs moisture, aromas and flavors, so placing it in an opaque airtight container in a dark, cool place will help to preserve the flavor. You can also freeze your beans, but be careful if you decide to do this, you should move them into an Ziploc bag prior to freezing to avoid freezing burn.
While freezing isn't a good idea however, it can be beneficial when you're short on time or traveling and want to take some of your favorite coffee with you. Coffee beans that are frozen aren't as fresh and have a less distinct flavor than beans that are stored in the refrigerator or in the pantry.
As you can see it's recommended to use your beans with a single hand, but sometimes you simply don't have the luxury. If you keep your coffee beans in a dark, cold space in a dark, airtight container the shelf life of your coffee beans can be extended by up to three times. You might be amazed by how much better the coffee will taste when as compared to beans that had gone to rot in the fridge or freezer.