How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh

Just like a banana that's left on the counter for a few days, coffee beans can go bad. This is because of oxidation and loss of volatile flavor compounds.

You can keep the fresh flavor of roasted beans for a couple of weeks by implementing a few guidelines. Your beans' greatest enemies are air, moisture, and heat!

How to Store Coffee Beans

It's no secret that medium roast coffee beans beans break down quickly. In order to enjoy the best flavor of your beans, it is essential to store them in a proper manner. Many people are confused about how to best do this, however. Some people think they can simply put their beans in the refrigerator but that's not the most efficient way to do it.

Keep your beans at room temperature in an opaque, airtight container. This will protect the beans from the greatest threats that are moisture, air, and heat. Air can strip beans of their fresh-roasted flavor and moisture may weaken them as well. Heating can also ruin the flavor and aroma of the beans and light (especially sunlight) can ruin the natural shine of the beans as well.

In fact, keeping coffee beans in the refrigerator can be more harmful than helpful. They can absorb the flavors of other foods like cheese and onions in the refrigerator which could affect the taste of your coffee. They could also be exposed by the refrigerator's cool air to condensation and moisture.

Instead, consider storing your beans in the container they were packaged in or in a resealable bag. Be sure to blow out all air prior to sealing the bag, and store it in a cool, dark place. This method can also help the beans last a bit longer, however the ideal time to use them is 72 hours after they have been roasted.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Fridge

Many people keep their coffee beans in their refrigerators but this isn't the best idea. Coffee beans stored in the refrigerator absorb the smells of food and moisture and can affect their flavor. The best place to keep your coffee is in a dark cabinet that has an airtight, opaque and airtight container.

A coffee bag with one-way valves will work just fine in the fridge however if your beans didn't come in this sort of packaging you'll need to transfer them to a sealed and opaque container like a glass canister or the Coffee Gator canister mentioned above. The fridge might also be too cold for the coffee, which could affect its taste.

The most common enemies of coffee beans are heat, air and moisture. To preserve the freshness and quality of your coffee beans keep them in a container that is opaque (not transparent), at temperatures that are at room temperature. The ideal place to store them is a dark, cool pantry, but cabinets or a wardrobe could also work. Storing coffee in a refrigerator can help prolong the shelf life of your coffee, but it isn't recommended. It can alter the flavor of your beverage and cause them to go stale more quickly due to the cold temperature. Additionally the moisture and food smells in the fridge can cause damage to your beans.

Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry

Once the packaging seal on the beans is broken, it's best to store them in a dark location at the temperature of room and in an airtight container. This will preserve the flavor, aroma and freshness of the coffee for some time (depending on the extent of exposure to heat, oxygen, and moisture). Storing your coffee beans in an oven or kitchen counter, or any other place where they are exposed to direct sunlight might be an undesirable idea. These places can get extremely hot and accelerate the process of oxidation.

Moisture can be a major aspect, since beans can absorb moisture from the air. This can alter the natural flavors. Heat can also accelerate the process of oxidation as the bean may destroy the molecular structure that gives them their distinctive aromas. Also, heat strips the bean of their natural oils, which results in them losing taste.

If you can keep your beans in the resealable, one-way valve bag they came in or in an airtight container that's similar in size, they'll be fresh for about one week. You can store them for longer in the refrigerator, but be careful as they may suffer from freezer burn or absorb any food odors in the fridge.

Storing coffee beans in the freezer

If you are spending $20 or more on a bag of gourmet coffee beans, it's crucial to determine the best method to store them. Coffee absorbs moisture, aromas and flavors, so storing it in an opaque airtight container in a cool, dark space will help preserve the flavor. You can also freeze your beans, but be careful if you decide to do this, it's best to move them into an Ziploc bag prior to freezing to avoid freezer burn.

While freezing isn't ideal, it can be useful when you're short on time or are traveling and would like to bring some of your favorite coffee with you. However, coffee beans frozen will not be as fresh and will have a more mild flavor than beans that are properly stored in the fridge or pantry.

It is best to use your beans as quickly as you can however, we do not always have that luxury. Making sure that your Online coffee beans (http://www.edid.co.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=74337) beans are stored properly can prolong their shelf-life by up to three times if you store them in a dark, cold place in an airtight opaque container. Give it a shot (be sure to follow the above guidelines carefully) you might be amazed by how much better the flavor of your coffee beans price is compared to the dull and stale beans that were rotten in the freezer or fridge.