Did you know that most people don't know how to store Coffee Beans correctly? Most people mess up coffee bean storage so badly that they end up with stale brews and wasted money. The best coffee is fragile, and factors like light, air, moisture, and heat can all quickly ruin the flavor. In this coffee bean storage guide, we’ll show you how to store coffee beans in the right way. We’ll cover everything from how to choose the best storage containers to where to store coffee beans for maximum freshness. We’ll even delve into how long they should generally last, and the signs that they’ve gone bad.
Keeping Coffee Beans Fresh: A Crash Course
Keeping coffee beans fresh is one of the easiest things you can do to maintain your coffee’s quality. But why does freshness matter, and what factors hinder you from keeping your coffee beans fresh? In the next section, we’ll discuss the relationship between freshness and flavor and the four main factors that can ruin it all for a coffee aficionado.
How keeping coffee beans fresh helps their flavor
Freshness is far from only a marketing gimmick. When your coffee beans go stale, your brews can lose their distinct aroma, acidity, and clarity. That’s because the freshest beans need to be roasted first before oxygen can touch the bean and quickly extract the scintillating essence we all associate with coffee.
If the beans aren’t stored properly or allowed to degrade over time, that will lead to dull or bitter cups of coffee. Stale beans that are no longer fresh and have turned oily can even affect your coffee maker or grinder, gumming up the insides.
How do you store coffee beans the right way: Know the four things that ruin coffee freshness
How do you store coffee beans the right way? The right way, of course, is the best way that keeps the coffee fresh. However, finding the right way means identifying the factors that take away coffee beans’ freshness. There are usually four main external elements that can ruin the freshness of your coffee. These are:
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Oxygen - Oxidation of the coffee bean is an unavoidable part of making coffee, but it’s also the main reason why coffee can age and lose its character.
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Light - When roasted coffee is exposed to light for extended periods, chemical compounds in the beans break down through a scientific process called photodegradation.
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Moisture - Humidity and other moisture can make a roasted bean go bad immediately through mold or rot.
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Heat - Roasted beans need to be kept away from heat until they are ready to be brewed. Keep beans in cold storage.
Which Coffee Beans Storage Container Should You Choose
As you can tell, the coffee beans storage container you choose is going to have a major say in how fresh your coffee is. In the next section, we’ll discuss what makes a suitable coffee bean storage container and common mistakes in choosing receptacles.
Choosing the right coffee bean storage container
In order for a container to be “coffee-friendly,” it should have these qualities:
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It needs to be airtight, opaque, and storable in a cool place
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It should be vacuum-sealed or have a CO₂-release valve. When it’s vacuum-sealed, it will be protected from air and other elements. And when you have a CO₂-release valve, you don’t have to worry about carbon dioxide affecting the freshness. The gases can escape naturally.
And after you’ve perfectly stored your beans, use the Pesado doser to create perfectly measured individual servings of coffee.
Common coffee beans storage container mistakes
There are a number of common mistakes that people make with their type of storage container and where to place it. Here are some tips:
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Make sure the bag is airtight when resealing. If necessary, use your own vacuum sealer.
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Don’t use transparent containers - Any light can harm the taste of your coffee beans
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Don’t grind your coffee beans if you’re not immediately using them.
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Don’t keep them in retail packaging - Not designed for long-term storage, and can become stale early.
Where to Store Coffee Beans for Maximum Freshness
We now know how to pick the right coffee bean storage container. However, where do you put that coffee bean storage container once you’ve got it full? Let’s look at some of the best places to store coffee beans so that you don’t undo all the good work you’ve done till now.
Best places to store coffee beans
Once you’ve chosen the right container, the ideal location for your beans will be:
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Inside a cool, dark cabinet
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Away from locations like ovens, dishwashers, or windows which can give off heat, moisture, and light respectively.
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Away from areas with frequent temperature fluctuations. Don’t put it on top of microwaves or refrigerators or in front of vents where A/C and heat will come through.
Should you refrigerate coffee beans?
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Should you refrigerate coffee beans? The universal rule for coffee is that you should not refrigerate it in either bean or ground form, as it will suck up all the moisture and smells from its surroundings. Freezing, on the other hand, is more complicated. It’s not recommended if there are alternatives, but here’s when it’s ok to freeze coffee beans:
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The beans are sealed and unopened.
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Before drinking, let the beans thaw to room temperature.
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Break a big bag into smaller portions and vacuum seal them
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You defrost and use fully (don’t re-freeze)
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There aren’t other pungent foods in the freezer that could transfer over to the beans
Final Tips on How to Store Coffee Beans
Coffee beans can be temperamental and react badly to numerous elements, but there are thoughtful ways to store and brew coffee beans that won’t ruin or harm their flavor. Here are some final tips on how to store coffee beans in a way that they retain their freshness:
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Buy in smaller amounts if you brew slowly
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Store your beans away from heat, moisture, and light
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If you freeze: vacuum-seal and freeze only once
Smart storage should be paired with precision-engineered coffee tools and durable accessories that respect the freshness of your beans. With Pesado’s premium line of extraction and distribution tools, you’ll be able to perfect your coffee’s regular ground density and flavor potential. Taste the difference with Pesado today.
