Categories
- Articles (31) click
- Videos (1)
The quality of the bean is the most important aspect of your morning cup of Joe. The higher the quality, the better the taste and overall perception, and vice versa. Since fresh coffee is not easy to maintain, knowing the shelf life of your beans and storing them properly can save you both money and time.
There are different methods you can employ to extend freshness, maintain quality and ensure value-for-money is observed. It depends on what kind of coffee beans you have in hand. In this article weโll cover storing the following:ย
When properly stored, whole roasted beans can stay fresh for up to a month. That being said, you should try to use up your coffee ideally within a week if you want to enjoy the full flavor, as it may become stale over the time.ย ย
Freezing beans is a great way of maintaining freshness. The coffee beans should be well packed in airtight bags or jars and then placed in the freezer. Freezing temperatures will slow down the escape of carbon dioxide which retains freshness for a little bit longer.
Always remember to thaw and defrost the beans after removing them from the freezer. At least two days of defrosting are recommended before use.
Green coffee is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture rapidly with disastrous effects and so it is very susceptible to moisture, water, heat, and extreme temperatures. Green coffee coming into contact with water or moisture is a defect known as black beans or water-damaged beans. These are considered defects because these black beans are not fit for human consumption and should be immediately discarded.
Green beans can also be stored in a freezer, it is a relatively new method of storing green coffee. The very low temperatures minimize bacterial activity just make sure to follow the same rules of air-tight, opaque containers and no water or direct light exposure.ย
Green beans can also be vacuum sealed. This will invariably maintain their viability and freshness for a much longer time and ensure no moisture comes into contact with the beans. Vacuum sealing is an expensive method and better suited for large consignments of coffee, or when transporting the coffee in containers over the sea.
It is not recommended to store ground coffee as it is the most volatile form of coffee. It loses its aroma and flavors very rapidly and hence utmost care should be taken when handling and storing ground coffee. If possible, you should grind the exact amount of roasted whole beans that you need to make at the moment.
When in the original packaging, coffee grounds can be frozen in a freezer. As long as moisture does not seep into the packaging, freezing will grant you a longer period of freshness. You should however be wary of freezer burn. As with the roasted beans, make sure to defrost the grounds before brewing.
It is a good idea to ensure that you only buy ground coffee that you will consume within the shortest time possible. It is recommended to buy your coffee from your local coffee shop or roastery where the coffee is roasted and ground freshly. Supermarket coffee may have overstayed on the shelves and may be disappointing.
Weโre at your service
Leave a comment