Storing coffee beans is important as the beans are very sensitive and should be handled with care to make better coffee.
Yes that is true! Storing coffee beans the right way is really really important.
Coffee beans are very sensitive and just like humans they should be handled with care. Or should we say they’re more sensitive than humans so beware or they will lose their “sweetness” and just go stale.
Who wants that right? So might as well just go with strong coffee beans the proper way.
Here, we plan to answer your questions regarding the proper way of storing coffee beans. Questions like how long does does coffee beans stay fresh? Should you freeze it or refrigerate it? Where’s the best place to store them? What’s the best container to store your beans?
So let’s get started with learning how to properly store your coffee beans.
Going back to being sensitive, coffee beans are in another level when it comes to that. They don’t like any of the following conditions. In this relationship with coffee beans, there are “ifs” and “buts.”
- Moisture
- Air
- Heat
- Light
If you expose them to any of the conditions above, do not expect your coffee beans to be as fresh as you’d like them to be.
So what’s the right way of storing coffee beans and how do you protect the beans from the harsh environment?
Having an airtight container (ceramic works best) stored in a cool, dry, dark place is the best environment for your coffee.
Another thing is buying whole bean coffee in small quantities and grinding them as needed are great ways to do that. With this you don’t run the risk of forgetting to transfer them in an airtight container. Coffee beans are at their best within 24 to 72 hours after roasting and begin to stale fast after. When buying small quantities, remember that you should be able to consume them within 7 to 10 days. Half pound to 1 pound should be just right.
You could go past that up to two weeks, but here we believe that having fresh beans is the best way to go on how to make coffee.
Let’s say you bought more than what you usually drink because it was on sale and you couldn’t resist buying. What do you do?
Hey coffee beans! You’ve got a cold heart, you belong in the refrigerator!
Well, not exactly since putting coffee beans in the refrigerator is a bad idea. Why?
- It is not cold enough.
- It will absorb every smell inside your fridge just like baking soda.
So is storing coffee beans in the freezer a better idea?
Yes, BUT only if you’re going to do it once. Once you take them out of the freezer you cannot bring it back. (Well, it’sslowly sounding like a real relationship if you know what we mean) We’re going up against condensation if we bring them in and out of the freezer.
Condensation really affects the taste because the frozen moisture on your coffee will melt and then be absorbed into the bean, which will eventually lead to loss of the flavorful oil. Doing this over and over again will lead to a slow death to your coffee beans. It will also turn soggy – yikes!
In our experience, when we really need to store coffee beans in the freezer, here are some things you can also do to protect your beans:
- Use the original packaging to store your coffee.
- Separate the coffee beans in different zip-lock bags and make sure each bag contains just the right amount of coffee to be grounded and consumed immediately.
- Store these small bags in another dark bag so as not to expose them to light.
In the end, everything from buying and storing coffee beans all depend on you and how you like your coffee to be. If it’s hard for you to go back and forth the grocery store or your local coffee shop to buy coffee beans regularly and buying in bulk is more convenient then go for it. As long as you like the taste of your coffee, then why not?
Just make sure that you’re waking up to coffee that you really love and aren’t forced to drink. Experiment and enjoy!
