How to Store Coffee Beans

Coffee is undoubtedly one of the popular beverages across the world. We all know that coffee beans are the seeds of coffee plants. These seeds are processed to coffee beans, which are then roasted to various degrees, so as to produce different types of coffee. It is said that freshly roasted, ground, and brewed coffee tastes the best. It is the roasting process, that is responsible for the characteristic flavor of coffee.

Green coffee beans have a longer shelf life, as compared to the roasted ones and so, roasting is done just before consumption. In order to get the best flavor from coffee beans, you have to store them properly.

Once roasted, you must use the coffee beans, within a few days. Proper storage of the beans is highly important, to prevent them from turning stale.

There are various factors that can adversely affect the freshness of coffee beans, in normal conditions. The most important among them are air, heat, moisture, and light. You have to protect the coffee beans from all these elements, so as to prevent them from getting stale.

If you want to store green coffee beans, you can use opaque air tight containers, so as to avoid any contact with light and moisture. Keep those containers in a cool, dark place.

It is always better to use ceramic containers for storing coffee beans. You may also use glass containers, but make sure to keep them at dark places. Plastic and metal containers are not generally used for this purpose.

If stored properly, green coffee beans remain fresh for over a year. However, green coffee beans are not easily available and moreover, it involves a lot of work to transform them to coffee powder. So, many people prefer storing roasted coffee beans, which can get stale easily.

As far as roasted coffee beans are concerned, you have to use them within two weeks of roasting. For the best flavor, use them within a few days. Use opaque, air tight containers for storing roasted coffee beans.

In this case too, it will be better to use ceramic containers. Roasted coffee beans release lots of gas, that may get accumulated inside the container, and affect the flavor. So, you have to open the container at least once a day, so as to vent the gas.

Repeat the process for the first few days. Another alternative is to use valve bags, but these bags can be expensive, and are difficult to find. If you fail to use the roasted beans within two weeks, then store them in the freezer.

You have to pack the coffee beans in a zip lock bag, after removing excess air inside. Then place the zip lock bag in a grocery sack, so as to protect the contents from light. Freeze the beans, and once you take it out, never go for refreezing.