How To Store Coffee Beans The Right Way

As you know:

The aroma, acidity, and body of a cup of coffee depend on a heap of factors. There is a lot at stake during farming, processing and roasting that impacts the quality of coffee beans.

However:

Most of these determinants are out of your control. 

For you, the only areas you have a role to play are during storage and preparation. You can buy the most expensive and rare coffee beans, but if you mess up during these stages, you will end up with a disappointing cup of coffee. 

Now:

This post covers everything you need to know on how to store coffee beans, including whether to use the original packaging or a storage canister. And whether to store it in a pantry, freezer, or fridge. 

Before getting into how to store coffee beans, let’s detail coffee beans’ greatest enemies.

Factors That Impact Coffee Beans’ Freshness

Now:

The choice of how and where to store coffee beans is dictated by the nature of coffee beans. There are four major elements that impact the quality of coffee beans.

1. Oxygen

When exposed to oxygen, coffee beans start losing their aromas and flavours to the air through the process of oxidation. This includes the loss of the sweet-smelling aldehydes, buttery aromas, and earthy pyrazines. 

Apart from the aroma degradation, exposure to oxygen also results in the oxidation of oils, making the beans rancid. 

2. Moisture

After roasting, coffee beans tend to absorb moisture from the surrounding. Moisture also encourages the development of mould and mildew. 

3. Time

The moment coffee beans are roasted, it’s a race against time and oxygen. Immediately after roasting, the quality of the beans starts going down. That’s why it’s recommended to get freshly roasted coffee beans.

Note:

Coffee beans are best for espresso between 5-11 days after roasting. 4-7 days for drip/pour-over, while the sweet spot for cold brew is between 10 and 14 days.  

That’s why you should only buy coffee beans that have the roast date indicated. 

4. Temperature

Temperature plays a huge role in the freshness and quality of coffee beans. The ideal temperature for coffee beans is below room temperature. High temperatures and direct sunlight facilitate oxidation leading to loss of aroma. 

How to Store Coffee Beans for Peak Freshness

1. Store Whole Beans

Now:

You can only make yourself a delicious cup of coffee if you grind the beans just before brewing. 

That’s why:

You should don’t grind coffee beans in advance. Store them as whole beans and grind only what you will be using. 

The issue is:

Pre-ground coffee loses aroma and flavours faster than whole beans. Ground coffee loses flavours ten times faster than coffee beans and gets stale faster. 

2. How To Store Coffee Beans

Now:

There are two ways of storing coffee beans. 

You can store them in the original packaging or use a coffee storage canister. Most coffee beans packaging bags have a one-way valve that only allows the exit of C02 without allowing oxygen to enter. 

If the packaging doesn’t feature the degassing valve, put the coffee beans in an airtight storage canister. The best storage container for coffee beans should be an opaque glass or ceramic container. 

Note:

You can use a clear container but keep it in a dark place. 

3. Where To Store Coffee Beans

Now:

The best place to store coffee beans is in a cabinet or pantry that is cool, dark, and dry. 

If the container is opaque, you can place it on a counter, provided there is no direct sunlight.

When a coffee storage canister is placed in direct sunlight, you are creating a greenhouse effect. The light entering the jar will heat up the coffee beans, accelerating oxidation. 

I know it’s tempting to use coffee beans as a conversation starter, but if you care about the taste of your coffee, avoid it. For visual effects, let it be a small amount that you are using that day.

Keep your coffee beans away from warm spots and away from areas with strong odours. 

4. Don’t Store Coffee Beans In Your Grinder

While it’s very convenient storing coffee beans in the grinder, that’s not a great idea, even if you will be using them in the course of the day. 

Why?

Coffee grinders are not airtight, so the grinder presents the best conditions for oxidation.

5. Don’t Store Coffee Beans In The Fridge

While the fridge is dark and cold, it will mess with your coffee beans. Because coffee acts as a deodoriser, it absorbs the smells in the fridge, messing up with its natural taste. A cup of coffee made from refrigerated coffee beans will be flat.

6. Freeze Only If Necessary

While it’s okay to freeze coffee beans, it degrades the quality since the low temperature changes the cell structure. 

So:

If you must freeze, package the beans in small quantities and don’t refreeze after thawing. When you remove the beans from the freezer, place them on a shelf to thaw and use them in the next few days. 

Caution:

Don’t put them in a microwave or hot water. 

Conclusion

How you store your coffee beans before grinding impacts the quality of your cup of coffee. Coffee beans’ enemies are heat, moisture, and oxygen. Store coffee beans in either the original packaging or an opaque canister, and place it in a cool and dry place. 

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Frequently Asked Questions on How to Store Coffee