Who doesn’t love having a hot cup of coffee at home?
But for enjoying that experience for a long time, you must know how to store the coffee in a way that will keep it fresh. You obviously don’t want to visit a store every time you feel like having a cup of coffee or go to a cafe. That’s why you must know how to store it judiciously at home only.
Here are a few tips that will help you to learn how to preserve your beans’ fresh roasted flavour for as long as possible:
Buy the Right Amount
The first and foremost thing you can do to preserve the soothing flavour of your coffee beans is to buy them in the correct quantity. It is because coffee loses its freshness almost immediately after roasting. So, if you want to have freshly roasted coffee and are not concerned about going to the store for buying the beans often, buy in smaller batches, enough for one to two weeks.
As exposure to the air is terrible for coffee beans, please keep them in an accessible container such as a glass jar. It may be a good idea to divide your supply into small batches, with the more significant portion in a large airtight container and the smaller portions in a jar.
This hack is especially vital when buying pre-ground coffee because of the exposure to oxygen. If you are purchasing whole beans, grind the amount you want before brewing and store the rest.
Store in an Airtight Container
The greatest enemies of coffee beans are undoubtedly air, moisture, light, and heat. So, to preserve their freshly roasted flavour for a long time, store them in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature. We understand that coffee beans are beautiful to look at, and you may get intrigued to keep them in a transparent container, but please don’t do that.
Avoid clear canisters as they allow the light in, which might compromise the taste of your coffee. Always store the beans in a dark, cool place but not near the oven or stove as these places are too warm. As coffee’s retail packaging is not ideal for long-term storage, invest in canisters with an airtight seal.
Put in the Refrigerator
Maintaining the freshness of coffee beans is crucial for their long-lasting taste. Experts around the world agree that coffee should be consumed as quickly as possible after it is roasted or when its original packaging seal has been removed. Although home storage containers usually do the work, they still let in small amounts of oxygen, causing the food to suffer freezer burn.
While the experts have contrasting views on whether coffee should be refrigerated or not, the primary consideration is that it absorbs moisture, odour, and taste from the air around it. So, if you let it be for a long time, it might not taste and smell as good as a new bean.
Therefore, if you decide to refrigerate or freeze your beans for a long time, you can transfer them to an airtight container. It is also crucial to note that freezing coffee beans does not alter the basic brewing process.
Check the Roast Date
Do you check the expiry date of bread before purchasing? Checking the expiry date of any food is a good habit because it keeps you from buying out-of-date stuff. Similarly, checking the roast date of your coffee is the first step to keeping it fresh at home for an extended period.
Coffee is a sensitive thing that loses its aroma and flavour over time. You cannot keep it near the light, in the fridge, in warm places, or wherever you want because it might get worse. So, checking its date ensures you of brewing a great cup of coffee.
Remember that coffee needs to degas as well, so, after roasting, you will have to leave it for a few days. During the roasting process, different gases from inside the bean are released, including carbon dioxide, which continues to release even after roasting.
If you are brewing filter coffee, you can use the coffee a few days after roasting. But for brewing espresso, you will have to wait for at least seven days. If you don’t do that, the gases inside the beans will impede water and interrupt the extraction procedure, resulting in a bland taste. All in all, if you want to get the most out of coffee, consume it within one month after roasting.
Reduce Contact With Oxygen
As already said, the air is the biggest enemy of coffee. Contact with oxygen can make it taste stale quicker, so it is crucial to reduce such contact by improving how you store it. If you are buying it in plastic packaging, transfer it to an airtight container. You can use a transparent jar and make it look attractive using decorative bottle ideas from roetell.com.
But if its original packaging has a ziplock, you don’t need to do anything!
Bags with zip locks are excellent for storing anything that needs to be kept away from moisture and air. While relocking the bag after taking out the required amount of coffee, try pushing out as much air as possible. This way, less air will remain inside the bag that can react with your coffee. You may also vacuum pack your coffee using a vacuum packing machine. It completely removes the air from the bag, leaving little to no air inside.
Final Words
Many people prefer freshly ground coffee beans over pre-ground ones. But on hectic mornings, it is impossible to grind them to make yourself a fresh cup of coffee. That’s why pre-ground beans have become a staple in many households, as it offers you your share of caffeine in mere minutes. However, only when you store it correctly can you get the most out of its taste!
