Do you have any tips for preserving coffee beans?

Friends often ask me how to store the beans I bought? Do I need to put them in the refrigerator? Today I will answer this question.

In my previous article [How to avoid buying bad coffee beans], I mentioned that when you buy coffee beans, don’t buy too much at one time. It’s best to buy an amount that you can finish within 2 weeks. This way you can ensure that you drink fresh coffee beans.

Beans that are less than 2 weeks old can basically be placed in the original packaging. Coffee shops that are a little bit more demanding on quality all have one-way air valves in their coffee bean bags. What is a one-way air valve? Here is a picture for you:

(The round air hole is a one-way air valve: photo by counterculturecoffee)

A one-way valve, in simple terms, only allows air to escape but not enter (it only releases carbon dioxide, but oxygen does not enter). Freshly roasted coffee beans will release a large amount of CO₂. If it is not discharged in time, the bean bag will be burst by the expanding gas. With a one-way valve, CO₂ can be released on the one hand, and the oxidation rate can be slowed down on the other.

You can also store coffee beans in sealed jars. Of course, you should choose jars with better sealing effects. In addition, it is best not to use glass jars because glass is not light-proof. We often see that some coffee shops display bean jars made of glass. The amount is not too much and it can be consumed quickly, so it has little impact. Some are purely for display of beans that are not sold.

(photo by planetarydesign)

The following points should be noted for room temperature storage:

• Protect from light
• Avoid heat sources (avoid places with high smoke and high temperature like the kitchen)
• Avoid moisture
• Avoid odor

If you are not careful and your friends give you a lot of coffee beans, and you cannot use them up within 2 weeks, what should you do? Freeze them!

(photo by onacoffee)

However, there are many factors that require attention in frozen storage:

• You need to divide it into the amount you need for each day and put it in a sealed bag. In this way, you can take out one bag each time. You don't have to worry about the impact on the remaining beans when taking it in and out.
• The bag must be waterproof and moisture-proof and sealable.
• If conditions permit, it can be stored in a vacuum.
• Prepare a separate sealed container to store the packaged coffee beans. This will prevent the odor from mixing and the opening and closing of the refrigerator door will not be affected by moisture.

Ultra-low temperature can prevent the activity of cell molecules in coffee beans and lock in the flavor of coffee. However, frozen coffee has a lot of variables. If it is not handled properly (for example, not ground immediately), the coffee beans will age rapidly as the temperature changes, and the taste will also take a sharp turn for the worse. Therefore, it is still quite challenging to achieve the desired effect in terms of operation.

(photo by onacoffee)

Onacoffee, a pioneer of boutique coffee shops abroad, has been studying how to freeze coffee beans to lock in the coffee flavor, so as to present the best flavor to customers without worrying about the aging of beans affecting the customer experience. In order to reduce the uncertainty caused by variables, one of Onacoffee's practices is to quantitatively pack the coffee beans and vacuum pack them before grinding. The results are very satisfactory and the taste of the coffee is still maintained.

Clearly, freezing is feasible, but it requires some practice. A lazier suggestion is to try not to stockpile too many coffee beans!

References:

https://www.beanscenemag.com.au/big-freeze-theres-no-longer-barrier-coffee-freshness/

SOGAs COFFEE:

We are committed to spreading the culture of fine coffee! In today's fast-paced era, we can always maintain a positive and open mind to meet challenges. No matter how difficult it is, it is better to be grateful than to be embarrassed! You deserve a cup of good coffee for your hard work!