How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh Like a banana that is left on the counter coffee beans can go bad. This is due to oxidation and loss of volatile soluble flavor compounds. The good news is that you can preserve the fresh flavors for up to a week by following a few easy guidelines. The beans' biggest enemies are moisture, air, and heat! How to store Coffee Beans It's not a secret that coffee beans degrade rapidly. To enjoy the best flavor of your beans, it is essential to store them properly. Many people are confused on how to go about this, though. Some people believe that they can simply put their beans into the fridge. This isn't the best method. The key is to keep your beans in an airtight, transparent container at room temperature. This will shield your beans from the two biggest enemies: air and moisture. Air and moisture can take away the beans' fresh-roasted flavor, while the moisture can make them less flavorful. Heating can also ruin the aroma and flavor of the beans. Light (especially sunlight) can also dull their natural shine. It's not a wise idea to keep coffee beans in the refrigerator. They could absorb the flavors and odors of other food items that are stored in the refrigerator like cheese and onions, which will negatively impact the flavor of your coffee. They can also be exposed to condensation and moisture from the refrigerator's cold air. Consider storing your beans either in the container that you originally used or in a plastic bag that can be resealable. Be sure to blow out all the air prior sealing the bag, and store it in cool, dark location. This will also help the beans last longer, but the best time to use them is within 72 hours after roasting. Storing Coffee Beans in the Fridge Many people keep their coffee beans in their refrigerators, but this isn't an ideal solution. Coffee beans stored in the fridge absorb moisture and food odors and negatively impact their flavor. The best place to store your coffee is a dark cabinet in an airtight and transparent container. A coffee bag with a one-way valve will work just fine in the fridge However, if your beans didn't come in this type of container, you'll need to transfer them into a tightly sealed and opaque container, like a glass canister or the Coffee Gator canister mentioned above. It's important to note that the fridge may be a little cold for coffee, which may alter the taste. Moisture, heat and air are the primary enemies of coffee beans. To preserve the freshness of their roast, you must store your beans in a airtight, opaque (not transparent) container at the temperature of room. The best place to store them is a dark, cool pantry, however an armoire or cabinet could also work. It is not recommended to store coffee in the refrigerator. It will prolong its shelf-life, but you may want to test it. The cold temperatures can alter the taste of your coffee and cause it to become stale quicker. The smells of food and the moisture in the refrigerator could damage your coffee beans. Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry Once the seal on the packaging on the beans is broken, it is recommended to keep them in a dark place at temperatures of room temperature and in an airtight container. This will preserve the aroma, flavor and freshness of the coffee for a while (depending on the extent of exposure to heat, oxygen, and moisture). Storing your coffee beans near an oven or kitchen counter, or any other place where they are exposed to direct sunlight might be an unwise choice. These places can get extremely hot and accelerate oxidation. Moisture can be a major element, as beans are able to absorb moisture from the air. This can alter the natural flavors. Oxidation is also enhanced by heat since the beans can destroy the molecular structure which give them their flavors and aromas. Heating also deprives the bean of its natural oils, causing the flavor to fade away. If you store your beans in a resealable one-way valve bag that they came in, or in an airtight opaque container that's similar and fresh, they should last for about one week. You can keep them longer in the refrigerator, however, be aware that they could suffer from freezer burn or absorb any odors from food in the fridge. Storing Coffee Beans in the Freezer If you're spending 20 dollars or more on a bag of gourmet coffee beans, it is crucial to determine the best way to store the beans. Coffee is like sponges and absorbs moisture, aromas, and flavors so keeping it in a cool, dark place in an airtight opaque container will keep the flavor and aromas safe. You can also freeze your beans but be cautious if you do this, make sure to move them into the inside of a Ziploc bag prior to freezing in order to avoid freezing burn. While freezing isn't ideal but it is a good option if you are short on time or travel and wish to take some of your favorite coffee with you. However, frozen coffee beans aren't as fresh and will have a less mild flavor than beans that were properly stored in the fridge or pantry. It is recommended to use the beans as soon as you can, but we don't always have the luxury of. Making sure that your coffee beans are stored properly can extend their shelf-life by at least three times if you keep them in a dark, cold location in an airtight container. https://www.coffeee.uk/categories/coffee-beans may be surprised by how much better the coffee will taste in comparison to beans that are rotten in the freezer or fridge.