How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh As with a banana left on the counter coffee beans can go bad. This is due to oxidation and loss of volatile soluble flavor compounds. https://www.coffeee.uk/categories/coffee-beans is you can preserve those fresh flavors for some weeks by implementing a few simple guidelines. Your beans' greatest enemies are moisture, air and heat! How to Store Coffee Beans It's no secret, coffee beans break down quickly. To get the most flavor out of your beans, you have to store them properly. However, many people are unsure of how best to store them. Some people believe that they can simply put their beans in the refrigerator. This is not the best way to go about it. Keep your beans at room temperature in an opaque, airtight container. This will protect your beans from their greatest enemies which are air, moisture and heat. The air can rob beans of their fresh roasted flavor and moisture may weaken the beans' flavor. The heat can also destroy the flavor and aroma of the beans, and light (especially sunlight) can destroy the natural shine of the beans as well. In fact, keeping coffee beans in the refrigerator can be more harmful than helpful. They could absorb the flavors of other food items, like onions and cheese in the refrigerator which can affect the taste of your espresso. They also are exposed to condensation and moisture due to the cold air in the refrigerator. You may want to store your beans in the container that you originally used or in a resealable plastic bag. Be sure to remove all the air prior to sealing the bag again, and keep it in a cool, dark location. This method will also help the beans last a bit longer, but it's best to use them within 72 hours of roasting. Storing Coffee Beans in the Fridge Most people store their coffee beans in the refrigerator however it's not a good idea. Coffee beans stored in the fridge absorb odors and moisture from food items and negatively impact their flavor. The best place to keep your coffee is a dark cabinet in an airtight, transparent container. If your beans don't come in a coffee bag equipped with an open valve, you'll have to move them into the container that is sealed and opaque, like the Coffee Gator canister. It's important to remember that the fridge could be a bit cold for coffee, which may affect the taste of the coffee. Air, heat and moisture are the primary enemies of coffee beans. To maintain the freshness of your coffee beans store them in a container that is opaque (not transparent), at the room temperature. The best place to store them is a cool, dark pantry, but a wardrobe or a cabinet could also work. It is not recommended to keep coffee in the refrigerator. It will prolong the shelf-life of your coffee, but you may want to try it. It can affect the flavors of your beverage and make them stale more quickly due to the cold temperature. In addition the food and moisture smells from the fridge can affect the beans. Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry After the seal of the packaging has been broken on your beans, it is recommended to keep them in a dark place at room temperature in an airtight container. This will help preserve the aroma, flavor, and freshness of your coffee for a prolonged period (depending on the amount of oxygen, heat, or moisture is absorbed by the beans). Storing your beans in a cabinet near an oven or counter where they get direct sunlight isn't a good idea since these places could become very hot and will accelerate the process of oxidation. Moisture is a big one because the beans can absorb moisture from the air. This can alter their natural flavors. Heat can also accelerate the process of oxidation since beans can alter the molecular structure which gives them their distinctive aromas. Also, heat strips the bean of their natural oils which makes them taste less. If you can keep your beans in the resealable, one-way valve bag that they came in, or an equivalent airtight opaque container, then their freshness will last approximately a week before they start to degrade. They can last longer if you put them in the freezer, but you have to be careful since the beans may suffer from freezer burn, and they can also absorb odors of food that are floating around in the freezer them. Storing coffee beans in the freezer If you're spending 20 dollars or more for bags of premium coffee beans, it's important to know the best way to store the beans. Coffee is a sponge and can absorb aromas, moisture and flavors. Therefore, keeping it in a cool, dark place in a airtight opaque container will keep the flavor protected. You can also freeze the beans but it is recommended to place them in a Ziploc bag first to avoid freezing burn. While it's not ideal but it can be helpful when you're running out of time or you are traveling and want to bring some of your favorite coffee with you. However, the coffee beans that are frozen aren't as fresh and will have a less mild flavor than beans that are properly stored in the refrigerator or in the pantry. As you can see, it's best to use your beans with a single hand, but sometimes you just don't have that luxury. Properly storing your coffee beans can extend their shelf-life by at least three times if you're using them in a dark, cold location in an airtight container. You may be surprised by how much better the coffee will taste when as compared to beans that have been rotten in the fridge or freezer.