How to Keep Your Coffee Beans Fresh Just like a banana that's left on the counter for several days, coffee beans turn bad. This is caused by oxidation and loss of volatile flavor compounds. You can preserve the fresh roasted flavor for a couple of weeks by following some simple guidelines. The most formidable enemies of beans are moisture, air, and heat! How to Keep Coffee Beans in the refrigerator? Beans It's not a secret that coffee beans degrade rapidly. To get the best flavor from your beans, it is essential to store them in a proper manner. Many people are confused on the best way to do this, though. https://www.coffeee.uk/categories/coffee-beans think that they can put their beans in the fridge. This isn't the best way to go about it. Keep your beans at room temperature in an opaque, airtight container. This will shield your beans from the two biggest enemies: moisture and air. Air can strip beans of their fresh-roasted flavor and moisture could weaken them as well. Heating can also ruin the aroma and flavor of the beans. Light (especially sunlight) can also diminish their natural shine. It's not a good idea to keep coffee beans in the refrigerator. They can absorb the flavor and odors of food items in the refrigerator, like onions and cheese which can negatively affect the flavor of your coffee. They may also be exposed to condensation and moisture from the frig's cold air. Consider storing your beans either in the original container or in a plastic bag that can be resealable. Make sure to push out all the air prior to sealing the bag again, and store it in cool, dark area. This can make the beans last a bit longer, however the optimum length of time to use them is 72 hours after they have been roasted. Storing Coffee Beans in the Fridge The majority of people store their beans in the fridge but this isn't the best idea. Coffee beans stored in the refrigerator absorb odors from food and water and can negatively affect their flavor. The best place to keep your coffee is a dark cabinet that is sealed with an airtight and transparent container. If your beans don't come in a bag that has a one-way valve, you'll need to move them into a container that is tightly sealed and opaque, such as the Coffee Gator canister. The fridge might also be too cold for the coffee, which may affect its taste. Air, heat and moisture are the main enemies of coffee bean. To preserve the freshness and quality of your roasted beans, store them in a dark container (not transparent), at the room temperature. A cool, dark pantry is the ideal location to store them but a closet or cupboard can also be used. 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. The cold temperatures can alter the taste of your coffee, causing it to go through a stale-like process faster. In addition the food and beverage odors in the fridge can also harm your beans. Storing Coffee Beans in the Pantry After the seal of the packaging has been broken on your beans, it's recommended to keep the beans in a dark space at room temperature in an airtight container. This will preserve the aroma, flavor, and freshness of your coffee for a prolonged period (depending on how much oxygen, heat, or moisture is absorbed by the beans). It is best to store your coffee beans close to an oven or kitchen counter, or any other space that is exposed to direct sunlight might be a bad idea. These areas can become extremely hot and accelerate the process of oxidation. Moisture is one of the main reasons since beans are able to absorb moisture from the air. This could alter the natural flavors. Oxidation is also enhanced by heat, as beans break down the molecular structures that give them their flavors and aromas. The heat also strips the bean of its natural oils and causes them to lose their taste. If you're able keep your beans in the sealed, resealable bag that they came from or an equivalent airtight opaque container, then freshness should last for approximately a week before they start to degrade. They can be kept longer in the fridge but be cautious as they could suffer from freezer burns or absorb any odors from food in the fridge. Storing coffee beans in the freezer If you're spending 20 dollars or more for a bag of gourmet coffee beans, it's important to know the best method to store them. Coffee is sponges and absorbs moisture, aromas and flavors. Keeping it in a cool dark place in a airtight opaque container can help keep the taste protected. You can also freeze the beans but it is best to store them in the form of a Ziploc bag prior to freezing to avoid burns from freezing. While freezing isn't a good idea but it is a good option when you're running out of time or are traveling and would like to bring some of your favorite coffee with you. However, the coffee beans that are frozen will not be as fresh and will have a more subtle flavor than beans that were stored correctly in the refrigerator or pantry. As you can see it's best to use your beans in a lickety-split fashion, but sometimes we do not have the luxury of. If you keep your coffee beans in a dark, cold location in an airtight, opaque container the shelf life of your coffee beans can be extended by as much as 3 times. Give it a shot (be sure to follow the above guidelines carefully) you may be amazed by how much better your coffee will taste when compared to the dull and lifeless beans that have gone bad in the fridge or freezer.