It’s a frequent misconception that the fridge is the best place to store coffee beans, but it’s not. Coffee beans should be kept in a cool, not cold, environment. It may not seem like much of a change, but it has a tremendous influence.
THE IDEAL LOCATION
Coffee beans should be stored in a cool, dry area away from both high heat and excessive cold, such as a refrigerator or freezer. And your beans should be in an opaque, sealed container within that cold, dry environment, such as a closet. You don’t even need to take the beans out of the bag they come in; simply place the entire bag into the container and you’re ready to go.
WHY ARE FRIDGES NOT YOUR BEST BET?
Coffee absorbs moisture by nature, so as soon as you take those beans out of the fridge, they will begin to condense and sweat. Sweaty beans do not sound appealing, and they do not taste appealing either. What flavor remains in the beans that haven’t been sweated away will have absorbed the fragrance of whatever has been in your fridge.Â
If you have fish, leftovers, or the kids’ forgotten lunch on the shelves, those odors will seep into your coffee beans, and you will be able to taste those flavors in your coffee. *Delicious! * On a more serious note, moisture-damaged beans can allow mould to develop, posing a health risk. So, if you’ve kept your beans in the fridge or freezer, inspect them before using them.
WHY ISN'T YOUR BEST BET ON DIRECT SUNLIGHT, BUT ON YOUR BENCH?
Acute heat is equally as detrimental for coffee beans as extreme cold. The heat can also cause the beans to sweat, releasing more flavor. It also hastens the aging process, causing the beans to go bad faster. So, don’t leave your beans on the bench, or worse, leave them there on purpose!
WHY IS A SEALED CONTAINER ESSENTIAL?
This is why a sealed container is the ideal option for keeping coffee beans, since the less air there is, the less likely it will become stale and will stay longer!
We also recommend that the container be opaque rather than clear or transparent, especially if it will be exposed to sunlight, as clear containers do not give the same level of protection from the sun and heat as opaque containers do.
WHEN ARE THE COFFEE BEANS READY TO BE USED?
Now that we know how to preserve beans properly, how can we know when it’s time to utilize them? To begin, we recommend waiting 1-2 weeks from the roast date (which is always written on the back of our bags!) This is due to the fact that your beans require time to de-gas. If you use your beans too soon, you will most likely end up with sour coffee.
