If you are spending upwards of $20 on a high-quality bag of coffee beans, you definitely need to learn how to store coffee beans at home. When stored correctly, good beans will result in an aromatic and better-tasting cup of Joe – that’s all we want in the morning, right?
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When it comes to storing coffee beans, there are a few things you need to learn – when coffee beans get stale, whether freezing them is a good idea, and what to do if beans go stale. All this will ensure that you keep your coffee beans fresh for as long as possible so you can have a great-tasting cup of coffee to start each day.
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Getting Whole Beans vs. Pre-Ground Coffee
If you want a quality cup of freshly brewed coffee in the morning, you need to buy whole beans. These beans are the perfect vessel to protect the coffee’s quality. After the beans are ground, the coffee will start to oxidise in a rapid manner. This is why experts recommend that you grind the beans right before you want to start brewing. Storing whole beans at home is a better idea than getting pre-ground coffee.
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Does the Roast Have an Impact?
You should pick coffee closer to the roast dates since it can result in a better taste. It does need a day or two to rest after roasting, so you should keep that in mind when you are buying your coffee bean packet.
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How Long Do Coffee Beans Take To Expire?
Well, it depends on the bag. When you are out buying a new bag, make sure to check the expiry date. It also depends on the packaging of the bag. Paper bags have a thin lining, which doesn’t protect the coffee beans for too long. They will only stay fresh for about a week in paper bags, after which they will start to taste stale.
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How to Store Coffee Beans at Home?
To keep your coffee beans fresh for longer, you should get a glass jar with a sealed lid. Another way to store coffee at home is to use foil bags that come with a one-way valve with pinholes. These let gas out but don’t let any air in. This preserves the coffee beans for up to two weeks before they lose their freshness and begin to taste flat.
Do make sure to store the coffee beans at room temperature and keep them in a dry place away from light.
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Is Freezing Coffee Beans a Good Idea?
We recommend never putting the coffee in the freezer or fridge. When you thaw the beans, they will definitely not taste as good as when you first purchased them. Coffee has a porous and soft cell structure that can absorb the aromatics around them. If you place them right next to aromatic ingredients in the freezer, it will take on that flavour, which is something you don’t want early in the morning (imagine coffee that tastes like beef – yuck!)
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Even the fridge isn’t a good idea because it can make the coffee condensate, which pushes the oils in the beans to the surface. This can make the coffee age faster.
What to Do With Stale Beans?
If your coffee beans have gotten stale, you can use them to make cold brews! Fresh coffee beans can be used to make cold brews, but old beans work well for such drinks too.
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We hope that from this blog post, you learned how to store coffee beans at home. For a recap: buy small amounts, store them in an airtight container, don’t freeze them, and make cold brews from old beans! We hope you enjoy your fresh cup of coffee tomorrow and feel energised enough to take on the day.