How to prolong the shelf life of coffee beans? Learn about the three major enemies that cause coffee beans to go bad!

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Buying high-quality coffee beans is important, but how to preserve the coffee beans perfectly is the key!

I often hear many consumers ask about how to preserve coffee beans. In fact, coffee beans are just like fruits and vegetables. If you want to lock in the good flavor of the ingredients, you must first have the correct storage concept. Only in this way can you enjoy coffee safely at home.

In order to extend the shelf life of coffee beans, you need to understand the three major enemies that cause coffee beans to go bad!

Temperature, humidity, oxidation rate

temperature

When coffee beans are exposed to sunlight, chemical changes will occur, water will evaporate, and the beans will begin to produce a unique odor. The main factor is that the influence of sunlight and temperature will promote the oxidation of coffee bean fat, and high temperature will easily volatilize the aroma of coffee and the excellent substances inside the coffee beans. Therefore, when storing coffee beans, be sure to avoid sunlight and ultraviolet light. Please store them in a cool, dark place after sealing.

humidity

Freshly roasted coffee beans have a moisture content of less than 5%, which is the optimal dry state for coffee beans. However, coffee is easily affected by moisture due to improper temperature and humidity, which causes the compounds to deteriorate. Moisture-affected coffee beans are prone to mold growth and produce ochratoxin, a colorless crystalline compound that has a very serious negative impact on human health.

Oxidation rate

During the roasting process of coffee beans, the moisture in the raw coffee beans is slowly released, the weight is reduced, the color becomes darker, and the volume begins to expand. At this time, the oil and aroma in the coffee are slowly released. The oil in the coffee beans will oxidize if it comes into contact with oxygen. If the degree of oxidation is too severe, it will easily cause deterioration and corruption.

But in some places, the climate is humid, which is not conducive to the preservation of food. So how can we preserve coffee beans? Don’t worry! Learn the following tips and you can store coffee beans safely!

1. Purchase according to demand

It is recommended to buy small packages of coffee beans and buy the amount of coffee beans that you can drink within half a month.

Don't stockpile beans, buy only as much as you need to drink.

2. Use light-proof jars to store coffee beans

"Light" is a medium that accelerates oxidation. It will increase the oxidation rate of coffee and accelerate the spoilage of coffee. If possible, please buy a bean storage can with an opaque outer layer, or a vacuum can that can extract all the air in the can, isolating oxygen and moisture to create a vacuum storage state. It is a good way to preserve coffee beans.

Therefore, the correct way to preserve the coffee beans should be to put them into the can, cover the outside of the can with a simple piece of cloth or dark paper, and then place it in a cool place out of the sun. If you need to brew coffee and then take out the coffee beans and grind them, this will effectively slow down the oxidation of the coffee beans!

3. Don’t store coffee beans in the refrigerator

There are many different opinions on the Internet about whether coffee beans should be stored in the refrigerator. However, we still recommend that you do not store coffee beans in the refrigerator.

The reason is that when coffee beans are taken out of the refrigerator, once they come into contact with room temperature, condensation will easily form on the surface of the coffee beans. At this time, the coffee beans will absorb the moisture and become soft, causing the coffee beans to become damp and gradually lose their flavor and deteriorate. Therefore, it is best to avoid refrigeration or freezing as much as possible.

The method provided above is only suitable for "temporarily" storing coffee beans!

Generally speaking, the life of coffee beans will be greatly shortened once they are roasted. The darker the roasting, the easier it is to oxidize. This is a natural phenomenon. Even with the best packaging and storage conditions, at best it can only slow down the decay of the beans.

Therefore, if you really want to drink a good cup of coffee, it is recommended that you only buy the amount that you can finish within two weeks to one month from the roasting date. This way, the quality of the coffee beans can be maintained, and you can enjoy the delicious taste of the coffee while drinking it with peace of mind.

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