Storing coffee beans correctly: The best tips for storage and preserving aroma
This is probably the dilemma of all coffee lovers. Those who drink a lot of coffee and like to receive guests prefer to buy coffee beans in large quantities. Then there is the joy of experimenting with different types of coffee. But what to do with the torn coffee packaging that will only be used up months later? The only advantage of torn open coffee packets is the wonderful aroma they give off in the room. However, this advantage only lasts until the aroma fades and then drinking coffee is only half as much fun.
The taste experience of an espresso results from a combination of impressions that are perceived by both the nose and the tongue.
Here's a little experiment: hold your nose the next time you drink an espresso.
You will notice that the taste experience in this experiment is incomplete. However, if you don't notice any difference from before, either your sense of smell is impaired or the coffee beans have been stored incorrectly and have already lost their aromas.
To make sure this never happens to you, we have created a blog article for you with our insider tips on the best way to store coffee beans.
Where should you store your coffee beans?
When storing coffee, there are several factors that influence the shelf life of the beans. These include the temperature, exposure to light, humidity and the odor environment at the respective location.
You don't have to change much to get the right temperature, as coffee beans should ideally be stored at room temperature. This means that the storage location should be no colder than 16 degrees and no warmer than 22 degrees. Make sure that the coffee beans are not stored directly by a window in full sunlight or in a cold cellar in winter. It is also important that the temperature remains constant and does not fluctuate, otherwise the quality of the coffee beans will be impaired.
Coffee beans should be stored away from light, as light accelerates the ageing of coffee beans. Coffee beans lose their valuable aromas as they age. We therefore recommend a place with as little sunlight as possible. Windowless pantries or closed cupboards, for example, are suitable here.
Coffee beans should be stored in a dry place. If the beans are stored near water sources or in a humid room climate, mold can form. As coffee beans are dehydrated during roasting, they easily absorb moisture if they are stored in a humid environment. The absorbed moisture ultimately shortens the shelf life of the coffee beans and increases the risk of mold growth.
There is a rumor that coffee beans can be kept fresh for longer in the fridge. In fact, it is quite sufficient to store the coffee at room temperature. The disadvantage of storing coffee in the fridge is that undesirable odors from other foods can be transferred to the coffee beans. For example, the smell of cheese in the fridge could be transferred to the beans and mask their own aroma. Will the espresso with the smell of cheese still taste good? Doubtful.
How to store your coffee beans properly!
Coffee tin or coffee bag - the right way to store coffee at home
There are various methods of storing coffee beans. For example, there are containers made from different materials and with different sealing techniques, as well as vacuum-sealed bags.
The ideal material for storing coffee beans is anything that is impermeable to air. We therefore advise against using plastic! Plastic usually cannot prevent air from penetrating. We recommend glass, stainless steel and ceramic as airtight materials.
In our Espresso Perfetto range you will find aroma-tight storage jars for coffee beans in three different sizes(600 ml, 800 ml, 1000 ml). The lid of these containers is equipped with a vacuum mechanism, which keeps your coffee beans fresh up to 50% longer. The special technology of the lid prevents oxygen from entering the container, protecting the beans from moisture. In this way, mould can be prevented and the variety of aromas is preserved for a long time.
Some coffee beans are sold in smaller quantities in attractive coffee tins that can be reused later. We also offer this 2-in-1 solution in our webshop. In the tasting package for 45,90€ you get all the pretty Espresso Perfetto tins at once and can try 5 different types of beans. If you have already discovered your favorite variety, the coffee tins with caps are also available individually in our webshop.
Coffee is often sold in bag form sold in bags. The special thing about these bags is the aroma valve, which allows the buyer to test whether they like the aroma. However, the aroma valve has another function, as it transports CO2 to the outside, but never lets it in. The aroma valve on coffee bags therefore helps to preserve the coffee aroma. Coffee bags are therefore the ideal protection against moisture, oxygen and light, but they must be carefully resealed after opening. The Espresso Perfetto coffee bag seal can help.
In general, storage should be airtight, regardless of whether it is in a bag or container. If air gets to the espresso beans, they may oxidize and lose their flavour. Air can also be moist, and the coffee beans absorb this moisture when they come into contact with the air. As coffee beans absorb moisture, they release aromatic substances into the air. However, this is prevented if they are stored in an airtight container. Air is also responsible for transporting flavor through aromas, which can also be absorbed into the coffee beans. This means that the coffee not only loses valuable aromas, but also absorbs unwanted aromas.
The maximum storage period for coffee beans
Once the coffee pack has been opened, the clock is ticking for the maximum storage period. In general, a pack of opened coffee beans should be used within 6-8 months.
There is a trick to freezing coffee beans in an airtight container and in portion sizes. This is particularly useful if you have large quantities that you can't use up in time, for example because you're going on vacation. For the freezer compartment, you should use packaging that stores the coffee beans in a vacuum. After defrosting, the beans must be used within 2 days. It is therefore important to only freeze the coffee beans in portion sizes.
We generally recommend storing coffee beans in small portions, whether frozen or at room temperature. To ensure that coffee beans retain their full aroma, the opened pack should not be stored for longer than 8 months. After that, the coffee will still keep but will lose its flavor. We therefore recommend storing coffee beans in small quantities so that they can be used up more quickly. If you like to change the type of coffee, you should buy coffee beans in small packs. This way, the coffee beans do not lose quality as they are used up more quickly. Although this means more packaging waste, ultimately less is wasted as inedible beans often end up in the bin.
If the pack is still closed and stored correctly, coffee beans will keep for at least 1.5 years.
Fun fact: Unroasted beans can even be kept indefinitely if stored correctly.
Whole coffee beans or ground coffee, which lasts longer?
We always recommend buying whole coffee beans, as they preserve the aromas best and for the longest time. If possible, the coffee beans should be freshly ground. The aromas are particularly intense for 1-2 hours after grinding. After that, the variety of flavors in the coffee drink decreases significantly. Ground coffee should definitely not be stored in a storage tin for longer than a week, as it will no longer taste like freshly ground coffee after just one day. The same tips apply to the storage of ground coffee as for whole coffee beans.
What you should bear in mind when storing coffee
Here is a summary of everything you should bear in mind when storing coffee beans:
- Store coffee beans at room temperature
- Store coffee beans in an airtight container
- Dry storage of coffee beans
- Store coffee beans away from light
- Maximum storage time for coffee beans
- Store coffee beans in an odorless environment
Now you know what you need to do to keep your coffee beans fresh for as long as possible! You can find everything you need for this in our webshop. Have fun browsing!
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