Recommended Bagged Coffee Bean Brands_Vacuum Packaging Doesn't Guarantee Freshness_Bagged Coffee Bean Prices

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Storing Bagged Coffee Beans

Bagged coffee beans need to be stored in a place that isolates oxygen, is dry, dark, and odor-free.

Vacuum Packaging Doesn't Mean Freshness

You might think: "How hard can it be to isolate air? Just vacuum package it. Or put it in a sealed coffee container, oxygen won't get in." Vacuum packaging or completely sealed packaging might be good for other ingredients, but we must tell you that neither of these packaging methods is suitable for fresh coffee beans.

As mentioned earlier, coffee beans continuously release large amounts of carbon dioxide after roasting. If the coffee beans in vacuum packaging were fresh, the bag should burst. Therefore, the general practice of manufacturers is to let the roasted coffee beans sit for a period until they stop releasing gas, then put them in vacuum packaging. This way, there's no need to worry about bursting, but the coffee beans no longer have their freshest flavor. Vacuum packaging for coffee powder is acceptable, but we all know that coffee powder itself is no longer in the freshest state of coffee.

Sealed packaging is also not a good method. Sealed packaging only prevents air from entering; the original air contained in the packaging cannot escape. Air contains 21% oxygen, which is equivalent to trapping oxygen and coffee beans together to interact, unable to achieve the best preservation effect.

The Best Device for Preserving Coffee: One-Way Degassing Valve

Front and side schematic diagram of the one-way degassing valve

Here comes the correct solution. Currently, the best device on the market for preserving the freshness of coffee beans is the one-way degassing valve, invented in 1980 by Fres-co Company of Pennsylvania, USA.

Why? Let's review some simple high school physics here. Lighter gases move faster, so in a space with only one exit where gas can only exit but not enter, lighter gases tend to escape, while heavier gases tend to remain. This is what Graham's Law tells us.

Imagine a bag containing fresh coffee beans with some remaining space filled with air. Air contains 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen. Carbon dioxide is heavier than both of these gases. After the coffee beans produce carbon dioxide, it will push out the oxygen and nitrogen. If there's a one-way degassing valve, gas can only exit but not enter, so the oxygen in the bag will decrease over time, which is exactly what we want.

Coffee Bean Degassing Means Releasing Carbon Dioxide

Less Oxygen Means Better Coffee

Oxygen is the culprit that causes coffee beans to deteriorate. This is one of the principles that must be considered when selecting and evaluating various coffee bean storage products. Some people choose to poke a small hole in the coffee bean bag, which is indeed better than complete sealing, but the amount and speed of oxygen escape are limited. Moreover, the hole is a two-way channel, so external oxygen can also enter the bag. Reducing the air content in the packaging is certainly an option, but only the one-way degassing valve can reduce the oxygen content in coffee bean packaging bags.

Additionally, it's important to note that packaging with one-way degassing valves must be sealed to be effective; otherwise, oxygen can still enter the bag. Before sealing, you can gently squeeze out as much air as possible to reduce the gas space in the bag, resulting in less oxygen contacting the coffee beans.

Coffee Bean Storage Q&A

Of course, one-way degassing valves are just the beginning of coffee bean storage. Below, we've compiled some questions you might have to help you enjoy the freshest coffee every day.

What if I Buy Too Many Coffee Beans?

Generally, it's recommended that the optimal tasting period for coffee beans is two weeks. But if you buy more than two weeks' worth, the best method is to store them in the freezer. We recommend using sealable freezer bags (with as little air as possible) and storing them in small packages, each not exceeding two weeks' worth. Take out the coffee beans one hour before use, wait until they reach room temperature before opening. This minimizes condensation on the coffee bean surface. Don't forget, moisture can also seriously affect the flavor of coffee beans. Never put coffee beans that have been taken out of the freezer back in, to avoid moisture affecting the coffee taste during the thawing and freezing process.

Under good storage conditions, coffee beans can stay fresh in the freezer for two weeks. They can be stored for up to two months, but this is not recommended.

Can Coffee Beans Be Stored in the Refrigerator?

Coffee beans cannot be stored in the refrigerator; only the freezer can preserve their freshness. First, the temperature is not low enough. Second, coffee beans themselves have the effect of removing odors and will absorb the smells of other foods in the refrigerator, potentially resulting in coffee that tastes like your refrigerator. No storage container can prevent odors, so even coffee powder is not recommended to be stored in the refrigerator.

Coffee Powder Storage Recommendations

The best way to store coffee powder is to brew it into coffee and drink it, because the standard storage time for coffee powder is one hour. Only freshly ground and brewed coffee can maintain the best flavor.

If you really have no other choice, we suggest storing coffee powder in a sealed container (porcelain is best). Coffee powder is very susceptible to moisture and must be kept dry, and try not to store it for more than two weeks.

What Are the General Principles for Coffee Bean Storage?

Buy high-quality, fresh beans, use dark containers with one-way degassing valves for sealed packaging, and store them in a dry, cool place away from sunlight and steam. Coffee beans reach their best flavor 48 hours after roasting and stay freshest for two weeks at room temperature.

Why Are There So Many Nuances to Storing Coffee Beans? It Sounds Complicated.

It's quite simple: because good quality coffee deserves your attention. Coffee is a very daily beverage, yet it also has rich knowledge to research. This is what makes coffee interesting. Feel it with your heart and taste the most complete, pure flavor of coffee together.

Recommended Bagged Coffee Bean Brands

FrontStreet Coffee's freshly roasted single-origin bagged coffee beans offer sufficient guarantees in both brand and quality, suitable for brewing with various equipment. More importantly, they offer extremely high value for money. A half-pound (227g) bag costs only around 80-90 yuan. Calculating based on 200ml per cup of single-origin coffee with a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, one bag can make 15 cups of specialty coffee, with each cup costing only about 5-6 yuan. Compared to the dozens of yuan per cup sold in coffee shops, this offers excellent value for money.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small storefront but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online store services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473