How Should You Store Coffee Beans After Purchase?

Introduction to Coffee Bean Storage

Have you ever felt the urge to buy coffee beans after enjoying pour-over coffee outside? You've purchased various brewing equipment for home use, but after bringing the coffee beans home, how should you store them? How long can the beans last? What is their shelf life?

In today's article, FrontStreet Coffee will teach you how to store coffee beans properly.

Actually, the consumption of coffee beans depends on how frequently you drink coffee. Nowadays, when purchasing coffee beans online or in coffee shops, a package typically contains 100g-500g. Taking home pour-over as an example, using 15g of coffee beans per brew, 100g can make about 6 brews, and 454g can make about 30 brews. So how should you store excess coffee beans?

FrontStreet Coffee recommends consuming coffee beans within their optimal flavor period, which refers to 30-45 days after roasting. We don't recommend purchasing too much at once! Although coffee beans can be stored for a year in suitable conditions, their flavor compounds cannot last that long! This is why we emphasize both shelf life and optimal flavor period.

Storage Methods

1. Keeping Beans in Original Packaging

Coffee bean packaging purchased online mainly comes in two types: bags and cans. Most packaging features holes, which are actually valve devices called "one-way exhaust valves." Like a one-way street for cars, gas can only exit in one direction but cannot enter from the other direction. However, when you receive coffee beans, don't squeeze the package just to smell the aroma, as this will cause the fragrance to be squeezed out multiple times, weakening the flavor later.

When coffee beans are freshly roasted, they contain large amounts of carbon dioxide and continue to release significant quantities over the next few days. However, after the beans cool down from roasting, we package them in sealed bags. Without one-way exhaust valves, the large amount of carbon dioxide released would fill the entire bean bag, potentially causing it to burst when it can no longer withstand the continuous gas emission from the beans. This type of packaging is suitable for small quantities that will be consumed quickly.

2. Using Coffee Bean Canisters

A quick online search reveals numerous canister options. How should you choose one? There are three essential criteria: first, good sealing; second, having a one-way exhaust valve; and third, the ability to achieve near-vacuum storage.

During the roasting process, green coffee beans expand internally and produce carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide contains volatile flavor compounds of coffee. A well-sealed canister can prevent the loss of these volatile flavor compounds and also prevent moisture from the air contacting the coffee beans, which would cause them to become damp.

In addition to preventing canisters from bursting due to continuous gas emission, one-way valves can also prevent coffee beans from contacting oxygen, which causes oxidation. The carbon dioxide produced during roasting can form a protective layer that isolates oxygen. However, as time passes, this carbon dioxide gradually diminishes.

Currently, many coffee bean canisters on the market can achieve near-vacuum effects through simple operations, preventing coffee beans from long-term exposure to air. Canisters also come in transparent and opaque varieties, mainly to prevent light from accelerating the oxidation of coffee beans. Of course, if you store them in places away from direct sunlight, this issue can be avoided.

For example, FrontStreet Coffee uses canisters that can achieve near-vacuum packaging. Since canisters are reusable, we recommend them for those who regularly purchase coffee beans.

Should You Grind Beans in Advance?

Some people ask if they can grind beans into powder in advance for storage when they don't have a grinder at home. After grinding, the surface area of coffee particles in contact with air increases, causing carbon dioxide to escape more quickly, and flavor compounds to dissipate faster. When you brew at home later, the flavor will be weaker, possibly lacking the original aroma or taste from the first tasting.

Therefore, FrontStreet Coffee suggests purchasing ground coffee in small quantities and storing it in a cool, dry place for consumption as soon as possible. We don't recommend refrigerating it, as condensation will form when you take it out to use at room temperature, which will affect quality and taste.

Conclusion

In summary, if you're only purchasing small quantities of coffee beans, we recommend keeping them in their original packaging. If you're buying larger quantities, then we suggest investing in a coffee bean canister for proper storage.

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FrontStreet Coffee

No. 10, Bao'an Qianjie, Yandun Road, Dongshankou, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province

Important Notice :

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Tel:020 38364473