What is your checklist to ensure the perfect cup of coffee? Fresh? Pure? Flavorful? You can achieve what you want, as long as you follow the right processes. The way coffee is grown, ground and stored are all so important! Here is my guide to many people who wants to know how to store coffee beans in proper way.
What Type of Container should you use to Store Coffee?
Here's a little history on coffee storage. William Roseberry reported that in 1970's America, most coffees came in cans! This made roasted coffee taste "light and bland", and the decaf versions were "terrible". Luckily, we now have access to better quality coffees.
The best coffee container should be airtight and is stored in a cool, dry and dark home. This is down to a little chemical process called "oxidation"! Your coffee has four evil enemies:
- Oxygen
- Moisture
- Heat
- Light
When these elements react with coffee beans, oxidation is triggered. This affects the concentration of important oils in the beans. And then - you guessed it - affects the taste and aroma.
Do you need to Refrigerate Coffee?
Moisture is one of the coffee's biggest attackers. While your fridge may offer the cool conditions that your coffee likes, it's also too moist. If you're like me, you'll open your fridge door twenty times a day to look for treats. The fluctuations in temperature are a bad environment for coffee as it creates condensation.
The process changes the cell structure of the coffee beans inside and really dulls the flavor.
The National Coffee Association says that you can store coffee in a freezer if you have bulk amounts. But remember to be quick when taking out what you need! Always return the remaining coffee to the freezer before condensation gets its hands on your product.
How to store coffee beans at their ground and whole bean stage?
It's a good idea to buy specially designed airtight containers to store your coffee beans. These containers keep the oxygen away but also let carbon dioxide escape through a one-way valve.
So, wondering about how to store ground coffee? And does this differ from storing whole bean coffee? Let’s see...
Ground Coffee Storing Process
Pre-ground coffee is the number 1 choice in the US. This may be due to its low price and ease of brewing. Ground coffee has a larger surface area so reacts with hot water much quicker. It's the ideal choice for someone that's feeling groggy and tired. Ground coffee is a quick fix that doesn't require any grounding. (An instant cup of happiness, I'd call it!)
Counter-balancing the pros, it can go stale quickly. When you buy ground coffee in a store, you might want to transfer it to a new container. The ground coffee may stay fresh for long time if you make sure the container is opaque and airtight, and the transfer process is as quick as possible. The longer the coffee is exposed to air, the more oils will evaporate, and the worse your coffee will taste.
Ground coffee goes stale faster than whole bean coffee because of the increased surface area. If you store it properly, you can contain those precious aromas and still make a great cup of coffee.
Whole Bean Coffee Storing Process
Only about 8% of the coffee beans bought in America are fresh whole beans. Are they even worth talking about?
Well, actually, yes! Whole beans are more protected than ground coffee because they have their natural casing. However, I'd still recommend the proper storage processes. You can try a ceramic coffee canister - this should be opaque to keep the light out.
If you're serious about getting the best taste from your coffee, buy a storage container with a vacuum. The vacuum pump removes all the unwanted air from the container. They only hold half a pound of coffee, so why not buy a few and rotate your coffee beans?
Don't forget - you can freeze whole beans if you need to. Just ensure you brew the coffee shortly after removing it from the freezer.
How Often Should you Buy Coffee?
I'd recommend buying coffee as and when you need it, in small batches. Coffee loses its freshness quickly after roasting, and you don't want it sitting on the shelf for too long.
For the best tasting coffee, purchase it every couple of weeks. Only grind the coffee amount you need immediately before brewing. Even if you store coffee correctly, don't take the risk of a stale cup!
The Bottom Line
You might have the right beans, right brewing method and the best coffee grinder around! Though, this is all useless if you don't know how to store coffee beans in proper way.
So, do you save your coffee from air, moisture, light and heat for the best results?
