What and how to properly store coffee beans at home

What containers should I use?

• Glass jar with a rubberized lid.
• Ceramic vessel with a massive lid with a valve.
• Wooden barrel. The disadvantage of such storage is that it allows air and moisture to pass through, respectively, the aroma will quickly evaporate and its quality will deteriorate.
• Plastic container. Has the ability to absorb the smell for a long time. After using it, the smell of coffee will remind of itself for a long time and there will be a problem to store other bulk products in a used container.
• Vacuum package with a density of at least 50 microns. You need to close it tightly, without letting in air (zip-lock, valve).
• Can. It is undesirable to use such a container, as the drink will have a metallic taste.
• Foil. Suitable for freezer compartment.

We store coffee beans

The main enemy of coffee is air. Roasted coffee beans are a delicate product. Many people value the degree of roasting, which directly affects the manifestation of certain flavors and aromas. Here's what happens when you store coffee beans outdoors:

• Coffee oils evaporate - great value, giving the taste a richness and a unique flavor.
• The aroma is exhaled.
• Beans absorb moisture from the air and deteriorate.
• In addition to moisture, all extraneous odors are absorbed. The quality of the aroma product deteriorates greatly.

The drink made from such grains is very far from perfect. It can be called coffee, but alas, it will irrevocably lose its quality and will not bring pleasure.

Many people buy green beans for self-roasting.

Coffee gourmets, having learned the rules of self-roasting of beans, prefer to buy green beans. This is the longest stored product. You can keep them in the refrigerator on the middle shelf, take out portions to roast, and enjoy the perfection produced. However, the method takes time and a painstaking approach. More often they buy roasted grains of the brand they like.

Vacuum packaging or foil-wrapped version prevents the ingress of air, moisture, sunlight. All the quality parameters of coffee beans are preserved for almost a year, if you do not open the package. An opened pack can be stored for no more than 3 weeks in a dry and dark place at a cool temperature.

Glass jars with heavy-duty lids are ideal for storing roasted beans. They protect the porous structure of the grains from foreign aromas. Do not store packages of coffee beans next to other aromatic products: spices, vinegar, seasoning.

Self-roasted coffee beans are best used right away. Or put it in jars with tight lids, remembering to ventilate every 2 days - the grains emit a special gas.

It is convenient to store fried grains in such jars.

Storage conditions for coffee beans

Amateurs recommend storing coffee beans in the freezer. In fact, only green, unroasted coffee is stored in this way, since at low temperatures it retains the moisture level required for further heat treatment. And ready-to-drink coffee is stored at room temperature or just in a cool shaded room. There is no need to store roasted coffee in the refrigerator, especially if it will be stored there in an unsuitable container. Coffee is quickly saturated with moisture and odors from the surrounding food.

Proper storage of coffee beans at home

The best storage containers are frosted glass containers that close tightly. You can keep the grains in ceramic vessels covered with glaze from the inside. But in metal cans, as many do, it is better not to store coffee.Under such conditions, an active oxidation process takes place. And, moreover, it is not recommended to keep them in plastic containers, as they allow air to pass through.

The shelf life of coffee beans depends on the container:

• in an unsealed package (box or plastic bag) - no more than 2 weeks;
• sealed paper bag with inner foil lining - 6 months;
• heat sealable bag with a gas valve - up to 12 months;
• glass and ceramic dishes - about 3 months.

If the shelf life of the coffee has expired, you can still drink it - it will not harm your health, it will simply not taste good. You can try to restore the taste and aroma by roasting the grains on a baking sheet over low heat for 15 minutes in an oven preheated to 200 ° C, adding a couple of cinnamon sticks or dried cloves to them.

Where to store

The storage space for coffee must meet the following criteria:

• protect the product from high humidity - the optimal level is 50-60%;
• to provide the optimal air temperature without drops - about 13-18 ° С;
• not be exposed to drafts and direct sunlight;
• do not have strong extraneous odors - storage together with spices is unacceptable.

In the closet

A kitchen cabinet is the best place to store ground coffee or whole beans.

Here you can keep the product that is used every day, you can put a transparent or opaque container here. The only caveat is that the cabinet must have a door, and the door must be kept closed at all times.

The ideal option is to define for storing coffee beans the one that is used less often than others. Under these conditions, coffee in any form will be protected from light, drafts and moisture.

It is better that the cabinet is located as far as possible from the sink, heaters, batteries - that is, in those areas where excess heat and moisture does not accumulate.

In fridge

The refrigerator is the most controversial storage option. Here, only part of the conditions for the successful preservation of the organoleptic properties of the product is observed - the absence of light and drafts. Other factors are unfavorable - there is increased humidity in the refrigerator, temperature drops often occur due to the opening of the door. A large variety of products also creates an inappropriate atmosphere - an abundance of smells can ruin the quality of coffee.

If you decide to store a fragrant product in the refrigerator, you should pack it into small sealed containers and place them on the lower shelf. You also need to ensure that foods and dishes with a strong odor are not located near the containers.

In the freezer

Compared to the refrigerator, the freezer is the preferred place to store coffee. However, this method is only suitable for long-term storage of the product. If you plan to use coffee every day, it is better not to put it in the freezer - constant temperature drops will disrupt the grain structure, which will adversely affect the organoleptic properties of the final drink.

Experts recommend keeping coffee beans in the freezer in portions. The rules are similar to other methods - the container must be airtight, closed with a tight lid. If a bag is used, all air must be removed from it.

Coffee beans cannot be re-frozen - they must be placed in a dry, dark place and ground strictly for one use. Before grinding, you should wait until the grain warms up to room temperature - then the drink will turn out to be especially aromatic.

Shelf life of unroasted coffee

Buying unroasted fruit is very successful and there are several reasons for this:

• Raw grains have a much more affordable price than roasted grains.
• Uncooked coffee has a much longer shelf life. The shelf life of such a product reaches one year. At the same time, the grains absolutely do not lose their properties.Most varieties can be stored for three years, but the maximum period is five years. This product is stored as long as possible, packed in vacuum bags or hermetically sealed.

Unprocessed coffee can retain its

its properties, which is why buyers prefer to take it for long-term storage or are stocked up for future use. Here a logical question may arise about how to determine how long the fruits have been in the warehouse? The packaging with grains must have the date of packaging. The shelf life is calculated from it.

If coffee beans are bought by weight, then you need to pay special attention to the appearance of green beans. Their condition will determine the suitability of the product for consumption:

• The grains should be uniform in color, the surface should be matte and velvety, the groove along the grain should be pronounced. The fruit has a fresh herbal scent, but it shouldn't be intrusive. Green coffee can be loose and hard, and break well. The place of the cleavage is even and does not crumble. This is the kind of coffee that will remain for a long time.
• If the seeds are different in color or size, it is most likely a mixture of varieties that were harvested in different years. If the grains contain sand or any other garbage, then it is better to pass by such a product, since the buyer may have remnants of different years, which is passed off as contraband.
• Old grains almost do not smell, but at the same time their shade is uniform. The coffee may look shriveled around the edges. Once such a product has been purchased, the sooner it is used, the better. It is not worth storing it for a long time.

Expired raw grains are not uniform in color, are very dense and crumble easily. They are so brittle that they crumble when broken. The grains do not smell at all or have a musty, unpleasant odor.

Green coffee beans are capable of retaining all their properties during the stated shelf life, provided that all the necessary conditions for this are met.

Storage rules

Before choosing what is the best way to store ground coffee at home, you need to take into account all the fundamental concepts that directly affect the requirements of how to properly store whole grain or ground coffee at home. The taste and aroma properties are due to the cafeole. This constituent substance contains more than two hundred separate elements, which, when combined, create specific aromatic notes. If the coffee is stored improperly, some details disappear, as a result of which the fragrance disappears.

Such a violation is associated with the negative impact of several factors:

1. Air. In a constant reaction with oxygen, ethers evaporate - loss of taste and aroma.
2. Sudden changes in temperature. The heat leads to the loss of moisture and the compaction of coffee beans - the brewed drink will have an unstable foam.
3. Bright light.
4. Moisture. High humidity in the storage area leads to musty and mildew.
5. Foreign odors.

All of the above items are answered by the refrigerator. Therefore, it is not recommended to store ground or grain coffee as an ordinary product in the refrigerator, it is even prohibited. The grains in the refrigerator not only absorb moisture, but also succumb to frost and not the most pleasant smells.

The effect of unusable coffee on the physical condition of a person

There is a myth that coffee beans cannot deteriorate, which means that you can drink coffee from 10 years ago.

Only this is not alcohol, aging does not play an important role here.

When coffee is out of date and someone is consuming it, it's a good idea to think about the consequences:

• moldy grains cause gastrointestinal upset, nausea and gag reflex;
• a grain with the smell of rancid fat is dangerous for people with a diseased liver;
• expired instant coffee guarantees heartburn.

If you do not want to end up in a hospital bed after drinking a drink, it is better to pay special attention to the place where coffee is stored.

How to store roasted coffee beans

Unfortunately, the taste and aroma of roasted coffee does not last long - no more than 5 days. This is due to the fact that coffee is capable of very strongly absorbing odors and moisture from the environment, and beans very quickly acquire a third-party taste and smell. Therefore, when storing roasted beans, packaging plays a major role.

The best container for roasted beans is opaque glass jars with dense additive lids, which do not get air. Now on sale there are special bags with valves that also do not allow air to pass through, they can also be used to store grains. But still remember that even in such conditions, roasted coffee is stored for no more than 10 days, then its taste deteriorates sharply. Beans that have been stored for about a month will make a very mediocre coffee drink.

Fried grain can be stored in a vacuum bag for several months - exactly until the vacuum packing is broken. Then its shelf life will be limited to the same 7-10 days.

It is best to store the coffee beans in the refrigerator, but you do not need to reheat the cold beans in front of the floor - this will better preserve the aroma. Packaged on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, coffee beans will last well for about two weeks.

Another interesting fact - coffee beans can be frozen! To do this, they are placed in a bag and, if possible, all air is removed from it. The bag is placed in the freezer and quickly frozen. But keep in mind that freshly ground coffee from thawed beans cannot be stored at all, so it must be frozen in very small portions and immediately consumed after defrosting.

Advice

Making an aromatic drink from ground coffee beans also has its own secrets. The main rule when preparing coffee in a Turk or by brewing in a coffee pot is to use the right water in the recipe. For cooking, it is better to use bottled or filtered liquid - such water is softer, therefore, it will reveal the aroma more. Coffee lovers also recommend following a number of guidelines:

1. It is better to choose brown sugar for the drink - it will only emphasize the taste of the drink. A separate advantage of this choice is the reduced calorie content.
2. When adding spices while brewing coffee, it is recommended to add a small pinch of salt. This mineral will extinguish the excess bitterness if the amount of cinnamon or pepper is exceeded.
3. It is necessary to prepare a drink in small, strictly metered quantities, since over time the brewed coffee loses its aroma and taste. You can enjoy its qualities to the utmost for about 1 hour.

For reference!

It is better to grind the grains just before preparing the drink, instead of long-term storage.

To reveal the aroma when brewing coffee according to the norms, ground beans must be laid first, and then poured with cold water. If sugar is put into the drink, then it is correct to add it to the cezve, together with the powder - this way the aroma and foam on the surface in the cup will be preserved to the utmost. It is necessary to adjust the strength of the drink by the duration of cooking on the stove, and not by the amount of ground grain.

Shelf life of coffee

Unroasted green grains can be stored for 3 to 5 years.

• Roasted grains in unopened factory packaging are good for up to 2 years, and in glass containers - 6 months. In open soft packaging, the grains will retain their quality for about 2 weeks.
• Ground coffee in unopened soft or glass factory packaging will last 1-1.5 years, in vacuum - the shelf life is 3 years.It is advisable to use an opened pack of ground coffee, like ground coffee on its own, in less than 14 days.
• Capsules for coffee machines can be stored for up to 1 year.

Storage of instant coffee is permissible:

• in unopened factory opaque soft packaging for 2 years;
• 1 year in glass;
• in a tin can for 1.5-2 years.

Opened freeze-dried granules from any package can be drunk for about 5 months. And if you keep the granules longer, the powder may even turn black. In no case should you forget to immediately close the pot with instant coffee. After an hour, the granules or powder will lose all flavor, and the drink will have a strange taste that defies description.

General storage table

To enjoy the first to the last spoonful of coffee from the purchased package - whether grain, ground or instant, you must adhere to the storage rules. Maybe just buy it in small packages. After all, this is an elite drink that creates the mood of both weekdays and holidays.

Fridge and freezer storage recommendations

The freezer is one of the possible places for storing coffee beans. They can be either raw or fried. Moreover, in the second case, the freezing should be "shock" and carried out immediately after heat treatment.

One of the long-term storage options is the freezer

It is not worth storing a large number of grains in one package at once. In this case, every time you want to drink a cup of coffee, you will have to remove the beans from the cold and keep them warm for a while, then return them back to the freezer shelf. Such temperature changes will turn the grains into a tasteless and odorless product in a couple of months.

Better to pack them in small portions and defrost them as needed.

After the grains are warm, it is very important to let them thaw on their own: you should not heat them in the microwave and put them next to heating devices. Grinding semi-frozen grains is also not a good idea.

The optimum temperature for grains ready for further processing and grinding is 15 degrees.

It is better to freeze in small portions; before grinding, the grains must be completely defrosted.

Even in the frozen state, the grains are extremely susceptible to odors, therefore, workpieces with a pungent smell, such as fish, meat, seafood, etc., should be kept as far as possible, otherwise the off-flavor of the finished drink cannot be avoided.

Storage features: coffee secrets

By observing these rules, you can extend the shelf life of coffee and improve the taste of the finished drink.

• If you prefer to buy raw beans and leave them in the refrigerator (freezer), wait until the beans are at room temperature before roasting.
• Do not re-freeze the grains.
• If you buy raw kernels "by weight", sort them out before storing them. Filter out small black seeds. They can spoil coffee of any quality.
• An important and interesting fact: freshly roasted grains must be left in the air for several hours, because they emit carbon dioxide, which can deform the container.
• There is another species that has appeared recently - "capsule". Its shelf life is one year. The same rules for storing coffee apply to it: away from light and high temperatures.But in capsules, it is hermetically packed, so it is not afraid of water, unlike other types.
• It is best not to store coffee in the refrigerator. People open and close the refrigerator door dozens of times a day. The temperature changes over and over again. This can cause moisture condensation. The product will become damp and spoil quickly.
• The ideal temperature is 13-16 degrees.
• To restore the smell, place a cinnamon stick in a jar.

Best storage locations

The best places are ranked in descending order:

Kitchen cabinet with doors. The safest place to place bulk products. The main thing is that he is away from the window and heating objects. When storing coffee, the correct proximity of the products must be observed. It is better if there are pasta, rice and buckwheat nearby. Spices, other aromatic grains and objects should be kept at a considerable distance.
Freezer. It is a means of increasing the shelf life. This option is used by those who buy grain for future use. The disadvantage of this method is the prohibition on re-freezing. Frozen grains produce a ground mixture that is unsuitable for repeated exposure to cold. Store seeds in a tight bag, foil or cling film. The refrigerator compartment should be dry-frozen, this applies to modern household appliances.
Open shelf. Such a place will not always be appropriate, since light falls here and there is a risk of moisture ingress. Therefore, the packaging must be absolutely airtight and with opaque walls.
Fridge. Stocks are sent here to preserve it for many months. But the disadvantage is that temperature changes affect the quality.

Therefore, it is important to place the grains in a tight bag, you can even use more than one. The main thing is to observe the tightness and proximity of the products.

What to store

Ground and whole grain coffee is most often sold in hermetically sealed vacuum packages. High level of light and water resistance, absence of air and high hygroscopicity allow keeping the product practically intact. Difficulties arise already at the stage of home use of an open pack. For storage, you need to choose a suitable container in which the coffee will not lose its aroma and taste.

Packages

The package in which the coffee was packaged at the time of purchase can also serve as a container for storage. At home, it will not be possible to ensure high tightness due to the lack of specialized equipment. But high-quality packaging with a zip-zipper and a flap can become a worthy alternative to factory packaging.

The foil pouch has sufficient odor-tightness and will not allow the porous structure of the coffee beans to absorb unwanted aromas. When closing the bag, it is recommended to remove excess air from it by simple twisting, and then carefully seal the package with a built-in zipper or strong clip. As such, the product will be protected from air, moisture and light.

It is not recommended to store coffee in paper bags - after opening the package, grains or ground coffee should be poured into a more airtight container.

Banks

Glass jars are an ergonomic and aesthetic option for storing any bulk products. The disadvantage of such a container is that transparent glass perfectly transmits the sun's rays, which means that the product stored “behind the glass” will be exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Experts say that it is ultraviolet that is one of the main enemies of coffee, which can distort the taste of the drink. Therefore, you cannot use transparent glass jars to store a fragrant product.

In this case, it is preferable to use ceramic containers or opaque glass containers. The main condition is that the container must be equipped with a tight-fitting lid with a silicone gasket.This will help protect the container from air, moisture, and odors.

Professionals recommend pouring coffee into glass jars not immediately after roasting, but after 2-3 days. This is necessary so that the grains get rid of gases, and the aroma is fixed in their structure.

Plastic and metal containers

The worst option for storing coffee contents is containers made of plastic and metal.

The properties of these materials are such that they freely react with other substances. As a result, coffee can acquire a specific metallic flavor and plastic “aroma”. In addition, both metal and plastic are able to absorb the odors of products that were previously stored in the container. If the user purchases different types of coffee, the container can distort its original organoleptic properties by mixing different flavors.

Store clear plastic containers with coffee beans only in a dark place.

Where to store it?

The storage of coffee has a different duration, depending not only on the packaging, but also on the place. You can store the product in a cupboard, refrigerator and freezer. Each site has both advantages and disadvantages.

Kitchen Cabinet.

This place is ideal for storing the coffee that you grind and brew daily. Optimum temperature, lack of moisture and darkness are necessary conditions for the preservation of the product. You should not put a bag or jar with grains in a cabinet located near the oven or stove, as well as in front of a window that does not face the sunny side.

Fridge.

Despite the popular belief that coffee can and should be refrigerated, don't do this experiment at home. The temperature in the refrigerator compartment ranges from + 2 ° C to + 6 ° C. It is not low enough to provide freshness to the product. In addition, when the package is repeatedly removed from the refrigerator, the grains become covered with condensation, which turns into water and leads to rapid deterioration of even fresh food.

Freezer.

This is the best place to keep your coffee fresh for a long time. However, you need to immediately pour in the required amount of grains, which you will use for daily grinding. If you freeze the beans immediately after roasting, they will remain fresh for up to 2 months.

With the right container and storage location, the aroma of freshly ground coffee will fill your home even months after purchase.

Choice of containers

Store the product in an airtight container. In this case, you need to take into account the material of its manufacture:

metal. You can find cans made of stainless steel or tin in almost any apartment. These can be containers for sweets, loose tea or instant coffee. They do not have sufficient tightness if their covers are also metal, and not nylon. Therefore, the disadvantage of such storage is the ability of the grains to absorb odors from neighboring products. Additionally, you may experience a slight metallic aftertaste while consuming the drink; tinted glass. Such containers are sold in various supermarkets. It is equipped with a special nylon cover that does not allow moisture and air to penetrate inside. The neutral material will prevent the fruit of the coffee tree from absorbing foreign odors. The cost of the container is low, so buying it will not be burdensome for coffee connoisseurs; plastic. It is considered the most unsuccessful storage material, as they absorb the scent of plastic. The lids of such a container also do not have high tightness, which allows moisture, air and third-party aromas to penetrate inside; ceramics. Jars of earthenware are perfect, equipped with special latches or rubber gaskets that ensure a snug fit of the lid

The disadvantage is the impossibility of purchasing it in any store, since ceramic products are made mainly without taking into account the importance of sealing the vessel. But if desired, containers can be found, although its price may be higher than that of containers made of other material; wood

Products are used mainly for decorative purposes, as they cannot protect them from moisture and air. The oxidative process will lead to deterioration of the grains within 5-7 days.

Based on these properties, glass and ceramic containers are considered the most optimal.

Foil bags with a flap or zip fastener are often used for storage. They are impermeable to air, moisture and light, preserving the natural taste and aroma of coffee. After removing a small portion, the bag can be rolled up to remove any trapped air.

The choice of container depends on your tastes, but remember that neglect will speed up the process of spoilage of the beans.

How to store coffee beans

Many baristas and coffee shop owners are actively interested in the issue of storing coffee beans. Let's consider the most practical options.

Native packaging

Foil packs with a ziplock and an air valve are considered the best option for storing coffee. And there are several explanations for this:

Thanks to the foil packaging, the product does not absorb foreign odors, which is very important for the preparation of a high-quality tasty drink.
Such packaging does not allow air to pass through. When coffee beans come into contact, especially if they are already ground, with oxygen, the former begin to actively lose their aromatic properties.

Therefore, vacuum packaging is a great option to preserve the native flavor of the beans. In addition, the existing valve on the bag provides a complete outlet of gases from fresh grains to the outside.
The foil package can be easily twisted, removing excess oxygen from it and, thereby, minimizing the oxidation of essential oils inside the beans, which give the finished drink its characteristic coffee taste and aroma.
Another advantage of foil packaging is the protection of the product from light and moisture. The latter, in turn, significantly reduce the shelf life of the grains, endowing them with a characteristic bitterness.

Banks

A less preferred, but perfectly acceptable way of ensuring satisfactory storage conditions for coffee beans. The most suitable options are ceramic and glass jars

It is very important that the lids seal the container tightly, preventing the penetration of oxygen and moisture. And given that beans do not like light, it is advisable to use an opaque container.

In turn, such a container has several disadvantages:

1. It is advisable to pour the product from its original packaging 3-5 days after frying. During this time, the gases inside the beans will be able to escape from them without hindrance. In the bank, the gases will no longer be fully released.
2. During the pouring of coffee from the package into the jar, the beans are already saturated with a certain amount of oxygen. Not to mention the fact that it is not possible to rid the container of excess air. This means that the process of oxidation of their structure will begin in the beans inside the container, which will negatively affect the taste and aroma of the beans and the finished drink. Hence that very unpleasant sourness in coffee.

Plastic and metal containers

The least preferred way of storing coffee beans. Such a container gives the beans an unpleasant odor, giving them an off-flavor of plastic and iron.

Storing green coffee beans

In the form of raw coffee beans it is stored for the longest time - up to 3 years without loss of properties. Green grains need to be sorted out properly and those that are irregular, black or dried out should be thrown away. After checking, the raw materials must be additionally dried at room temperature for 12 hours.

It is best to store unprocessed coffee in the freezer.After defrosting, grains must not be re-exposed to cold treatment. Therefore, it is best to divide the total volume into small portions so that one can make a drink for no more than 10 days in a row.

When storing coffee in the form of green beans in the freezer, you also need to follow these simple rules:

• use small tight bags with a slider or containers;
• fill the container tightly so that as little air as possible remains;
• wrap containers carefully: use cling film, foil, scotch tape;
• place containers against the far wall of the freezer to minimize exposure to warm air when the door is opened;
• defrost the beans completely before roasting, otherwise you may not be able to cook evenly.

Under no circumstances should green grains be stored in the refrigerator. The coffee will most likely be spoiled for the following reasons:

• in the refrigerator there are constant temperature drops when the door is opened, so the grains become covered with condensation and quickly grow moldy;
• it is impossible to store raw materials in the dark on refrigerated shelves;
• the smells of food stored in the refrigerator are more likely to be transmitted to the grains.