How should you store coffee beans so that the taste remains optimal?

How should you store coffee beans so that the taste remains optimal?

You want to store coffee beans to keep them as fresh as possible. What then works best? You've probably heard of the trick to storing coffee beans in the freezer, and you probably also have an airtight storage container at home. But what do the experts say about preserving coffee beans?

Storing coffee beans: a few tips

We are, of course, talking about storing whole coffee beans here. Ground coffee is exposed to oxygen and changes flavor in as little as 24 hours, while coffee beans only do so after 10 to 14 days. This is because ground coffee has a larger surface area exposed to oxygen. That's why it's best to grind your beans and make coffee from them immediately. If you buy old coffee, it doesn't matter how you store it.

Another tip: do not stock up on coffee, but only buy coffee that you will need for the next 1 to 2 weeks. Like with bread, cheese, and ham, you prefer not to buy it three months in advance. Coffee is a seasonal product. It only grows in a region during a certain period of time. For single-origin coffee, check which region has just finished the harvest season.

As soon as a coffee bean is brought in, a process starts in which aroma and taste are lost. The coffee bean increases in size by about 20 percent during roasting due to the absorption of carbon dioxide, which slowly disappears in the following two weeks. This also removes some of the taste.

Storing coffee in a special bag

If you bought the coffee beans in a bag with a valve and foil inside, you're in the right place. You can just sit the coffee in here. The valve is intended to allow the carbon dioxide to escape so that the bag does not inflate like a balloon. So it is not intended to be able to smell the coffee. Of course, the valve also ensures that no oxygen can enter the bag. Leave the coffee beans in the closed bag for as long as possible until you need them. In this case, you can even store the coffee beans for 6 to 9 months. In the meantime, you will have used the coffee for a long time.

Storing coffee beans in a storage container

If you bought the coffee in different packaging, for example, a cardboard pack or bag from the supermarket, put it in an airtight, clean, and non-transparent storage container. Coffee contains oils that come into contact with the storage can and can start to smell a bit rancid over time. Your storage canister can take over that smell. The advantage of the foil bag mentioned above is that you only use it once.

If you want to take it seriously, take this vacuum box with which you can vacuum store your coffee beans after each use. You can, of course, also put a small number of coffee beans in a regular storage can and the remainder from the bag in a vacuum box.

Freezing coffee beans

A popular way to store coffee beans is to freeze them. But be careful because the coffee beans can easily absorb moisture and odors. As a result, your coffee suddenly tastes like the pizza lying next to it in the freezer. Freezing coffee beans can slow down the process of flavor loss, so use a vacuum machine if you want to keep them in the freezer. This way, they are packed airtight, and no other odors can get in. You can buy a vacuum device for around €100.

Freezing coffee beans does not improve the coffee taste. You can do more critical things to get the best flavor, such as grinding your beans fresh and using the proper water temperature (90-95 degrees Celsius).

Some final tips: do not store your coffee beans in direct sunlight, but rather in a dry, dark, and cool place. And don't be afraid to leave the coffee beans in the bag you bought them in.