Getting started in the world of coffee: Preserving coffee

published on September 19, 2024 — by Marc-Alexandre Emond-Boisjoly — 10 mins of reading —


You've just received your precious bag of 94 Celcius coffee and you've got a lot of questions?

Our "Getting started in the world of coffee" series is here to help you take your first steps into the world of specialty coffee. We'll be covering topics such as storage,extraction and the basics of roasting, among others.

Welcome, and please don't hesitate to ask us your questions!

Coffee beans are a must-have for lovers of quality coffee. Whether you're an expert or just an enthusiast, choosing the best coffee beans can greatly enhance your taste experience. However, to take full advantage of all its aromas, it's essential to know how to store coffee properly.

In this article, we take a look at different ways to preserve your coffee so that it stays fresh and tasty for as long as possible.

Why Coffee Storage is Crucial

If you're not a big coffee drinker (for example, your bag of beans isn't finished in two weeks), if you like to vary the pleasures by alternating between different types of coffee (with 3 or 4 bags open at the same time), or if you occasionally enjoy a decaf (leaving your bag open for more than two months), it's important to store your coffee beans properly.

Coffee beans are sensitive to several factors: air, light, heat and humidity. Without proper storage, your precious beans risk losing their unique aromas, altering the intensity and quality of your beverage.

Sac et grain de café

Although coffee is a dry product, it is extremely sensitive to its environment. To preserve its aromas and freshness, it is crucial to protect from air, heat, light and especially humidity. These elements can quickly alter the quality of your coffee, causing it to lose its unique flavor and intensity.

The air is one of coffee's main enemies. As soon as your beans are exposed to oxygen, they begin to oxidize, leading to a gradual degradation of their aromas. That's why it's important to use a hermetically sealed container, ideally vacuum-packed, to limit exposure to air.

Visit heat also accelerates the loss of freshness. We therefore recommend storing your coffee in a cool place, away from heat sources such as ovens, stoves or direct sunlight.

As for the lightDirect light, particularly direct light, can rapidly degrade the quality of your grains by affecting their organic compounds, thus deteriorating their aromas.

But above all humidity which poses the greatest threat. Even well-packaged coffee can absorb ambient humidity, which can alter the texture of the beans and create an environment conducive to mold. For this reason, we strongly advise against storing coffee in the refrigerator. Constant variations in temperature and humidity in the fridge can lead to condensation inside the bag or container, degrading the quality of your coffee.

At room temperature

As mentioned above, coffee should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from light. It's best to leave it in its original bag, fitted with a one-way valve, until it's opened. Once opened, the bag will continue to protect the coffee, but it should be consumed relatively quickly, within 2 to 3 weeks.

If you have a large volume of coffee (for example, a 5 lb bag of your favorite brew), it's best to transfer it into an opaque, airtight container, ideally vacuum-packed. Many such containers exist today, with the option of "pumping out the air" to evacuate it. Don't forget to pump regularly, especially if you don't use your coffee every day.

Metal, ceramic or glass containers are preferable, as they are more efficient and easier to clean. Some of you may be tempted to use Mason jars. However, although these jars are made of glass, it's impossible to evacuate air from them, which could accelerate the degradation of your coffee.

Then place your coffee in a cupboard away from a source of heat (the cupboard where you keep your favorite cups will do just fine). These room-temperature storage tips apply equally well to coffee beans than ground coffeealthough the latter has a shorter shelf life.

Café frais bien conservé

Coffee storage in the freezer

Freezing the coffee beans is a method that is still debated, but increasingly studied. When properly carried out, ensuring that the coffee does not come into contact with the air and does not undergo major temperature variations, this technique can prove effective and is widely used by coffee lovers. However, the tips we're about to share only concern coffee beans, not ground coffee.

Just as when storing foods such as chicken or vegetables, placing coffee in the freezer slows down aging and preserves the richness of its aromas. Here are a few tips for freeze your coffee optimally:

  1. Use an airtight container Whether it's a freezer bag or a vacuum container, it's essential to remove as much air as possible to preserve aromas and avoid oxidation.
  2. Freeze coffee between 7 and 14 days after roasting. This is when your coffee will be at its best. This period takes into account the natural degassing process of coffee after roasting (see our article on the coffee degassing).
  3. Avoid temperature variations Place your coffee away from the freezer door to limit temperature changes with each opening.
  4. Divide into portions Portion your coffee before freezing. This avoids thawing and refreezing your entire stock, which can affect the quality of the remaining beans.
  5. No need to defrost before grinding You can grind your coffee directly from frozen. This can even give you a more even, homogeneous grind.
  6. Freeze the whole bag if still sealed If you have an unopened bag, simply place it in a freezer bag, evacuating as much as possible. This will protect the coffee from freezer odours and humidity.

By following these tips, you'll prolong the freshness of your beans while preserving their original aromas.

To find out more, read these articles:
Freezing coffee: the best method
Freezing coffee

Conclusion

Whether you're an avid coffee drinker or an occasional one, the most important thing is to store your grains well to savor every last bean. The key is to protect them from light, heat, air and humidity.

Ideally, leave your beans in their original bag as long as they are unopened (at room temperature if you plan to consume them within a month of roasting, or in the freezer for longer storage). Once the bag has been opened, transfer your beans to an airtight, sealed container, taking care to remove as much air as possible.

Finally, depending on your consumption pattern, you can store your specialty coffee at room temperature or in the freezer. These methods will preserve the freshness and aroma of your beans.

Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or need further advice!

Tags: Café de spécialité Découverte
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