The Importance of Storing Coffee Beans - PLUS Why You Should Buy Fresh & Buy Frequently

Some of the most common questions we get asked by customers here at Crema: how should you be storing coffee beans? How long do coffee beans last? These are really important questions to ask to make sure your coffee is as fresh and delicious as possible.

 

 

Buy Fresh Coffee Beans Frequently

'Buy fresh, buy frequently' seems obvious, but the life of roasted coffee beans is often surprising for those who are not in the industry. The life of roasted coffee beans is approximately 6 weeks in length, however, if you do drink coffee made with beans older than 6 weeks you won't get sick, but it will taste unpleasant.

It is best to let the beans rest for the first 7 days after roasting as they are rapidly degasing (releasing a lot of CO2 gases), which can make brewing inconsistent. Because of this initial degasing period, we recommend that you buy beans between 7-14 days AFTER the ROAST DATE and to use your coffee beans within the next 4-5 WEEKS.

To assist our customers with knowing when to buy and replace their beans, our coffee bags now have both a ROAST DATE and a BEST BEFORE DATE. You should select the quantity of coffee beans you purchase based on how much coffee you can drink within a 2-4 week period. You will also need to store your beans correctly to keep them fresh and flavourful for as long as possible.

PLEASE NOTE: If you choose to get your beans ground when you purchase them, the flavour will deteriorate quite quickly. The life of coffee is significantly reduced once ground and should be used within the first week, maximum two weeks, after purchase.

Why is Coffee Bean Storage Important?

Correct storage of coffee beans is the first thing you want to get right for a great tasting espresso shot because how you store your coffee beans will affect the freshness of your beans and the flavour of your coffee. Many people think storing it in the fridge or freezer will make you beans last longer, this is actually one of the worst things you can do to your beans.

PLEASE DON'T DO THIS. EVER. WE BEG YOU.

Once coffee beans have been roasted they become hygroscopic, as their moisture content is down around 3%. As the moisture seeps into the coffee beans, the beans begin to lose integrity and become stale much quicker, affecting the extraction of your espresso and the flavour of the shot.

TO STORE COFFEE CORRECTLY: you will need an airtight container and keep it in a cool, dry and dark place - your cupboard or pantry should be perfect for this. We highly recommend purchasing a Friis containers or Airscape container, both of which are specifically designed for keeping coffee beans fresh. This is especially important if you purchase ground coffee.

Four Key Factors That Age Coffee Beans

-MOISTURE - coffee beans, whether roasted or green, are hygroscopic, which means that they will absorb moisture from the air or anything else around them. Most of the flavours and the caffeine in roasted coffee are soluble in water, so exposure to moisture will degrade the quality of your espresso.

-SUNLIGHT - UV light is a mutagen which affects coffee and other foods by causing the breakdown of chemical compounds.

-HEAT - Temperatures above 25 degrees will speed up the ageing process of coffee, bringing the oils to the surface quicker and escalates the release rate of carbon dioxide. 

-OXYGEN - air exposure causes the coffee to oxidize and, due to its high oil content, will quickly lose flavour.

 

 

Overexposure to any of the above factors will age your beans very quickly, fast-tracking the staling process as CO2 escapes and the bean oils dissipate. It's these oils, but also the CO2, that you want to extract from the beans to make beautifully crafted crema-topped espresso.

Over approximately 4-6 weeks after being roasted, the naturally occurring oils within the beans will migrate to the surface and the beans will also darken in colour. While this is OK to a point, exposure to atmosphere in this state will spoil the coffee very quickly. It will also eventually lose large amounts of CO2, which is required to create a crema when you make a coffee. The crema is a copper coloured emulsification of oils and CO2, which should appear thick and tightly packed on top of an espresso shot. If there is no crema then your beans are definitely too old!

 

Summary of Storage Tips for Coffee Beans

1. Store coffee beans in a cool, dry place. Coffee should be stored in an airtight container away from heat and direct sunlight, so a cool pantry is the perfect place.
2. Use your coffee beans within 4-6 weeks after the day they have been roasted.  Or within the first 2 weeks if you purchase ground coffee. 
3. Buy small quantities regularly. Purchase what you would use in 2-4 weeks to ensure your beans are fresh and you are producing flavourful coffee.
4. Top up your hopper regularly. Most hoppers on grinders are not airtight, so keep your beans stored correctly and top up your hopper each day.

Products for Coffee Storage