HOW TO PRESERVE COFFEE BEANS

If you're spending $20 on a beautiful bag of beans, you should at the very least be able to store them. When properly stored, better beans result in better-tasting coffee, and you want that, don't you? Find out how long your coffee beans will keep if freezing them is ever a smart idea, and what to do with them if their flavor starts to fade.

YOU CAN STILL BE FRIENDS WITH THE FREEZER

Stable weather is preferred by coffee. There is a growing trend among people to question the wisdom of freezing coffee. In particular, putting ground coffee in the freezer slows down the aging process since it degasses when kept at a consistent temperature, away from sunlight, and in its original container.

If you do freeze your coffee, avoid thawing it. The coffee ages because moisture is produced when the beans are allowed to warm up before being placed back in the ice box.

AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER SHOULD BE USED

According to the National Coffee Association (NCA), air, moisture, heat, and light are the main enemies of coffee beans since they each change the bean's flavor and aroma in unique ways. The NCA suggests putting your beans in an airtight, opaque container that doesn't let much light through to protect them from these elements. The NCA advises picking a position in your kitchen, pantry, or counter that isn't too close to an oven or likely to receive direct sunlight, even if the room temperature is optimum for coffee beans.

The best solution is to get a specialized airtight coffee container because the packaging that your coffee beans are received in is not the best choice for long-term storage. This should keep whole coffee beans fresh for up to nine months, but no longer as the quality degrades over time.

ONLY INVEST IN SOMETHING YOU INTEND TO USE

Whether you choose to drink an espresso after dinner or a full carafe of French pressed coffee every morning, the best cup of coffee is one that is made with freshly ground beans. Instead of hoarding coffee for the entire year, just buy what you'll need for the next few weeks.

STORE IN TINY PORTIONS

By making smaller purchases, you'll always be able to enjoy the freshest, most flavorful cup.

USE A NON-REACTIVE CONTAINER

Make sure to freeze your beans in small, sealed batches if you absolutely must. If a large container is opened and shut more frequently, your beans will be exposed to more environmental factors. The protection of your unused beans will be improved by storing them in lesser quantities.

BUY UNROASTED BEANS

As soon as beans are roasted, their freshness starts to progressively deteriorate. So long as you have the skills to roast them yourself, unroasted beans can be kept for an endless amount of time.

However, not everyone appreciates the process of roasting coffee beans.

BEANS SHOULD NEVER BE KEPT IN A GRINDER

As an alternative, you might consider leaving the beans in the grinder. It may seem fairly convenient if you keep coffee at home. But is it a wise plan? But the answer to this is that it isn't. To begin with, the majority of grinders aren't completely airtight. Second, this can cause coffee oils to accumulate inside the grinder, endangering the grinding mechanism over time. If you're still not persuaded, you could want to think about the possibility that you might occasionally feel like experimenting with a different bean.

The takeaway is simple: it's best to use your grinder just for grinding.