Proper Coffee Storage – Coffee Storage Method
If you’re a coffee aficionado, it matters a great deal to you whether or not you’re getting the most out of your caffeine fix. Taste, texture, color, all these things can be affected by a number of variables, and one of the primary influences on your coffee is how it is stored.
You may not realize it when you see a ‘best by’ date on your coffee can, but some kinds of coffee, generally those with less acid content and a more well-balanced flavor, actually improve with age. Some coffee companies sell beans that have been aged for as long as three years, and some specialty producers actually go as far as eight years before they’ll release their stock to the public.
Which is not to say coffee has no ‘point of no return’. It is, after all, an organic product, so eventually storage will become spoilage, which means things such as room temperature, containers, bean varieties and light do matter. The reason some bags of pre-roasted and vacuum-sealed beans might taste a little staler than home-roasted beans is because roasted coffee beans emit carbon dioxide for several days after the roasting process, so they have to be allowed to get a little stale before they can be bagged. So though the vacuum-packed beans might seem to keep the product fresher, that’s not really always the case.
But let’s be honest, if you’ve bought a big can of Maxwell House instant coffee, you can stop reading about here. Mass commercial varieties of coffee, like Nescafe, are intended to be used quickly, with easy access and inexpensive pricing, while the coffee beans you might buy in a sealed bag are intended to bring the maximum possible flavor to your grinder.
Coffee beans should always be stored in a glass, air-tight container to keep air and moisture from affecting the beans. Glass doesn’t retain odors or oils, which makes it perfect for storing multiple types of beans over the jars lifespan. Try to keep the jar away from sunlight as harsh light will reduce freshness.
Many people freeze their coffee beans, and though this can lengthen the life of the beans, the freezing will damage some of the subtle taste in the coffee. Additionally, when the coffee is taken out of the container, it will sweat, which adds moisture to the mix. A good way to store coffee in the freezer if you have to, is to divide it into small portions that can be used over a shorter period of time.
When you’ve brewed your coffee and need to be on the move, some travelers transport their coffee in vacuum-sealed bottles, which can keep a beverage hot for hours. Alternately, a well-insulated mug with a removable top will do.
Leave a Reply