Freshly roasted coffee lovers value it for the rich flavor and aroma contained within each bean. This raises the question: how to store coffee beans so that their benefits last as long as possible ? Over time and with the negative impact of external factors, coffee loses its most important qualities, so many people seek effective ways to preserve the quality of a given blend. In today's article, we explain what causes beans to lose their qualities, and which storage methods are best, and which should be avoided .

Do coffee beans have an expiration date?

As coffee lovers, we love the pleasant feeling of opening a new bag of coffee beans . The intoxicating aroma emanates, making us automatically head for the coffee machine and reach for our favorite cup. Unfortunately, coffee doesn't age well. As the days pass after the beans are roasted, they slowly lose their valuable properties. Knowing how to store coffee beans is key to enjoying their unique qualities for longer.

Some less experienced coffee bean enthusiasts wonder: does coffee spoil ? The answer can be found on bean packages, which typically list a two-year expiration date. It's important to emphasize, however, that while coffee brewed a year and a half after roasting won't harm us, its flavor and aroma will be far from ideal. To fully enjoy coffee's benefits, it's best to buy small quantities of beans more frequently —this way, you can avoid storing an opened package for longer than a month.

What's the shelf life of coffee that will satisfy us with its flavor and aroma? It's best to choose freshly roasted coffee beans, but it's worth remembering that we can extract the most potential from these beans about two weeks after roasting . As we know, this isn't always possible, so it's worth learning how to properly store coffee to prolong its freshness.

Bean or ground coffee?

Lacking the time to grind coffee beans every time, some coffee lovers opt to do it in advance. Unfortunately, this is a mistake, as ground coffee loses its nutritional value much faster than whole beans . However, if you have no other choice and are wondering how to store ground coffee, place it in a tightly sealed container and store it in a dry, dark place.

What factors can cause your coffee beans to lose quality?

Storing coffee beans, as well as ground coffee, is intended to preserve their flavor and aroma. Coffee is exposed to various factors that reduce its quality. Among the greatest enemies of coffee beans are :

• air – oxygen reacts with the chemical compounds contained in coffee and causes rapid destruction of its taste and aroma,
• moisture – coffee beans stored in a humid environment may become moldy or permeated with foreign aromas, which will cause an undesirable sensory effect,
• sunlight and heat – under the influence of these factors, the taste of coffee is significantly reduced.

If you cannot use up the coffee you buy quickly, you should protect it from each of these factors .

How to store coffee beans?

Knowing the risks that can affect the loss of beans' value, you should consider where and how to store coffee so that it retains its quality for as long as possible .

Original packaging – the best friend of coffee beans

The most important thing is to store coffee in a dry, dark place, protected from moisture and air. It's best to leave the beans in their original packaging . If the package doesn't have a closure, you can secure it with a clasp.

Is storing coffee in a jar a good idea?

Many coffee lovers choose to pour coffee from a bag into a jar. However, this isn't the optimal choice. Why is this? Although a tightly sealed jar of coffee beans looks very aesthetically pleasing, it lacks a valve that would allow the carbon dioxide released from the coffee to escape freely . This process is a natural consequence of roasting coffee and continues for many days after roasting. The packaging in which coffee is sold has special valves that allow the release of excess carbon dioxide while also preventing air from entering the beans.

Can a can act as a coffee container?

Another solution that has gained popularity among coffee lovers is storing beans in a can. However, this also turns out to be worse than leaving them in the packaging . The problem here is not only the lack of the previously mentioned valve, but also the fact that the beans often carry both the smell of aluminum and the aroma of the coffee previously stored in the can.

Can coffee beans be stored in the refrigerator?

The desire to protect yourself from sunlight and high temperatures might make you wonder whether to store your coffee in the refrigerator. However, this isn't a good idea. Although low temperatures delay the metabolic processes occurring in the beans, they also neutralize the essential oils they contain. As a result, the coffee quickly loses its unique flavor and aroma .

However, this isn't the only problem that makes storing coffee in the fridge unwise . The beans are exposed to moisture and the odors of other products. Therefore, instead of delighting you with its incredible flavor and aroma, your favorite coffee may overwhelm you with the odors of cold cuts, fish, or broccoli . So, if you're wondering whether to store your coffee in the fridge, you should abandon the idea as soon as possible.

Summary

Now you know whether coffee beans spoil and how to store them to prevent them from losing their nutritional value. If you want to get the most enjoyment from your beans, you must remember that coffee should be ground immediately before brewing, and coffee should be stored at room temperature, in a dry, dark place, preferably in its original packaging . By following these tips, you will prolong the freshness of your coffee, allowing you to enjoy it longer.

Are you interested in high-quality coffee beans from around the world? Our LaCava coffee roastery offers a variety of coffee bean blends that will surprise you with their rich flavor and aroma . We also offer innovative coffee machines , among other things, that will make it easy to prepare your favorite coffee specialty. We invite you to explore our offerings.

Did you like this article? Check out other articles on our blog , including one that answers the question: how to make coffee at home?