How To Store Coffee Beans At Home

I f you’ve just spent a pretty penny on a premium bag of coffee beans, you’re in for a treat. Fresh coffee beans make the best, freshest cup of coffee- but only if stored right! Below we’ve given you a basic rundown on how to store coffee beans at home, how long they will keep, and whether you should ever consider refrigerating your beans. 

How Long Do Beans Last? 

How long a batch of beans stays fresh depends on many things, including the packaging. If you’ve bought the kind in the papercraft bags with a thin lining, those beans don’t last very long. Typically, they’ll stay fresh for up to a week, after which they begin to taste stale. You should consider transferring your coffee out of the paper bag and into an airtight container instead.

Some companies sell their beans in sealed, one-way valve foil bags to let out the gas but keep air away. Beans stay fresh for much longer in these bags, so you can enjoy fresh-tasting coffee for up to 2 weeks before it loses its flavor. 

The Four No’s 

When storing your beans, there are four things you should always be careful of- light, moisture, heat, and air. Oxygen causes the beans to oxidize rapidly, which results in them losing essential oils, aroma, and much of their flavor. Light, heat, and moisture can accelerate this process, causing the beans to lose their freshness rapidly. To ensure your beans stay fresh for as long as possible, you should keep them as far from light, moisture, heat, and air as possible. 

Storing Your Beans 

It is best to store your beans in a cool, dry place, away from light, air, and excess moisture. Do not keep your jar of beans next to your oven, stove, radiator, or any place where the jar is likely to heat up. Another place to avoid is near windows. Sunlight peeking through your windows can easily make the beans lose their savor. 

The best place to keep your beans is in a clean, dry, airtight container, placed in a dark cupboard away from temperature fluctuations. Using an opaque container is also a good precaution as it prevents excess light from entering. If you’re planning on displaying your beans in the kitchen or on your counter, make sure you use a suitable container to keep them as fresh as possible. 

Should You Ever Freeze Your Beans? 

While most people think freezing coffee beans is a good way to keep them fresh, mentioning this in front of a coffee expert or barista will have them running in the other direction. Most experts very strongly advise people against freezing or even refrigerating coffee beans. 

Freezing your beans causes the coffee to condensate, pushing essential oils to the surface. This makes the beans lose their flavor and aroma and actually causes them to age faster. 

The cell structure of coffee is also soft and porous, meaning it quickly absorbs aromatics. If you keep a half-used, opened bag of beans in the fridge with some garlic or other strong-smelling foods, the coffee will absorb that scent. You certainly don’t want your morning dose of caffeine reeking of last night’s dinner, so try and avoid the fridge as much as you can! 

If you absolutely must store your beans in the freezer, make sure they are in an unopened, sealed bag. Before using, thaw and bring them to room temperature. The beans won’t go completely stale, but it will probably not be your most enjoyable cup. 

Storing Raw Beans 

If you like to roast your own coffee, then storing coffee beans is even easier. Once you’ve gotten your hands on a giant bag of fresh, raw, green beans, you can easily keep them and retain their flavor for up to a year. If you like to experiment with your coffee and control the roasting yourself, buying raw beans is an excellent long-term investment. 

Got Stale Beans? Don’t Throw Them Away! 

Let’s say you stumbled upon this article too late and now have a big bag of stale coffee beans to care for. While most people would be quick to chuck the beans out, you can actually save them for a good old cold brew!

Certain experts recommend repurposing your stale beans for cold brew, as it doesn’t really affect the taste. But for the most part, it’s best to buy your coffee in small batches and drink up as quickly as possible!