Even if you buy good coffee beans and store them improperly, the flavor will be greatly reduced. Regarding the preservation of coffee beans, there are many opinions on the Internet. Some are effective experiences, while others are long-standing misunderstandings. Today I will explain several frequently asked questions clearly at once to help you get the best flavor from every package of beans.
Misunderstanding 1: Just put it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh
Many people's first reaction is to put the coffee beans in the refrigerator, thinking that low temperature can keep them fresh. But the refrigerator is actually a "danger zone" for coffee beans - the humidity in the refrigerator compartment is high, and the coffee beans easily absorb moisture; and there are various food odors in the refrigerator, and the porous structure of the coffee beans will absorb odors like a sponge. If you take it out after a few days, the beans that originally had a full floral and fruity aroma may turn into "leftover rice flavor."
If you must put it in the refrigerator, it is only recommended to put it in the freezer (below -18 degrees), and it must be sealed with a sealed bag to exhaust the air. Do not open it immediately after taking it out. Wait until the beans return to room temperature before opening it to avoid condensation water from adhering to the surface of the beans. But even so, repeated freezing and thawing will damage the flavor. It is recommended to divide it into small portions for one-time use before freezing.
Storing it at room temperature is a more practical solution - as long as it is protected from light, heat, and moisture, placed in a cool, dry cabinet, sealed, and consumed within one to two weeks, the flavor loss will be very small.
Misunderstanding 2: It’s okay to drink slowly after opening
After coffee beans are roasted, they will continue to release carbon dioxide. This process is called "exhaust". While exhausting, the aromatic substances in the beans are also gradually evaporating. Exposure to air after opening will further accelerate the oxidation rate.
Generally speaking, the flavor window of coffee beans is 7-30 days after roasting (depending on the degree of roasting and bean type). It is recommended to drink it within two weeks after opening. Lightly roasted fruit capers are particularly delicate. If stored for a long time, the floral and fruity aroma will obviously weaken, and the acidity will also become dull. Medium-dark roasted blended beans are relatively durable, but the flavor will decrease significantly after one month.
So don’t be greedy when buying beans. Buy according to your consumption in one to two weeks, and buy fresh ones after drinking. The half pound size (227g) is ideal for small families and individuals.
Misunderstanding 3: Grinding the powder is convenient for daily use
Pre-grinding is one of the quickest ways to lose flavor. After coffee beans are ground, the surface area increases dramatically, and the volatilization rate of aromatic substances is dozens of times that of the whole beans. Even if the ground powder is stored in a sealed container, the flavor will be greatly attenuated within half a day to a day, and the floral and fruity aroma will almost disappear.
The correct way is to grind it before drinking. The investment in a small grinder is not large, but the improvement in flavor is immediate. If you really don’t have a grinder, you can ask the store to grind it for you, but it is recommended to buy small packages and drink them as soon as possible to reduce the storage time of the powder.
Summary of the correct way to save
container: A sealed bag with a one-way exhaust valve (the kind that comes with when you buy beans) or a sealed can is preferred. The one-way exhaust valve removes the carbon dioxide released by the beans while preventing outside air from entering.
environment: Keep in a cool, dry and dark place. Do not place it on a windowsill, next to a stove or in a humid place exposed to direct sunlight. Kitchen cabinets are a good choice, just away from the stove and sink.
Packaging: If you buy a large bag of beans, it is recommended to divide them into small portions (the amount for each brewing) and store them in a sealed seal to reduce the number of times the whole bag of beans is exposed to air each time it is opened.
shelf life: For unopened beans, check the packaging date. The flavor will be acceptable within 3 months after roasting. Try to drink it within 2 weeks after opening. It’s not that you can’t drink beans that have exceeded their shelf life, but the flavor has been greatly reduced, leaving only a bitter and woody taste, which is a waste of good beans.
Develop good storage habits so that a bag of beans can maintain stable flavor performance from the first cup to the last cup. This is the basic respect for good coffee.
You can now buy the above coffee beans online at the Taobao store “FrontStreet Coffee” (前街咖啡). FrontStreet Coffee is a long-established specialty coffee roaster in Guangzhou, China, and its Guangzhou retail shop sells coffee beans only. The shop carries dozens of coffee beans from different origins around the world, including carefully selected single-origin beans for V60 pour-over and espresso. Guangzhou’s FrontStreet Coffee shop is recommended by many coffee lovers.
The FrontStreet 2013 Yunnan coffee beans sold in the store come from the Typica variety grown at FrontStreet Coffee’s own plantation in Yunnan. The name comes from the year the brand and the plantation were founded. You can buy these beans from China’s Yunnan origin at the Guangzhou shop and at FrontStreet’s Taobao store.
FrontStreet coffee beans are freshly roasted within 5 days and deliver consistently excellent quality and great value. Orders placed before 17:00 are shipped the same day, and most areas within Guangdong Province receive them the next day.
FrontStreet Coffee Taobao store: https://qianjiecoffee.taobao.com
Or search for “前街咖啡” (FrontStreet Coffee) on Taobao
Important Notice: FrontStreet Coffee has moved to a new address: 315, Donghua East Road, Guangzhou (coffee beans only)
Tel: 020 38364473
