When you know how to store coffee beans at home correctly, you’ll increase your chances of fresher coffee for longer.
Here’s what you need to know.
Some links found in this post are affiliate links, meaning we may receive a commission if you decide to make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
No matter which coffee brewing method you choose, you want your coffee to smell and taste good.
Not only can storing coffee properly help preserve its freshness, but it will also extend its shelf life significantly.
How Long Do Coffee Beans Last?
Roasted coffee beans last approximately two weeks.
After two weeks, the aromas and flavors start to diminish and lose their freshness. The best time to enjoy your fresh roasted coffee beans is three to fourteen days after the roast date.
Get all your questions about how long coffee beans last answered here.
Why Should You Store Coffee Beans Properly?
How you store your coffee beans is one of the most important factors for making a delicious cup of coffee, keeping its taste and richness intact.
Coffee beans will last for months or years if you store them the right way. Knowing the right way can extend the life of the coffee beans and can help save time and money in the long run.
The Enemies of Coffee Beans
After coffee beans are roasted, they start beginning to lose their freshness. The five greatest enemies of coffee beans are:
1. Oxygen
Oxygen is the biggest enemy of coffee beans’ freshness. Oxygen will oxidize the coffee beans and cause them to lose their flavor.
Oxidation is the process of oxygen pulling away electron density from another molecule. The molecule that loses an electron becomes unstable and further causes coffee staling.
2. Heat
The temperature that you store the beans in effects the flavor of your coffee.
Coffee beans don’t like heat. The hotter the storage environment, the quicker molecules move and break apart, promoting bacteria to grow and multiply.
So you should keep coffee beans away from heat until you’re ready to brew.
3. Light
Light causes coffee beans to go stale.
Excessive light exposure will break down the organic structure and accelerate both oxidation and flavor loss.
4. Moisture
Moisture is another enemy of coffee beans because it can cause coffee beans to deteriorate pretty quickly.
The combination of moisture and heat will allow mold to form. It’ll also speed up the decay of the coffee beans’ chemical structure.
5. Extended time
The coffee beans’ peak of freshness will vary from bean to bean, but anything beyond the prime timeframe is when coffee beans lose their flavor and value.
You can still safely consume coffee beans even if they pass their peak flavor performance, but they just won’t taste as good as they did right after roasting.
How to Store Coffee Beans
Coffee beans don’t exactly have a fixed expiration date, but they definitely don’t stay fresh forever.
To keep your coffee beans as fresh as possible and for as long as possible, follow these methods for storing coffee beans to maximize their freshness and flavor.
1. Store coffee beans in an airtight container
To preserve your coffee beans, store them in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature.
It is always a good idea to transfer an opened bag of coffee beans to another container as soon as possible. Reducing contact with oxygen is an easy way to keep your coffee beans fresh and prevent them from staling.
Ready to purchase a container for your coffee beans? Check out the Coffee Gator Stainless Steel Coffee Container – it’s available in multiple colors, comes with a measuring scoop, and most importantly, is airtight.
2. Stay away from heat
Avoid storing your coffee beans in warm spots around your kitchen, like next to the stove, above refrigerator, microwave, oven, heater, in direct sunlight, or near any heat source.
Doing this will decelerate any chemical reactions that may occur due to the heat.
3. Keep away from light
Always choose a cool, dry, and dark place to store coffee beans, such as in a pantry closet or cabinet.
Direct sunlight has the most notable effect on coffee beans, so it is best to avoid it.
4. Avoid moisture
Excessive moisture will speed up the deterioration process. Do not store coffee beans in the refrigerator, as the coffee beans will absorb the moisture and encourage bacterial growth.
5. Check the date
Freshness is generally agreed upon by the roast date.
Check the roast date, if there is one. Try to aim for beans between three to fourteen days of roasting. If there is only a label with a Best Before date, buy the one that stretches the longest.
Always buy fewer coffee beans at a time, but buy them more frequently and consume them quickly for maximum freshness.
