Great coffee roasters all know that making great coffee is the most important part of running a successful coffee shop. It begins with high-quality beans and continues with a good roasting system and a good brewing system. However, the quality controls that lead to cup-after-cup of delicious coffee begins before roasting. This is where proper storage practices of your green coffee beans come into play. From harvesting to brewing, how your coffee beans are stored will determine how your customers experience your coffee. Since the rise of coffee shops in the US in the 1990s, people have learned more about how to store coffee beans.
As a home coffee roaster, you know that starting with high quality green coffee beans is essential for making great tasting roasted coffee. But to get the best results from your beans, proper storage before roasting is crucial. Green coffee has a limited shelf life and is sensitive to factors like air, light, temperature and moisture.
Storing green coffee properly ensures your beans stay fresh longer, retaining more of their inherent aromas and flavors. Follow these pro tips to store green coffee beans at home like a professional.
Why Green Coffee Storage Matters
Green coffee beans are essentially raw agricultural products that gradually deteriorate over time after being harvested processed and dried. Without proper storage conditions the beans will
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Lose aromatic compounds, resulting in flat, dull tasting coffee
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Oxidize and develop stale flavors
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Lose moisture content and become brittle
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Absorb odors from the surroundings that transfer to the roasted coffee
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Grow mold and bacteria if too moist
To prevent these outcomes and maintain your green coffee’s quality, you need to control the storage environment. Here are some key factors to manage:
Temperature
Store green coffee beans at cool room temperatures between 60°F and 75°F (15°C – 24°C). Warmer temperatures accelerate staling reactions.
Air Exposure
Oxygen reacts with compounds in the beans, causing them to go stale faster. Minimize air exposure.
Light
Light causes beans to rapidly lose aromatics. Keep them in dark, opaque containers.
Humidity
Ideal humidity is around 60%. Too much moisture causes mold; too little makes beans brittle.
Best Storage Containers for Green Coffee Beans
Here are some suitable storage containers to use at home:
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Ceramic jars – Airtight ceramic canisters are ideal for storing green coffee beans. Look for opaque containers to block light.
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Mason jars – Wide mouth quart or half-gallon mason jars work well for smaller batches. Use opaque jars.
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Vacuum canisters – Small vacuum canisters remove oxygen and preserve freshness.
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Mylar bags – Mylar foil bags provide an oxygen barrier. Seal with a zipper or valve.
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Metal coffee caddies – Vintage style metal caddies keep light and air out.
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High barrier plastic bags – Specialty bags designed for coffee help maintain moisture levels.
Tips for Storing Green Coffee Beans at Home
Follow these tips to store your green coffee supply:
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Keep beans in a cool, dark kitchen cabinet around 65°F away from appliances.
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Only open the original bag when ready to transfer beans into storage containers.
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Fill containers full and minimize excess air space.
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Consider small (1/2 lb) batches to limit air exposure when opening.
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For vacuum sealing, wait to seal the container until you open the original bag.
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Label containers with coffee name and crop year for identification.
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Inspect beans and test aroma/flavor every 2-3 months.
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Ideal home storage time is 8-12 weeks. Use older beans first.
What to Avoid When Storing Green Coffee
Certain storage methods can ruin your precious green coffee beans:
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Sunlight – Never store beans in a bright spot or in clear containers.
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Freezer – Avoid freezing beans due to moisture and aroma absorption risks.
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Fridge – Refrigeration can lead to condensation and mold growth.
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Pantry – The pantry often has big temperature swings; better to use a cabinet.
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Garage or shed – Too hot in summer, too cold in winter. Also risks pests.
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Burlap/jute bags – Allow too much air exposure compared to airtight containers.
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Clear plastic bags – Don’t block light which accelerates staling.
Signs Your Beans Have Gone Bad
Watch for these signs that your green coffee beans have deteriorated:
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Fading aromas, smelling flat rather than vibrant
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Loss of grassy, green bean aroma
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Moldy, musty or fermented smells
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Soft, mushy texture compared to firm and brittle
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Roasting produces little aroma
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Roasted coffee lacks sweetness and acidity
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Brewed coffee tastes flat and dull
When you notice these warning signs, use up any remaining beans quickly before they degrade further. And start fresh with new beans.
Enjoy Storing and Roasting Your Green Coffee
One of the joys of home roasting is starting with high quality green coffee beans brimming with aromatic potential. By storing your beans properly, you can retain much of their inherent freshness and flavor qualities. Follow these tips to store green coffee beans at home like a pro. Your dedication will be rewarded with fresher, more flavorful roasted coffee.
What Are the Different Methods of Storing Green Coffee Beans?
Green coffee beans are porous and hygroscopic. This means they readily absorb and retain moisture. For instance, if you keep your fresh green coffee beans next to garlic, the garlic will smell and taste like the beans.
Most people think of burlap or jute bags full of coffee beans when they think of storing a lot of coffee. Pictures of farmers with stacks of these bags are common. The truth, however, is that storing porous coffee beans in porous bags leads to problems with moisture content. On the other end of the spectrum from permeable woven bags, are plastic bags. The problem with plastic bags is that condensation builds up. So again, there are problems with moisture content. This can lead to faded green beans and reduced aroma and flavor. It can also lead to moldy beans.
Too porous and not porous enough are the two extremes of packaging coffee beans. Fortunately, packaging experts continue to innovate, taking the following vital aspects of coffee bean storage into account:
- Moisture levels
- Temperature levels
- Light levels
- Pests
- Time
- Storage and packaging options
Moisture levels of green coffee beans change as they make their way from harvesting to roasters. When coffee beans are picked but not yet processed, they contain about 50 percent moisture. The moisture level in the raw beans has reached about 11% by the time the farmers pack them up to ship. This is the moisture level recommended by the International Trade Centre. Note: some specialty coffees have different moisture standards.
As you can see, the margin for error from shipping to brewing is very small. When coffee beans are stored in a place with stable humidity (about 200%), roasters can be sure they are making fresh coffee. Higher humidity will result in mold growing on your beans. Lower humidity will result in your beans drying out and losing flavor. Moisture levels are a significant quality control issue.
As air temperature rises, it can retain more water molecules. That is, air that is warmer has more moisture in it, while air that is cooler has less. This leads to the logical conclusion that cool air is better for green bean coffee storage. Many experts suggest storing beans at room temperature. Depending on who you consult, room temperature could mean anywhere between 60 degrees or 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
You’ve probably heard of freezing or refrigerating beans. This is not ideal. The issues of absorbing aromas and flavors arise. Even if you can avoid the aroma and flavor problem, the temperatures are too extreme at 0 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most producers dry their harvested coffee beans under the sun. This is cost effective since it doesn’t require any special equipment. At this stage of the coffee bean’s journey, being under bright light is exactly what they need. This process will take the moisture levels down from about 50 percent to 11 percent. At this point, however, the bean’s days under bright lights should be over. Additional exposure to direct sunlight will dry out the beans, thereby reducing flavor and aroma. Experts recommend storing green coffee beans in a dark place or in an opaque container.
Pests are most likely to get into the old-fashioned burlap and jute bags, especially if the beans aren’t dried as much as they should be. Most pests need moisture to survive, so they are attracted to unroasted coffee beans. A coffee bean’s weight can be reduced by one-third within six months from coffee weevils. Coffee beans can also be infected with insects such as psocids. These insects burrow their way into the coffee bean. Most of the shipments from developing countries are treated and certified as pest-free before shipping. Even if they arrive at a warehouse without stowaways, pests can find their way to the warehouse.
Lengthy storage times can lead to a qualitative and quantitative decline in the beans. The good news is that you can store green coffee up to twelve months without losing important flavor and aroma qualities – as long as you store it in a stable, cool, dark, and pest-free environment. If your coffee beans have come from Central or South America, Indonesia, or India, they will be 3 to 4 months old by the time you get them. If your beans originate in an African country, they can be 8 to 12 months old already by the time you get them. Make sure you factor these timeframes into your storage plans.
Storage And Packaging Options
One reason why burlap or jute bags of coffee beans are popular is that they are cheap and good for the environment. Another point of view is that neither the growers nor the roasters can afford to lose a shipment because of damage from bugs, heat, or humidity. Some companies that make packaging are making containers with many layers of high barrier plastic that help keep the storage area stable. When deciding how to best store your unroasted coffee beans, treat them like any other fresh plant-based food. Light, heat, air, moisture, time, and pests can all change the taste and quality of fresh plants.
How to Store Green (Unroasted) Coffee Beans | Roasted Grounds
FAQ
Do green coffee beans need to be refrigerated?
How do you store fresh green beans for a long time?
Is it okay to freeze green coffee beans?
How to store green coffee beans?
High barrier plastic bags, vacuum sealed containers, airtight containers or glass jars, and cool dark places are recommended storage methods. Permeable woven bags and plastic bags should not be used for bulk storage of green coffee beans. Green coffee beans have a porous structure. This means they both absorb moisture and retain it like a sponge.
How do you store green coffee?
Simply put, the coffee has already been dried out enough at origin, often under direct sunlight, and doesn’t need any more once it arrives at the roastery. Store green coffee beans out of direct sunlight. This will help to avoid loss of flavor and aroma.
How do you store roasted coffee?
Your beans’ greatest enemies are air, moisture, heat, and light. To preserve your beans’ fresh roasted flavor as long as possible, store them in an opaque, air-tight container at room temperature. Coffee beans can be beautiful, but avoid clear canisters which will allow light to compromise the taste of your coffee.
How long do green coffee beans stay fresh?
Green coffee beans can stay fresh (in the proper storage conditions) for about 12 months. This time can be extended even longer with airtight or multi-layer packaging. However, keep in mind that the coffee wasn’t harvested and processed the day before it arrived in your hands.