Green coffee beans are coffee beans that are fresh and unroasted. Typically, they have a much longer shelf life than roasted beans.
However, this durability also depends on how you store them. So, how to store green coffee beans long term? Let’s dive into this article to make your green coffee last longer!
We’ll help explain how to store green coffee beans, the factors to consider, and some suitable storage options.
Table of Contents
Does Coffee Beans Expire?
Have you ever wondered if coffee beans can expire? While green coffee beans can remain viable for years if stored properly, roasted coffee beans have a shorter shelf life.
How long do green coffee beans last? Generally, green coffee beans can last up to 6-12 months when stored properly. Even after this period, they can still be consumed, although their flavor and aroma might not be as fresh as when they were first purchased.
Therefore, it’s important to monitor the storage conditions, keeping the beans in a cool, dry, and dark place to preserve their quality. Using them within the recommended time frame ensures you enjoy the best taste and aroma.
Also read: How Long Do Green Coffee Beans Last & How to Properly Store It
Is It Okay to Store Green Coffee Beans in the Fridge?
Storing green coffee beans in the freezer is not ideal. The fluctuating temperatures can affect the beans quality and potentially ruin their flavor.
If you want to store them in the refrigerator, use an airtight container so that your green coffee beans won’t get damp. When you want to use it, let the beans sit for a while to prevent water condensation.
While many argue that storing coffee in the refrigerator will extend its shelf life, we believe the beans will deteriorate faster due to to moisture exposure.
Therefore, it is best to look for other storage places with more stable temperatures and humidity than the refrigerator.
Best Containers to Store Green Coffee Beans
You can use one of the suggested storage containers to keep your green coffee beans fresh.
- Airtight Containers: These containers are specifically designed to be airtight, preventing air and moisture from entering. This helps keep the beans fresh and prevents them from deteriorating, thereby extending their shelf life.
- Mason Jar: Mason jars are a classic glass container, which is an excellent choice as they are airtight and transparent. Make sure to place this container in a dark place.
- Vacuum Bags: Vacuum bags are one of the best coffee bean storage. It can pack them tightly so there will be no air around the coffee beans. Apart from reducing the risk of oxidation, it also keeps them fresh for a long time.
- Stainless Steel Container: This containers often feature airtight lids, which help maintain the durability of your coffee beans by keeping them fresh and preventing the absorption of odors.
- Opaque Containers: Last but not least, opaque containers are excellent for storing coffee beans. These containers prevent light from entering, helping to preserve the flavor and aroma quality of the beans, even over long periods.
How to Store Green Coffee Beans
It’s time to get into the meat of this article: how to store green coffee beans? It’s easy, just follow these effective steps to make your green coffee beans last longer.
1. Choose the Right Storage Container
First of all, store your green coffee beans in the right container. Choose an airtight container such as a glass jar, plastic drum, or vacuum bag.
Choosing an airtight container will protect your green coffee beans from direct exposure to oxygen. It also keeps their natural moisture level stable. Make sure to choose a quality, food-grade container that is clean and free from unpleasant odors.
2. Set the Storage Temperature
We recommend storing your green coffee beans at a temperature of 10 – 24°C. High temperatures can cause the coffee to oxidize, while low temperatures can trigger the condensation process. Both can ruin the natural flavor of stored coffee beans.
In addition to maintaining the right temperature, it’s essential to keep the temperature consistent. This maintains the quality of green coffee beans to provide the best coffee brewing results.
Also read: Can You Reheat Coffee? Here’s What You Need to Know
3. Maintain Humidity
Avoid your green coffee beans from high humidity! In fact, this high humidity will trigger unwanted mold growth. To prevent this, store your coffee beans in a dry place with humidity below 60% and sufficient air ventilation.
You can add silica gel to absorb excess moisture as an optional step. However, you should also avoid putting green coffee beans in an environment that is too dry as it removes the natural moisture content of the coffee beans.
4. Avoid Light Exposure
The next factor that affects the quality of green coffee beans is light. Sunlight, especially UV, can damage the organic compounds in coffee beans. As a result, the flavor and aroma quality will decrease over time.
To prevent this from happening, store your coffee beans in a dark place, such as a closed cupboard. As a substitute, you can also use opaque containers that are opaque to light.
5. Avoid Odor Contamination
Green coffee beans are generally hygroscopic-what does that mean? It means that they quickly absorb odors from the surrounding environment.
Knowing this, avoid storing coffee beans near strong-smelling foods such as spices, onions, and chemicals. This will ensure that the natural aroma of your coffee beans is maintained and the flavor is still optimal when brewed.
6. Choice of Storage Container
Choose a suitable storage container for storing green coffee beans. Avoid using thin plastic bags as they cannot protect them from moisture, light, and air. To store large quantities of coffee beans, use plastic or metal drums that remain airtight.
7. Check Periodically
When it comes to long-term storage, you should check your green coffee beans regularly. Ensure there are no damage signs, such as mold growth, color change, or odor. Regular checks enable you to take quick action before the coffee becomes unfit for consumption.
8. Stock Rotation
How to store green coffee beans in a large amount? It’s easy to use a stock rotation system. With this system, you will use the beans that have been stored the longest first. This ensures you consistently produce fresh coffee and prevent any beans from being neglected for too long.
To make it easier for you to manage this stock, we suggest putting a small note with the storage date on each batch of coffee.
9. Consider a Specialized Storage Environment
The final tip for storing green coffee beans is to consider a specialized storage environment with temperature and humidity control.
This is particularly beneficial if your living environment experiences fluctuating temperatures, providing the best storage space for maintaining the quality of your green coffee beans.
Also read: Is Coffee Halal or Haram: Sorting Fact from Fiction
Keep Your Green Coffee Beans Fresh!
Well, those are some of the steps of how to store green coffee beans. We hope that by following the steps above, you can maintain the quality of your green coffee beans.
In addition to understanding the stages of storing green coffee beans, selecting an appropriate storage container is crucial. This way, you can consistently produce delicious and flavorful coffee drinks whenever you desire!
To get green coffee beans with an authentic taste, visit the FnB Coffee website. Here, you can find a variety of Indonesian coffee varieties with unique and exciting flavors. We have committed ourselves to providing the finest coffees, both Arabica and Robusta.
Visit our website and get a variety of best-selling coffee beans. Savor every sip of your homemade coffee with premium coffee beans from FnB Coffee for an even more special coffee experience!
