Have you ever wondered how to store green coffee beans to maintain their freshness and quality? After all, the journey from the farm to your roastery is just the beginning. It’s up to you to ensure that the unroasted coffee remains in optimal condition until it’s time to roast. In this article, we’ll provide you with valuable insights and tips on how to store green coffee beans effectively.
Green Coffee Bean Storage Overview
Before we dive into the details, let’s go over the essential factors to consider when storing green coffee beans: packaging, temperature, moisture, light, containers, and time. These elements play a crucial role in preserving the quality of your green coffee.
Close or reseal the food-grade liners and GO green bag between roasts. Store your green coffee beans in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Keep them off the ground and use racks, shelves, or pallets for storage. Additionally, ensure that your green coffee beans are stored away from strong odors, areas with high humidity, and any source of moisture.
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Does Packaging Matter?
Absolutely! Traditional coffee packaging, such as jute bags, exposes coffee to extreme moisture, light, and heat. At Genuine Origin, we take a different approach. Each box of our green coffee beans comes encased in a food-grade bag, such as GrainPro, Ecotact, or our proprietary food-grade packs. Our GO green polypropylene bags are strong and weather-resistant, providing an additional layer of protection. Even our green coffee samples are stored in standardized food-grade bags.
How Long Can Green Coffee Beans Be Stored?
On average, green coffee beans can stay fresh for about 12 months in the proper storage conditions. Airtight or multi-layer packaging can extend their shelf life even further. However, it’s important to note that green coffee may have been harvested and processed a few months before it reaches your hands. To determine the age of your green coffee, you can refer to a harvest calendar by origin.
What is the Ideal Temperature for Storing Green Coffee?
Temperature management is crucial for controlling humidity levels. It’s best to store green coffee beans at room temperature, ideally between 68-77ºF or 20-25ºC. Sealed airtight packaging can offer additional protection against varying temperatures.
What is the Ideal Moisture for Storing Green Coffee Beans?
Green coffee beans typically have a moisture content of around 11% when they reach the roaster. However, the environment in which they are stored can affect this moisture level. To prevent mold or loss of flavor, it’s essential to maintain a stable humidity level of around 11-12.5%. Stacking green coffee on pallets also helps prevent moisture absorption from concrete floors.
Will Light Degrade My Unroasted Coffee?
Exposure to light can degrade the quality of green coffee beans. To avoid any loss of flavor and aroma, store your green coffee beans away from direct sunlight. Remember that the coffee has already been dried under sunlight at origin.
Alternative Containers for Green Coffee Bean Storage
If you’re considering alternative storage options for opened bags, there are a few container concepts to keep your green coffee fresh. Airtight containers, vacuum-sealed containers, and Airscape® containers are all effective in maintaining the quality of your green coffee beans. Just ensure that the containers are opaque to prevent light exposure.
Summing it All Up
To summarize, proper storage is essential for preserving the freshness and quality of green coffee beans. Store them in a cool, dark, and odor-free place, close the bags between roasts, and use appropriate containers to minimize any degradation. If you want a hassle-free solution, you can rely on Genuine Origin’s specialty green coffee beans, which are carefully stored in our food-grade warehouses. Visit our website today and discover a wide range of high-quality green coffee beans to kickstart your roasting journey.