How should I store coffee beans at home?
Store your beans in a cool dry place
In order to maintain maximum freshness of your roasted beans you need to keep the beans away from moisture, light and temperature fluctuations. Whilst the fridge can increase shelf life by slowing the release of gas, coffee is hygroscopic by nature and will always absorb moisture, aromas and flavours from its immediate environment. I don't know about you, but it's not worth the risk of having my coffee tasting like last night's dinner. Keep the coffee beans in the retail bag it's sold in and put the bag in a plastic air-tight container and store it in a cupboard. Avoid storing the coffee beans near the oven as that cupboard will be too warm. And try to avoid that spot on your kitchen bench that gets the afternoon sun. Most domestic grinders now have big hopper that can hold a lot of beans. However, it’s not a good idea to leave beans in the hopper on your bench as they will get stale waiting for your next brew. Some home grinders now have hoppers that when removed contain the beans in an almost airtight chamber. In this case, you can store the the hopper in the cupboard if you're in a hurry. Although, an airtight container is always best.
Roasted beans last longer than you think
Most coffee experts believe you should use your roasted beans as quickly as possible. Many suggest that you should grind on demand and only use beans up to 3 weeks, after which the beans will be too old. But, if you grind on demand, you can serve our espresso coffee up to 5 weeks old. Yes, you heard that right. I've had our coffee tasting great at this age, and if it is stored correctly you can experience how the taste develops over time. Naturally, the coffee will be more nuanced as it ages and less mouthfeel dominant. I would also recommend resting the espresso beans after the roast date to allow a better balance of roast, terroir and alchemy. This is a personal preference, but 4 - 5 days would be prudent. I know you want to start drinking your White Horse Coffee as soon as possible but sometimes it's good to wait.How long do beans for filter roast last?
Regarding our filter roast, I commonly start using it at 1 week old, sometimes 2. We have one batch of coffee that's still amazing at over 2 months old and it makes my Wednesday morning home brewed aeropress with Brian very exciting. I personally can guarantee our filter coffees flavor for at least 1 month. I hope that helps you keep it special. Dom