How Do You Keep Your Whole Bean Coffee?

Conka on 03/08/2021 - 09:03

Greeting hot bean aficionados

I'm new to making coffee at home (that isn't instant!)

I'd like to know how I should keep my whole coffee beans.

I've read of people freezing, in the fridge, in the bag, cool dry area in an air tight container, in a container with a CO2 vent. I'm tempted to do the low price option "cool dry area with airtight container" and see what happens…

First bag is coming from … [40% off Sumatra Blend Coffee Beans: 1kg Bag $30.57, 500g Bag $18.93 + Free Express Post @ Airjo Coffee Roasters] (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/642048)

I have a [DeLonghi La Specialista] (https://www.delonghi.com/en-au/ec9355-bm-la-specialista-pres…)

Each cup is getting better. Slowly but surely!
C.

Food & Grocery Coffee Coffee Beans

Comments

  • Archi on 03/08/2021 - 09:10
    +2

    depends how fast you plan on drinking the coffee..

    average about 12-18 grams per coffee, if you do 2 per day,

    1kg probably get you 30 days.

    i would be placing beans in the hopper or grinder maybe every 2-3 days and keeping the rest in a tightly sealed container in a cool dark place,

  • heyrosered on 03/08/2021 - 09:12
    +3

    When I get a kilo I freeze half, 500g stays fresh for the time it takes me to drink it. When I’m ready for the other half I’ll defrost it in the fridge, and then introduce it to ambient temperature at night. This is so it’s cooler and doesn’t leave (as much, hopefully) condensation on the beans.

    I find the bags are fine to leave them in, they have one way valves so gas can escape without the beans absorbing fridge smells.

  • macrocephalic on 03/08/2021 - 09:19
    +13

    I have two coffees a day, so it takes me a few weeks to get through a 1kg bag. I fill the hopper of the grinder up and put the lid on. The rest of the bag gets the top rolled down with a rubber band on it and put into the cupboard. Don't overthink things.

    I don't consider myself a coffee snob, I buy the single origin Aldi beans and use a cheap grinder and a kmart coffee machine. Even still, I often find that the coffees that I get from cafes are pretty bad, normally bitter so either burnt or over extracted. I think most people focus on the wrong things, do it simple.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 03/08/2021 - 09:19

    Airtight container in fridge

  • Fergy1987 on 03/08/2021 - 09:29
    +1

    I buy smaller bags and keep them in the bag.

  • EightImmortals on 03/08/2021 - 09:33
    +1

    We get the green beans,they keep fresh in their cloth bags in the pantry for a couple of years and we just roast when we need them. For roasted beans, same deal we used to keep them in their cloth bags in the pantry but only buy one bag at a time.

    • Robot16 on 03/08/2021 - 22:42

      How do you roast your green beans? Thanks

      • EightImmortals on 04/08/2021 - 06:35

        With one of these.

        https://kaffelogic.com/home/nano7/overview

        If you just wanted to experiment you can start with a $20 popcorn roaster from Target (make sure to get the Target one though). The Nano 7 however is miles ahead in terms of consistency and taste.

        • aranciata-oz on 04/08/2021 - 09:52
          +1

          For a while I thought I finally have a proper small-footprint roaster option to replace my own Target popcorn roaster (which I've used for the best part of a decade …) - until I realised the price of the Kaffelogic - hats off to our Kiwi cousins for the ingenuity but I'll park my $1400 for now thanks :-)

          • Waltervp on 04/08/2021 - 10:12
            +1

            @aranciata-oz: I kind of cheat. I dark roast one cup of green beans in my popcorn maker in the verandah, and add it to 3 cups of my commercial medium roast beans. Sure boosts the flavour and Crema.

            I just keep my 1 kg bags of commercial toasted vacuum packed beans in a dark cool space, but not in fridge or freezer. Often keep them for 3-4 months without a change of taste that I can perceive. .

            • aranciata-oz on 05/08/2021 - 08:58

              @Waltervp: Interesting you mention that you mix the beans - that’s one reason why I’m happy to save my pennies and keep the popcorn toaster even if the beans are sometimes not roasted consistently - perhaps there will be 10-20% not as roasted as the rest but I’m figuring on balance I won’t be able to taste the difference! Apart from being able to roast larger quantities, one of the advantages of a proper roaster is the consistency.

              Yes I too am not too fussed about the fridge/freezer thing - I just leave my roasted beans (commercial or self roasted) in a one-way-valved coffee zip locked bag on the bench.

          • EightImmortals on 04/08/2021 - 13:20
            +1

            @aranciata-oz: Yeah not cheap. :(

        • Robot16 on 04/08/2021 - 10:58

          Thanks mate

  • skid on 03/08/2021 - 09:36

    Clipped bag in the smallest airtight container in the pantry cupboard. If I could vacuum seal it, I would.

  • mjwills on 03/08/2021 - 09:40

    1/2 to 3/4 in the freezer, in zip lock bags inside https://www.kmart.com.au/product/2l-clip-lid-glass-jar/82446…. The rest in https://alternativebrewing.com.au/products/ankomn-turn-n-sea… .

    When you remove the zip lock bag from the freezer, wait at least 6 hours before opening it for the temperature to stabilise.

  • Ebany on 03/08/2021 - 09:42
    +2

    Depends on how much a person pays for the beans, how fast those beans are used, local heat/humidity, and how pretentious a person is.

    If the beans are expensive then it's good to separate them into re-useable vac-bags and freeze them till grinding is required, if not then a sealed jar in the cupboard is fine. I have a battery-operated vacuum container leftover from my initial dive into coffee, a relic from when I thought cost or style made coffee less of a drug and more of a statement. Now I'm paying $10/kg for my beans I've realised coffee always tasted like a$$ and keeps just as fresh in a tupperware container in the cupboard.

    • Conka on 03/08/2021 - 11:16

      I've realised coffee always tasted like a$$

      Love it!

    • macrocephalic on 03/08/2021 - 14:11

      If you're using coffee purely as a drug then you really should cut down your consumption. I like the taste of coffee, but as a stimulant it does almost nothing for me. A few years back I went off caffeine for a few months and only straight after that did it actually have any effect on me.

      • Quantumcat on 03/08/2021 - 15:27
        +2

        Me too, coffee has no effect on me but I enjoy it. I can have a coffee at 9.30pm and be fast asleep at 10pm

        • Fysh on 04/08/2021 - 07:52
          +1

          Join the club, if coffee is making you feel normal you possibly have adhd .

      • Ebany on 04/08/2021 - 15:01

        People who smoke cigarettes also enjoy the taste, they have a brand which death couldn't separate them from. As a stimulant, a cigarette has no effect on a regular smoker. If a smoker has a few months break and starts up again then it'll have an effect on them.

        Coffee is a drug like any other, respecting that is healthy.

        • macrocephalic on 05/08/2021 - 09:12

          It is a drug, but at normal levels for most people it has no adverse effects that we've found. It's possible it might even be a net positive - but that's pretty debatable.

          My point was that, as a drug its stimulant properties are adjusted for by the body very quickly. If you actually want it to work as a stimulant then you probably should save it for specific times that you need it, otherwise you're just drinking something you don't like every day for no benefit other than avoiding withdrawals.

  • anguscox1 on 03/08/2021 - 10:07
    +1

    I only drink filter coffee from a V60 but I store whole beans in the Fellow Atmos containers.
    They are sorta expensive but they are well worth the money, they create a vacuum by moving the lid of the container and it does make the coffee very fresh whilst still being an easy container to use.
    Look at these or for a cheaper container for a larger volume look at the airspace containers.

  • mskeggs on 03/08/2021 - 10:40

    I usually drink Coles dark roast beans at $12kg.
    They are usually purchased 3 or 4 weeks after roast date (presuming they mark the best before 12 months after roasting).
    They do taste noticeably better on day one that I buy them, than 30 days later when I am getting to the end of the kilo, and I store in a airtight container in a cool, dry place.
    Sometimes I get fancy beans. In that case I prefer to get 500g so I use them quicker.

    I have experimented with freezing whole beans. I didn’t find it made a noticeable difference. Maybe if I had to store for longer than 4 weeks it would be more important.

    If I stored them perfectly, I wouldn’t have the small joy of opening a fresh bag every four weeks!

    • Conka on 03/08/2021 - 11:19
      +1

      If I stored them perfectly, I wouldn’t have the small joy of opening a fresh bag every four weeks!

      Oh yes, small joys are often the most important :)

  • dasher86 on 03/08/2021 - 11:12

    I use a combination for freezing in zip lock one way bags and coffee canister.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0JWuhE8a-w

    • Conka on 03/08/2021 - 11:22

      Thanks! I'll check this out.

  • JTTheMan on 03/08/2021 - 11:36
    +1

    I never buy more than 500g freshly roasted whole beans and brew it within 2 weeks max.
    The 500g is stored inside the grinder hopper which is not ideal but just good enough for 2 weeks.

    I have avoided buying 1kg bags because I think freshness is key to good coffee.
    I have heard freezing might work but haven't tested this theory yet.

  • Conka on 03/08/2021 - 11:58

    Thanks all. Some good things to go check out here. Appreciate the thoughts!

  • darkmoss on 03/08/2021 - 12:43

    Buy small freshly roasted bags. Keep it sealed, only grind the beans as you're using them for each cup.

  • belesci on 03/08/2021 - 12:50
    +1

    I buy 1 kg at a time and use airscape coffee canister. They are great but the 1kg ones are pretty big.

  • admira on 03/08/2021 - 15:06

    Similar to some above, I usually get 1kg and then split it, 500g in the freezer and the other 500g I use. When I'm getting low I take the freezer bit out. The tricky bit is ordering in time for the last bit to run out. I usually freeze it in the bag it comes with, and keep another zip lock back for the 500g I do not freeze.

  • sharkyoz on 03/08/2021 - 15:55
    +1

    I use a kilo in about 8days. I roll bag up, place in resealable bag then into Mum's (R.I.P) old airtight tupperware containers from the 70s.

  • MadeIt on 03/08/2021 - 19:06
    +1

    I bought an Airscape, it will set you back about $50 but really worth it if you’re serious about your coffee and keeping them fresh!
    Been using it now for 1.5years now.

    https://www.coffeeparts.com.au/airscape-medium-classic-coffe…

    • timmypete on 04/08/2021 - 13:55

      I'm also using Airscape containers after dallying with cheaper options in the past. They're spend, but well ahead of most of the other options.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/08/2021 - 19:40

    I keep several 1-2kg bags of different green coffee beans. Then I roast about 300g on the weekend, which lasts our house a week. I have some storage containers seal up well to keep the roasted beans in. I believe it is a 'Frii's coffee vault' or something like that. I only put what I need to grind into the hopper each time and try to avoid leaving beans in the hopper for more than a day.

    • Robot16 on 03/08/2021 - 22:44

      Hi mate, how do you roast your green beans?

      • [Deactivated] on 03/08/2021 - 23:15

        I have a dedicated machine for it, from a company called Behmor I think it is. Only does small batches up to 400g. I find works best with smaller than that. I've burned a few batched, and I've left some way under done but I'm getting pretty good batches now.

        While green beans are a lot cheaper than roasted, most I've bought for around $12 to 16 a kg and I haven't really been hunting for a good price, I dont think I'd recommend getting into it for the savings. More if you find it an interesting hobby.

        • Robot16 on 04/08/2021 - 17:49

          Thanks mate. Definitely keen to undertake it as a hobby.

  • original15 on 03/08/2021 - 20:09

    I bought a special canister with CO2 valve, decided it was better than the vacuum sealed ones (tbh can’t pinpoint why this decision was made but spent ages reviewing webpages which are always factual right)
    We go through 1kg every 12 or so days so never needs to wait long, have figured we are also spending a fortune on our fav beans so endeavoring you find dark cheaper alternatives

    Freezer is common but also read some things suggesting it’s terrible for the coffee, but plenty seem to master it with no issue based on the above

  • bobwokeup on 03/08/2021 - 20:37

    You should have added a poll.

    I fill the machine up and then put the rest of the 1kg bag in a container in the freezer to keep the beans fresh. We have 4-5 coffees a day.

  • mitch01 on 03/08/2021 - 21:25
    +2

    Fridge and freezer is terrible for the beans. I'm surprised how many people still don't know this. Look up James Hoffman if you want some solid evidence backed coffee advice. His YouTube channel is great.

    • mjwills on 04/08/2021 - 10:22
      +1

      Fridge - yes. Freezer - well there is considerable disagreement there.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uT5_IWWb00&ab_channel=James…

    • AncientWisdom on 04/08/2021 - 16:24
      -1

      I'm surprised you still don't know that ^^

    • xylarr on 04/08/2021 - 16:53

      We do 3-4 flat whites a day - 20g coffee > 40g shot split into two 150ml cups. Sometimes do iced latte - just coffe and cold milk - add icecream is being naughty.

      I break a 1kg pack into three and vacuum seal them. I then put them in the freezer.
      To defrost, I take the bag out of the freezer, but don't open it, let it come up to room temperature before putting it in the hopper. My thinking is that the reason people are against freezing is that the cold beans can attract moisture and that's not so good. But by bringing them up to room temperature before exposing them to the air, I prevent this.

      Overall, it seems to be working for me.

      Edit: so now that I've watched James's video - yeah - what he says. And I need to rethink my environmental credentials….

      Edit 2: And I try to get fresh beans. Usually I buy Campos, and if you buy from their main stores, they will generally have been roasted less than a week prior.

  • bamzero on 04/08/2021 - 11:29

    I keep them closed up in the bag they came in, in the cool dark space of the cupboard under the coffee machine. Just putting a bit into the hopper every couple of days.
    They've probably spent more time in transport and on the shelf in that bag than they do sitting around my place so I don't think putting them in the fridge or special containers is going to make much difference for the last 2 or 3 weeks of their life they spend here (we're not spending top $$ on beans, $12/kg.)

  • EdieJ111 on 04/08/2021 - 21:17

    I keep in the vege section of the fridge. Used to keep in the freezer but coffee tastes better when not ground from frozen.

    Have you done a barista course? Worth it when making coffee at home.

  • Logical on 04/08/2021 - 21:59

    in the original bag in the cupboard

  • Nebargains on 05/08/2021 - 07:50
    +1

    For years I just kept them in the bag they came in (I usually buy 250g to 500g at a time) if they are bags that can be resealed. I changed to one of the canisters mentioned above about 6 months ago and frankly I don't think it makes any difference other than being a bit neater. I'd typically be using beans 10 to 15 days after roasting and will have consumed them within about 10-15 days.

  • jaimex2 on 05/08/2021 - 08:03

    I just keep them in the bag in the cup board.

    Fill the hopper with 3 days worth and roll the bag up, locking it with a peg.

  • ddhar on 05/08/2021 - 09:24

    In the original packaging or an airtight container. Don't leave the beans out in the air to oxidise. No freezing.

    I use 250G bags and consume it within 5 days of opening (and approximately 1-3 weeks away from roasting).

  • grr1701 on 05/08/2021 - 09:37

    A vacuum coffee canister. Just have to replace the batteries once or twice per year. Works brilliantly (for the past 5 years).

  • brayhouse on 05/08/2021 - 10:34

    We have this vacuum seal coffee canister from Fellow:
    https://fellowproducts.com/products/atmos-vacuum-canister

    Twist the lid to suck the air out, press button on top to release vacuum. To be honest we mainly bought it because the matte black finish matches our Fellow teapot and black microwave, but it definitely stores the coffee well too.

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