How To Store Green Coffee Beans: Best Methods

What are the Right Storage Conditions for Green Coffee Beans?

Green coffee beans should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place away, whether in small or ultra-large quantities. Further, you want to protect green coffee beans from direct sunlight, heat, other smells, and pests, as they are the biggest enemies of the beans.

Here are the basics of protecting coffee from these elements;

• Sunlight and heat: Protect by storing in a cool, dry, and dark place to prevent moisture build-up. This, in turn, will cause the beans to grow mold.
• Water, moisture, and humidity: Keep in a cool and dry place to prevent water, moisture, or humidity-related damage. Like sunlight and heat, these elements result in mold build-up and microbial activity on the beans.
• Pests and critters: Keep the coffee off the ground. Store in sacks or containers and on the shelves.
• Odors and smells: Store in a neutral-smelling environment. Coffee beans are porous and take up the smell of their surroundings – so imagine storing coffee near fish or onions! This ultimately affects coffee's overall aroma and taste, even when roasted.

Storing Green Coffee Beans

Post-Harvest

After harvest, farmers immediately process green coffee beans to preserve their freshness and longevity. While farmers from various regions employ different processing methods, the purpose remains the same. The purpose of processing coffee beans is to extract a good amount of moisture. This allows the farmer to store the coffee and reach the intended market without damage. 

After all, the supply chain, depending on the origin, can be extended. So, during this time, you want to ensure the coffee is in a suitable condition to prevent damage. After harvest, coffee is processed, milled, and sorted. 

Generally, farmers use burlap or sisal sacks to store raw coffee beans before transportation to cooperatives or customers. But, as expected, the sacks are stored in a cool, dry, and dark place with low humidity and good ventilation.

During Transport and at the Warehouse

Green coffee beans are transported from farmers to the final destination in varying circumstances. Different dealers handle coffee differently. For example, some shippers use high-barrier bags to protect the coffee's chemical, physical, aromatic, and flavor properties.  

Unlike regular bags, you don't have to worry about the coffee losing its authentic, strong smell, color, or original flavor with high-barrier bags. Further, you don't have to worry about pest activity, fungal contamination, or other microbial activities inside the bag. 

These are usually specially crafted bags built with internal liners and made from materials such as polypropylene to guarantee quality. Brands such as the GrainPro specially craft these bags for agricultural commodities to help preserve them during storage and transport. You can find these bags in various larger transport and storage bags, including 15, 25, 30, and 69 kg.

This means that no matter the conditions the coffee travels through, you can rest assured that the consignment will be protected. You don't have to worry about heat, moisture, or humidity. Still, the vehicle used to transport the coffee must also possess the right conditions. During warehouse storage, the coffee consignments are usually stored in similar bags before being sold out to customers, such as roasteries, coffee shops, and even individual customers.

At the Grocery store or Coffee Shop

The green coffee is already transferred into smaller high-barrier bags or resealable vacuumed coffee bags ready for sale or roasting at the grocery shop or coffee shop. As expected, the coffee is stored in opaque, air-tight bags or containers at room temperature to keep it fresh. During this time, the sellers or baristas avoid storing the coffee in clear canisters, direct light, or heat to prevent the coffee from degrading.

At Home

Store green coffee beans in a vacuum-sealed bag, vacuum-sealed container, or airtight container. Ensure the storage bag or container is not susceptible to moisture build-up or air penetration. Further, store the container in a dark, room-temperature cabinet or room.

Doing this allows them to stay fresh for longer. Both raw and roasted coffee beans are porous. So, exposing them to the elements can easily affect their freshness, flavor, aroma, and body.

Top 3 Best Storage Methods for Storing Green Coffee Beans at Home

• Valved bags: Valved bags are excellent for green coffee beans as they prevent air from escaping, which can prematurely degrade them. These bags are even ideal for when you roast the beans.

After all, they allow carbon dioxide to escape from the freshly roasted beans while restricting oxygen entry. These bags are great for day-to-day use as you can get your daily supply of beans and reseal the bag to protect the rest.

• Vacuum-sealed containers or bags: If you are a coffee lover like me, you should invest in a vacuum sealer for bags and containers. My personal favorite is the FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer. In addition to sealing regular bags, this tool can also be used in regular airtight containers.

I usually invest in an ample supply of green beans to brew or roast. To preserve my supply, I use multiple bags to divide the load, vacuum seal, and use the bags individually. The vacuum sealing process effectively removes all the excess air and reduces/eliminates the risks of moisture buildup or pest infestation.

Sure, coffee beans degrade over time, even with the best storage practices. But vacuum sealing significantly prolongs this process. Vacuum sealing can extend the longevity of your green coffee beans for up to a year.

• Airtight containers: airtight containers, particularly opaque ones, are another excellent option. In addition to protecting the coffee from light, they prevent air from escaping or coming in.

How Do I Store Green Coffee Beans?

Store green coffee beans in a vacuum-sealed bag, vacuum-sealed container, or airtight container. Ensure the storage bag or container is not susceptible to moisture build up or air penetration. Further, store the container in a dark, room temperature cabinet or room.

Doing this allows them to stay fresh for longer. Both raw and roasted coffee beans are pretty porous. So, exposing them to the elements can easily affect their freshness, flavor, aroma, and body.

Why Is The Right Green Coffee Bean Storage Method Important?

Proper storage is essential for green coffee beans as it affects their freshness and overall viability. Green coffee beans stay fresh for longer compared to their roasted or ground counterparts. But, to truly extend their longevity, you have to know how to store them properly. 

For one, green coffee beans are pretty porous. This means that they will absorb whatever is in their environment (even bad odors) and will easily retain moisture. Now, when brewed or roasted and brewed, you won’t particularly get the best taste or “smelling” coffee.

A good example is when you store your pre-brewed coffee beans in the freezer compartment with other items, such as seafood, steak, and frozen vegetables. Ultimately, you will end up with coffee beans that have absorbed all these food flavors in the freezer.

Now, when it comes to the storage of your green coffee beans, don’t just pick anything. This is particularly important if you want to keep the coffee for some time as it serves as your daily supply. You can’t just toss it in burlap sacks that serve as short-term storage after harvest or decorative display sacks in cafes for a few beans. This is because burlap sacks are equally porous just like coffee beans.

You need to choose something more dependable, like vacuum-sealed bags or containers. There’s a good explanation for using vacuum-sealed or airtight media. For one, these types of storage options help to counter key factors that affect your coffee's freshness and overall properties. Below, we’ve explained exactly how these factors impact fresh green coffee beans.

Factors To Consider When Storing Coffee Beans

Moisture & Temperature

Moisture builds up within the coffee can easily damage your supply. After all, during harvest green coffee contains an average of 50% water and 11% water after sun drying and packaging (before roasting). During the stages before roasting or brewing, it’s easy for humidity to build up.

So, when stored in an unsuitable manner, green coffee beans can easily develop mold –deeming them inedible. But it’s not only high humidity and moisture you have to worry about. Low moisture and humidity can also drain out all the water from the coffee, losing its flavor along the way.

Higher temperatures will certainly increase humidity around the storage area, allowing for moisture buildup. Ideally, you want to store your green coffee beans at room temperature or cool the room to about (60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit).

Note: Storing the beans in an airtight or vacuum-sealed medium keeps the moisture out.

Oxygen

Always store your coffee beans in an airtight or vacuum-sealed container or bag. This will prevent oxygen from getting in contact with coffee beans. When air comes in contact with beans, it expedites the degrading process, forcing the bean to lose flavor, aroma, and body.

If you invest in a large supply, you want to separate it into multiple bags or containers. Secure seal the load you will use in the future. This means that when you take a few beans every day, the opening and closing of the bag or container won’t degrade the remaining load. After all, the opening and closing process will certainly allow some air to penetrate.

Light

Light also affects the freshness of green coffee. After harvest, green coffee beans are usually sundried for an extended period to get them ready for packaging and distribution. However, any more exposure to light after this can ultimately drain the remaining moisture, flavor, and aroma.

So, when storing the beans at home, keep them away from light.  Ideally, you want to store your beans in an airtight/vacuum-sealed container or bag in a dark place, like your kitchen cabinets. Alternatively, you can place them in an opaque airtight, or sealed container.

Pests

You also have to learn how best to store green coffee beans from mice and other pests. Whether they are insufficiently dried or accumulate moisture from bad storage, your coffee beans can easily become susceptible to pests. This is particularly true for small insects, which thrive in moisture. On the other hand, poor storage in your home can result in infestations from mice and even roaches.

Time

Even with the best storage practices, over time, your coffee can still degrade, losing freshness, aroma, and some of its flavor elements. Generally, green coffee beans can last longer than their roasted or ground counterparts.

In general, you can store green beans for up to a year while roasted should be consumed within 6 to 9 months.  Ground coffee should be consumed within a few weeks. After all, you also have to consider the supply chain of your coffee.

Remember, good coffee comes from different continents, whether South America or Africa. So, you must think of transportation and processing, from harvest to packaging to travel. It can take at least 6 months for coffee harvested from different continents to get to your grocery store shelf!

Top 3 Best Storage Methods for Storing Green Coffee Beans

• Valved bags: Valved bags are excellent for green coffee beans as they prevent air from escaping which can prematurely degrade the beans. These bags are even ideal for when you roast the beans. 

After all, while restricting oxygen entry, they allow for carbon dioxide to escape from the freshly roasted beans. These bags are great for day-to-day use as you can get your daily supply of beans and reseal the bag to protect the rest.

• Vacuum-sealed containers or bags: If you are a coffee lover like me, you should invest in a vacuum sealer for bags and containers. My personal favorite is the FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer. In addition to sealing regular bags, this tool can also be used in regular airtight containers. 

I usually invest in a large supply of green beans to brew or roast. To preserve my supply, I use multiple bags to divide the load, vacuum seal, and use the bags one by one. The vacuum sealing process is effective at removing all the excess air and reduces/eliminates the risks of moisture buildup or pest infestation. 

Sure, coffee beans degrade over time even with the best storage practices. But vacuum sealing significantly prolongs this process. Vacuum sealing can prolong the longevity of your green coffee beans for up to a year.

•   Airtight containers: airtight containers, particularly opaque ones, are another excellent option. In addition to protecting the coffee from light, they prevent air from escaping or coming in.

Tips For Proper Green Coffee Storage

• Store green coffee beans in a cool, dry, and dark place to prolong its lifespan
• Keep coffee beans away from the window or the heat of the kitchen stove
• Store coffee beans away from humid or wet areas (take particular care when you live in a hot to warm climate)
• Avoid storing your coffee on the floor to prevent pest infestation
• Store it in a neutral-smelling environment to prevent absorption of external aromas – whether cleaning products or food items, like garlic or onions

Lastly, never freeze or refrigerate green coffee beans or any type of coffee for that matter. While doing so may seem like an excellent freshness-preserving process, freezing or refrigerating isn’t ideal. For one, the freezer or refrigerator produces extreme temperatures of between 0 and 40 degrees.

At such low temperatures, your beans continue to dry, ultimately, losing their flavors and aroma. In addition to the extreme temperatures, you have to worry about the coffee beans’ porosity. Depending on what you have in the freezer or refrigerator, the beans absorb the flavors. So, if you have fish – prepare to have fish-smelling coffee!