How Long Can You Store Unroasted Specialty Coffee Beans?

 

Have you ever thought about how long your unroasted specialty coffee beans can last before they entirely lose their taste and freshness? If you are a coffee roaster at home or a coffee aficionado, the knowledge about the lifetime of green coffee beans is a must in keeping up the high quality. Roasted coffee, on the contrary, starts losing its aroma and oils after just a couple of weeks, so that the lifespan of unroasted beans is much longer, granted that they are stored properly.

●       Unroasted Specialty Coffee Lasts Longer for a Reason

Unroasted coffee beans are basically the same as nature has created them, as they still have the moisture and the layers that protect the inner compounds to a certain extent. Therefore, they are less stable oxidation-wise than the roasted coffee and thus, the roasted coffee is more likely to lose some of its qualities. However, if kept under perfect conditions, the top-notch unroasted specialty coffee beans may last 6 months to 1 year, at times even as much as 2 years, with no or very little loss of the beans’ original flavor.

●       Storage Life Affected by Factors

The storage life of your green coffee is conditional on a number of factors, including temperature, humidity, and air exposure. Beans kept in a wet place can take up water, which may either lead to the formation of mold or to an off-flavor due to spoilage of the beans' properties. Furthermore, high temperatures or sunlight might roast the beans, causing them to lose their pleasantness too fast. Keeping the temperature constant, not exceeding 20°C–25°C, and the humidity low are the two main conditions that support the beans’ unique features.

●       Best Storage Practices

The life of your unroasted beans can be significantly prolonged if you always store them in a suitable environment, i.e., cool, dry, and dark. Airtight natural material containers or bags made of jute or burlap give the same advantage as keeping in a dark and cool spot, in that they let very little air in but are still moisture-proof.

●       When to Know It’s Time to Roast

Unroasted specialty coffee beans have a long shelf life, but they are not immortal. Slowly but surely they may lose their signature aroma, or they might even look faded in color. When the beans feel too dry or they give off the faintest musty smell, it is time to say goodbye; they are no longer good. The best flavor and consistency can be enjoyed if you roast your beans within 8-12 months.

Conclusion

If unroasted specialty coffee beans are stored appropriately, then the beans can last several months before they are no longer good to roast and drink, which means you get to roast and consume them according to your own timetable.

Are you in search of unroasted coffee from the top place? If that is the case, then the Green Coffee Traders are the best place to get the coffee. You can buy the unroasted coffee by visiting greencoffeetraders.com.