3 Essential tips for coffee storage -ROAST DATE- (1/3)
ROAST DATE
Tip 1/3
CHECK THE ROAST DATE:
While the production of Specialty Coffee is a lengthy and labour-intensive process, with numerous quality checks in place to maintain the delicate flavours and aromas, it is easy to lose points by simply storing your coffee incorrectly. With different, conflicting storing methods advertised, we would like to provide you with some advice and insight into how and why the best storage option is advised for you.
The ideal situation is to consume coffee within 4 weeks after the roast date since this allows you to fully enjoy your coffee’s full aromas and flavours.
— Why is the roast date so important?
During the roasting process where heat is applied to green coffee beans, a chemical reaction known as “Maillard” takes place. The green coffee beans start to colour brown and the development of coffee aromas and flavours begins alongside the formation of carbon dioxide (CO2). Freshly roasted coffee contains lots of carbon dioxide, which is slowly released by the coffee beans over time, a process called “degassing”. The loss of carbon dioxide results in a loss of flavours and aromas.
The ideal situation is to consume coffee within four weeks after the roast date, since this allows you to enjoy the full flavour of your coffee. After one month, you will notice a significant decrease in coffee flavour. After three months the majority of CO2 gas is evaporated together with the freshness of coffee and this results in a stale-tasting coffee.
You can slow down this process of degassing by storing your coffee in the original coffee bag lined with aluminium and fitted with a valve, or in an airtight container, shielded from light and oxygen. When coffee comes into touch contact with oxygen, CO2 degassing accelerates, and in addition to this, your coffee will develop stale, cardboard/paper-like aromas. Store in a cool or room-temperature environment. Storing coffee in a fridge sounds like a cool idea, but our refrigerators at home store many products, all of which have different scents that your coffee can absorb. The humidity in the fridge is very high, and any moisture that your coffee absorbs also has a negative impact on its flavour and freshness.
— Where can I find the roast date?
In general, the roast date or production date is displayed on the coffee package, together with the best-before date. The official date that is regarded as safe to consume coffee in most countries is one year after roasting. In theory, you could drink coffee that was roasted five years ago, it shouldn’t be a health hazard, it’s simply a brutal assault on your taste buds.
So if you can’t find the roast date, you could count one year back from the “best before date”. Unfortunately, this is an unreliable strategy because not all countries have a precise 1-year-after-production policy for the best-before date, some countries count 18 months or more.
— What if I have coffee older than 3 months after the roast date?
Your coffee is still safe to consume but has lost many of its original, delicate aromas and flavours. When coffee comes in contact with oxygen, it starts to develop old, cardboard/papery flavours. Even if your pack of coffee stays unopened, it still will develop a stale flavour that intensifies over time. It’s a shame that the carefully selected and processed specialty coffee beans just lay in your kitchen to get old and lose flavour. We advise you to buy freshly roasted coffee in small amounts that you can consume in a reasonable period of time.
Do you check the roast date when buying coffee? Let us know in the comment section below ↓↓
