How to Store Green Coffee

Coffee beans darken after roasting.

Before brewing coffee, the beans are roasted and then ground. Roasting coffee beans at home was a common task prior to the late 1800's. Grinding coffee beans at home is one way to prepare your own gourmet, freshly ground coffee. Coffee enthusiasts can take it one step farther by purchasing green coffee; raw and unroasted coffee beans. The beans are roasted and ground at home, prior to brewing. Green coffee beans have a longer shelf life than roasted coffee beans, which begin to get stale after a couple of weeks. Green coffee beans last a year or longer.

Things You'll Need

• Burlap bag
• String or twine

Instructions

1. Place the coffee beans in a burlap bag and tie the opening closed with string or twine. Traditionally this is how green coffee beans are stored.

2. Locate a dark area without odors, as foreign odors can adversely affect the green coffee beans.

3. Store the green coffee beans in a location with moderate, stable temperature and humidity conditions. Excessively humid or dry climates can each have an adverse effect on the beans. According to an article in the "Tea & Coffee Trade Journal" by Chris Lee, experts could not agree on the precise recommended humidity and temperature conditions in which to store green coffee. However, one expert suggested 50 to 55 percent humidity and other experts suggested temperature ranges from 40 to 72 degrees Farenheit.

References

• Sweet Maria's: Coffee Glossary
• Sweet Maria's: Green Coffee Storage
• Seven Bridges Cooperative: Organic Home Coffee Roasting