Moisture Content (MC)
Moisture content (MC) measures the total amount of water in green coffee beans. In commercial trading, this value is typically maintained between 10 – 12.5% to prevent the beans from becoming too dry while avoiding excessive weight that increases costs.
Although it does not reflect how “active” the water is like Water activity (aW), moisture content remains a quick measure for coffee professionals to assess the condition of the beans. Maintaining an appropriate moisture level helps prevent irregular weight loss and reduces the risk of deterioration during storage.
However, moisture content alone is not enough to determine whether coffee will retain its flavor over time. Two coffee lots with identical moisture content can lose their flavor differently, so producers need to monitor both moisture content and water activity to ensure the coffee maintains the highest quality.