How to preserve coffee?

Preserve green coffee

Green coffee is unroasted raw coffee. After preliminary processing, packaging, green coffee is sold and transported to roasters. The finished green coffee has a very low moisture content, so it can be stored for a long time without getting moldy or losing its natural flavor.

The preservation of green coffee has quite a lot of high and strict requirements, especially for Specialty coffee.

After harvesting, coffee needs to be strictly preserved

Coffee after harvest will be processed according to one of 3 main methods (wet, dry and semi-wet) to remove the outer skin and mucus layer depending on the requirements and implementation of each method. The green coffee is then dried and stored in specialized bags. Depending on the primary processing unit, coffee will be classified by variety, batch, region or preliminary processing conditions. Temperature, humidity to maintain the freshness, resistance to mold and damage of each type of coffee are also considered and carefully selected. This condition, if possible, should be maintained throughout storage prior to roasting. However, this is very difficult and costly. Because after being sold, green coffee will be transported by many different means and ways. Environmental and temperature conditions during land transport will not be the same as those in water, and are far from the storage conditions during air transport. However, at each stop, the coffee will be inspected by the quality control department (cupping) to review the coffee bean situation.

Preservation of green coffee requires high requirements and strict process

At coffee shops, many units still store green coffee at normal temperature, only set high above the soil to limit mold. This makes the coffee taste not guaranteed. There are also many units that invest in modern facilities to preserve the most original features of coffee beans. Warehousing system, temperature and humidity control and control system are selected and used according to strict regulations, which is the way to preserve coffee of some Specialty cafes.

Preserve coffee after roasting

Coffee after roasting also needs to be preserved for a certain time. After roasting, coffee needs time to degas to reduce CO2 and limit “stress” in coffee beans. This condition makes the coffee beans unstable and the extraction does not give a guaranteed flavor. Normally, Specialty coffee needs degas in 7-14 days, some longer, about 28 days, depending on the type of coffee and the standard of each roasting unit.

Coffee after roasting also needs to be stored under strict temperature and humidity conditions, ensuring that the quality of the beans is preserved and does not lose the typical regional flavors.

Coffee after roasting needs time to degas

Depending on the scale of use, the coffee after roasting is preserved differently. For establishments that specialize in roasting and grinding Specialty coffee, some facilities store them at cold temperatures. There are also some facilities that freeze coffee for longer storage. According to a study, cold coffee can preserve the flavor for 3-4 months, frozen coffee can be stored for 6-12 months, depending on storage conditions and quality of coffee beans. 

Many coffee shops in Vietnam often use roasted coffee in room conditions, even if it is not closed, which makes the coffee taste disappear very quickly. In addition, the use of coffee immediately after roasting is also a habit to note.

Preserve ground coffee

The Vietnamese market uses many pre-ground coffee products. This takes away the fresh taste of the coffee beans. Coffee drunk when grinding should be used within 10-30 minutes to ensure that the original beauty of the coffee beans is preserved. Powdered coffee when exposed to air will be diffused and oxidized quickly, making the cup of coffee after extraction no longer rich and clear.

Coffee after grinding needs to be used immediately or stored carefully

Pre-ground coffee, if you want to preserve it for a short time, should be refrigerated or frozen. Similar to storing roasted coffee, this helps to keep it longer, but the time should not exceed 1 month.

Preserve brewed coffee

Many people choose to buy or make coffee at home and drink it gradually throughout the day. This is not harmful, but it is not good for the taste of the cup of coffee. Because coffee is best right after it is extracted, when the flavor and taste are still left in that enchanting liquid. The longer the time, the more flavor is lost. That is the reason why many people choose to drink coffee at the shop