Many discerning coffee lovers will buy coffee beans and grind them themselves, but if the storage method is wrong, the aroma and flavor will quickly deteriorate. Japan's world-class barista Hidenori Izaki teaches you about the common NG behaviors when storing coffee beans and coffee powder, as well as the importance of "water" when making good coffee.
How to preserve coffee beans and coffee powderCoffee is a fresh food, and the key to deliciousness lies in "freshness". The real best drinking period is one week after roasting, which is the second week. After roasting, it is not at its peak. The reason is that there is still a lot of carbon dioxide remaining in the beans. It needs to be left for about a week to allow the gas to escape, so that the original flavor of the coffee can be better extracted.
{9 99}For more than 2 weeks after roasting, the aroma and flavor will decrease, and the sour taste caused by oxidation will also appear. The worse the storage environment, the faster the deterioration rate.
When purchasing coffee beans, it is recommended to choose an amount that is high in freshness and can be consumed within 1 to 2 weeks. However, if you buy too many beans because you want to try different beans, it is important to preserve them in a way that maintains their freshness.
The three major factors that cause the quality of coffee beans to deteriorate are "oxygen", "light" and "heat". Many families are accustomed to storing coffee beans in glass or ceramic coffee cans, but this is not ideal. The reason is:
‧The oxygen in the can cannot be fully eliminated
‧When pouring from the original packaging into the can, it will be exposed to a large amount of oxygen
‧If it is a glass jar, the beans will be exposed to light
It is not a problem for coffee shops to display beans in jars, because unroasted green beans deteriorate more slowly; after roasting, they are sold quickly in the store and will not be exposed for a long time. But if you see the clerk taking beans from a jar "on the counter, exposed to direct light" in a cafe, then it is recommended to find a different store next time.
The most ideal way to store coffee beans at home is to "keep the original packaging of the coffee beans when purchased, seal them and put them directly into the freezer." There is no need to thaw the beans when taking them out, just grind them directly in the frozen state. As for coffee powder, due to its large surface area, it deteriorates faster and is unavoidable. It must be consumed within 1 week after opening.
There are only two ingredients for coffee: coffee beans and water. Therefore, if you want to improve the quality of coffee, in addition to selecting beans, the more important thing is to "select water."
When using tap water, if there is an obvious smell of chlorine in the water, it is recommended to pass it through a water filter first and then boil it for use.
If you want to brew more delicious coffee, you can consider using mineral water. Calcium and magnesium in water are important elements for coffee extraction. Calcium can enhance the texture of coffee, while magnesium can enhance the sourness and fruity aroma.
In addition, "carbonate hardness (hardness index)" will also affect the flavor. If the hardness is too low (such as distilled water, RO water), the flavor cannot be extracted; if the hardness is too high, there will be insufficient space in the water to bring out the coffee ingredients.