Managing Inventory 101: Green Coffee Storage

Did you know that a solid green coffee storage plan is crucial to preserving your inventory’s shelf life? In fact, specialty green coffee can have a shelf life of up to 12 months if stored properly! Using high-quality green coffee is the first step toward a successful brew, but maintaining quality control every step of the way is crucial to achieving the desired result in the final cup. To help you increase your green coffee’s longevity, Mike Romagnino has created a guide to properly storing green coffee.

A Guide to Green Coffee Storage

It’s important to do everything you can to preserve your green coffee. Being aware of your warehouse conditions and implementing control measures will help slow down the aging process of your supply. When developing your green coffee storage plan, we recommend you consider the following factors: Temperature & Moisture, Sunlight, Packaging, and Pest Control & Storage. How you handle each of these aspects when storing your green coffee will impact its shelf life, and we want to make sure you get the most out of your inventory.

For information on proper tea storage, check out our recent blog post where we discussed how to ensure freshness, factors to consider when storing tea, and whether or not tea goes bad.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is important because it regulates the moisture in the environment. While warmer air has more moisture, cooler air has less. Coffee that has absorbed too much moisture, particularly from exposure to humid environments for extended periods of time, may take on a fermented, mold-like overtone in the cup. Green coffee will also appear darker when taking on more moisture from an environment with high humidity. Alternatively, coffee can actually lose moisture when exposed to low humidity. Moderate and stable conditions are ideal for green coffee storage. We recommend a temperature range of 50°F–70°F.

Sunlight

Direct sunlight can have a significant impact on green coffee. Similar to low humidity, additional exposure to light will dry out green coffee. In turn, this decreases both the anticipated flavor and aroma. To avoid this, you should always store your green coffee in a dark warehouse or sealed container.

Packaging

Using hermetic bags such as Grain Pro or Ecotact will help slow down the decomposition process and preserve the flavor and aroma of your coffee. Hermetic bags or vacuum seals create an airtight environment with low levels of oxygen and elevated levels of carbon dioxide. They can also prevent green coffee from getting water damage when in transit or excess moisture during storage. All bags should be closed and zip tied after use.

Pro tip: did you know we label our coffees that ship in Grain Pro or Ecotact bags? Look for a (GP) or (E) at the end of the coffee name! You can also use our coffee inventory search box to look up coffees that use these hermetic bags.

Pest Control & Green Coffee Storage

Lastly, it is critical to have a pest control program that adheres to food safety guidelines. Coffee must be kept off the floor and staged on pallets as it can absorb moisture from concrete, and rodents can nest in the jute bags. Use a certified pest control company to ensure that your warehouse is following food safety measures. Plus, they will give you written records of service that you may need for a food safety audit.

Final Thoughts

To preserve the shelf life of your green coffee, it’s important to reference these factors of proper green coffee storage. Focusing on the above areas will help increase the longevity of your green coffee and greatly benefit your roasting and brewing processes.

If you have further questions about best practices for green coffee storage, contact us! We’re always happy to chat through any unique challenges and offer our advice.