You know one of the reasons we love coffee so much? Because there are so many types of it! And you can always choose a coffee, perfect for you – like a strong and kick-ass drink that will awaken you? Try espresso! Too strong for you? – Go with Lungo or Americano. Like sweet? – Macchiato is the one for you! There are literally dozens of options for everyone! But do you know that there is actually one more type, entirely different? Yes – green coffee!
Now you may be wondering: what is green coffee? What it tastes like? Is it good? If it is, how long do green coffee beans last? Okay, let’s take it one step at a time, and first find out – what is green coffee?
What Is Green Coffee, Exactly?
Most people associate coffee with a dark brown color and a distinct roasted aroma. But what not many people DO know, is that before roasting, the coffee’s natural color is green! These are the raw seeds of the java fruits that are ready for roasting and grinding. Depending on its growth area, the taste varies, much like regular roasted java.
In recent years, amidst a slew of scientific researches into the benefits of this coffee type, there has come about a renewed interest in green coffee. Moreover, storing green coffee beans – is much simpler, and it tends to last longer than roasted joe.
Where Do Green Coffee Beans Originate?
The green coffee beans come from the same area as the regular coffee. Wherever regular joe comes from, green coffee comes from also. If you are looking for milder options, Central American produce is the best; Kenyan and Ethiopian coffee beans for acidic and citrus taste are ideal for bright flavors and fruity javas. Indonesian and Brazilian dark roast joes are less acidic and have more body. As such, this type of joe is grown worldwide, and different places bring about another side.
Different Ways To Use Green Coffee Beans
Green joe can be used for a variety of purposes. Due to green coffee beans’ high shelf life when stored properly, you could roast them to bring out the full flavor and aroma. So compared to buying pre-roasted coffee, you get much more control over the taste and the kind of java that you brew.
However, you can drink this type of joe without roasting as well. It does have an acquired taste, which many coffee lovers come to like in time though it is the health benefits for which it is mainly consumed. Green coffee type is considered helpful in weight management since it reduces the risk of a host of chronic diseases.
The Multiple Benefits Of Green Coffee Beans
The most prominent benefit of this type of java is its longer shelf life. Most coffee grounds don’t have a shelf life of more than a couple of weeks before it begins to degrade. But how long does green coffee last? It turns out it can outlast green coffee grounds by a whole month. But, if properly stored, green coffee beans can remain in good condition indefinitely.
The other major benefit of this brew is that you can control how much you want to roast and what kind of flavor you are going for. Yes, the taste’s distinctness depends on the origin of the green coffee, but the body and the flavor come out only during the roasting process. This way, you can customize your blend and get involved in the process.
And it also has a bunch of other health benefits:
- Rich in antioxidants
- Has chlorogenic acid that assists in weight loss
- Supports the immune system
- Stabilizes glucose levels
- Reduces bad cholesterol
How Long Can Green Coffee Beans Last And What Affects its Quality?
Such java beans are well known to retain their integrity for long periods. It is much more so than what you’d expect of roasted beans. So how long are green coffee beans good for exactly? Well, if it is stored under the right conditions, you can expect them to last for a year and sometimes even more without any change in quality.
Let’s take a look at some factors that affect the quality of this brew:
Moisture & Humidity
Coffee beans are porous by nature and are vulnerable to any changes in humidity. If it’s left in the open for a few days in high humidity, then green coffee beans going to start disintegrating—good packaging and storing become essential to keep the shelf life of green coffee beans longer.
Temperature
Temperature affects the quality of the green coffee beans too. For example, very dry conditions tend to affect its aroma and flavor. On the other hand, if the coffee gets wet, then it becomes unfit for roasting. Temperature is also an important consideration to know precisely how long do green coffee beans last. So the best way to store green beans is to keep them in a cool and dry place.
Light
Producers dry the green coffee beans under the sun after the harvest. At this time, they must go through this drying process as it lowers the amount of moisture in them from 50 to 11 percent. But, once that is done, these coffee beans should be stored away from direct light. Any more light tends to dry out the beans further, thereby affecting the flavor. So a dark, dry place is ideal for the storage of the green beans.
Length Of Time
And how long can you store green coffee beans? Well, the precise answer will depend on how well you’ll be able to store them. Just keep in mind that storing for too long will affect the quality of the beans. But the good news is that you can store them for up to a year without any noticeable deterioration in the aroma or flavor.
Ideal Storage and Packing Options
Jute sacks may seem like the right option for packing and storing, considering how low cost and environmentally-friendly they. But they also attract heat, humidity, and pests. Some packaging companies have containers with multiple layers of high-barrier plastic that keeps the inner environment stable. A good rule of thumb is to see if the storage container can protect the green joe from light, pests, moisture, and heat.
Final Word
For brew aficionados, getting green coffee is much more beneficial than regular pre-roasted java. That is because you can control the flavors and the body of the brew and enjoy some amazing health benefits associated with consuming it. Though these joe beans tend to outlast pre-roasted java, it can extend its shelf life by many months when it is correctly stored. As such, the answer to the question “how long do green coffee beans last” depends entirely on the steps you’ve taken to store them.
Hopefully, we’ve informed you well about the shelf-life and storage recommendations for some amazing green brew! Have you bought these java beans? How do you store them? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!