Your Coffee Beans need to rest before brewing. Here's why!

One crucial aspect often overlooked by casual drinkers is the treatment of freshly roasted coffee beans. These beans, when properly handled, can transform a good cup of coffee into an exceptional one.

The Science of Coffee Freshness Freshly roasted coffee beans are packed with potential. When coffee is ground, its oils start interacting with oxygen, leading to flavor degradation. This interaction is crucial because these oils carry the coffee's robust flavors and aromas.

Why Fresh Coffee Beans Need to Rest After roasting, coffee beans undergo a natural process known as 'off-gassing,' where they emit carbon dioxide and other volatile compounds. This is similar to resting a steak to ensure it retains its juiciness or letting a wine breathe to enhance its flavors. By allowing coffee beans to rest, we permit these gases to escape, which prevents the brewed coffee from becoming bitter and enhances its flavor profile.

The Ideal Resting Period Most coffee experts suggest a resting period ranging from 72 hours to 1 week post-roasting before grinding and brewing. This duration allows for optimal development of flavors and can vary slightly depending on the bean's origin and roasting profile. If you're not sure, any coffee roaster would be happy to advise you. Just drop us a message.

Practical Tips for Home Roasters For those roasting at home, it's essential to store the beans in a way that allows them to breathe while resting. A simple container with a one-way valve is perfect as it lets carbon dioxide out but prevents oxygen from entering. Testing whether your beans have rested enough can be as simple as tasting: brew a cup right after roasting and one after the suggested resting period, and notice the difference.

The Taste Test We encourage you to experiment with the resting times for your coffee beans. You might find that a slightly longer or shorter period works better depending on your taste preference and the type of beans used.

Taking the time to rest freshly roasted coffee beans can significantly enhance your coffee's flavor. Try it out, and don't hesitate to share your experiences or get creative with the process.

Your morning cup of coffee will thank you!