Our zip bags have a tiny hole in them. Why? Also, did you know they are #4 Recylcables?
Ever notice those little holes in the bags we ship our coffee in? Believe it or not, we actually take the time to punch them into every bag. This allows us to remove any excess air space from the bag when we seal it.
We found out long ago that if we ship our bags without the little hole, and it has an air pocket, pressure in transit can force the zip seal open. Nobody wants their green coffee
Green coffee refers to the processed seed of the coffee tree fruit. Coffee is a flowering shrub that produces fruit. The seeds of the fruit are processed, roasted,... to arrive loose in the box!
The best way to keep your coffee fresh is to simply roast, brew and drink it within a month or so after it gets to your doorstep.
All of our coffee is imported in jute bags, but inside that bag is a special high barrier liner that creates a high barrier to keep the green coffee at it’s ideal moisture level, the same as when it was processed at the originIn coffee talk, it refers to a coffee-producing region or country; such as, "I was just at origin." Of course "Origin" for most product we use is not... country. This range is between 10-11% moisture. Maintaining the barrier around the green coffee, as well as keeping it in a temperature stable environment and out of direct sunlight, will maintain cup quality for longer. We are lucky to have a warehouse that is very stable in temperature. It does get a little cold during the winter but never too hot during the summer.
Note that our zip bags are great for the short term. If you want to store your green coffee for later, 2 months or more, or if you live in an area with large humidity swings, consider transferring a portion of your green coffee to a high barrier container.
And another note on the LDPE (low densityThe density of a coffee bean is often taken as a sign of quality, as a more dense bean will roast more with a better dynamic. The density... poly eurethane) zip bags, they are #4 class recyclable. This means they can be returned to many retailers and supermarkets along with the LDPE shopping bags and other #4 plastics. Usually these cannot go into recycle bins though (at least not in our area!)
We suggest filling glass jars to the brim with green coffee, and storing in a cool dark place. We also offer high-barrier bags by Ecotact, a special 9-layer material in the form of a stand-up zip pouch. See Green Coffee Storage Using Ecotact Hermetic Bags
(PS: A previous version of this post was – er – totally incorrect. It stated that we make holes in bags to allow coffee to breath. While it’s true that the old approach to coffee is “let it breath” that is not our current thinking or approach. Once coffee is properly processed, dried, and rested in the origin country, it has reached a state of stability in terms of moisture (10-11% ideally) and water activity within the dried seed. At this point it is best to protect this equilibrium by transferring it to a high barrier bag, such as GrainproA multi-layer plastic bag with a gas barrier. The bags have been shown to extend the flavor life of the coffee significantly over storage in jute or burlap... or Ecotact, as we use on 100% of the coffee we import. -Thompson)
