Is Coffee Sensitive To Light? [ANSWERED]
It’s a question that frequently crops up when it comes to storing your coffee beans or grounds:
Is coffee sensitive to light?
After all…
It’s been roasted, dried, and ground.
So there isn’t much else that light can do to coffee, right?
Actually, it can cause a LOT of damage and can quickly cause your beans to go stale.
This article will explore the reason it’s recommended that you leave your coffee in an airtight container, away from any light source.
Let’s jump right in…
Is Coffee Sensitive To Light?
If you haven’t guessed already…
Yes, coffee is sensitive to light. That’s because the photons, from any light source, can cause the organic compounds in coffee to break down, in a process called photodegradation.
What this means is that the elements that makeup coffee’s unique flavor profiles and scent, dissipate faster.
Essentially, the beans will go stale more quickly if you constantly keep them exposed to light.
Why Is Light Bad For Coffee?
As mentioned before…
Light is bad for coffee because it breaks down the compounds contained in it. When it comes into contact with photons, the polymer chains in coffee will start to break apart, releasing the flavors and scents far too quickly.
By leaving your coffee beans or grounds in a transparent container, near a light source, you’re basically exposing it to turning stale in double quick time.
Does UV Light Affect Coffee Beans?
Like with nearly every type of food and drink, UV light does affect coffee beans. It’s because the amount of UV light we’re exposed to every day, thanks to the sun, can cause oxidation and the breakdown of organic compounds to speed up.
It’s a naturally occurring process, and it can’t be avoided, especially if coffee grounds are exposed to the sun.
Whole Beans Or Ground Coffee – Which Is More Light-Sensitive?
You’d think that coffee beans would be more light-sensitive. After all, they’re bigger, and the compounds are inside those beans.
But, in truth…
Coffee grounds are more light-sensitive. This is because there is a bigger surface area in coffee grounds, despite being smaller than coffee beans.
The fact that they’re smaller helps the oxidation process speed up because the beans are broken up, and the compounds that were once inside the bean are now exposed.
So, coffee grounds are more susceptible to photodegradation, only because there’s more surface area than if they remained in bean form.
Should Ground Coffee Be Stored In The Dark?
It would be ideal if you did store your coffee in the dark, but sometimes, seeing coffee, even ground coffee, as part of your decor, can be pleasing to the eye, so it’s essentially up to you.
However…
If you wish to keep the freshness of your coffee beans, your best bet is to store them in the dark.
If you do decide to incorporate your coffee in your decoration, be sure that you can use it fairly soon, before it starts going stale, and you don’t expose it to direct sunlight.
Keep your exposed coffee away from any light source that can emit UV light, as the oxidization process is much faster with UV light present.
Can You Store Ground Coffee In A Glass Jar?
It’s not recommended because you’re highly likely to lose the flavor and scent of your coffee more easily if you store it in a glass jar or canister.
After all, ground coffee is more susceptible to going stale, whether it’s from light exposure or regular air displacement.
If you really want to store your coffee beans in a glass jar, then you may get away with it as long as you use the beans quickly, and don’t expose them to natural sunlight.
How To Store Coffee Beans And Protect Them From Light
If you want to protect the flavors of your coffee beans as much as possible, you’ll want to keep them in an airtight container, away from any light source.
Use opaque containers, like sealed tin boxes or colored Tupperware.
That way, your beans are protected and you can extract as much flavor as possible from them.
Another tip you should consider is to grind your beans just before you brew your coffee.
Storing your coffee in bean form ensures maximum freshness, for the longest period of time.
Buying them already ground or grinding them as you’re storing them will only help the degradation process, no matter whether it’s through photodegradation and light, or air displacement.
