Can I Put Coffee Beans Under Sunlight? Exploring the Impact of Sunlight on Coffee Beans

For many of us, coffee is an indispensable part of our daily routine, whether it’s that first rich aroma freshly brewed in the morning cup or a warming afternoon pick me up. However, have you ever given much thought to where and how your coffee beans are stored or more specifically can ambient conditions like sunlight influence the quality of your coffee beans? You may wonder and even ask “can I place coffee beans in the sun?” to yourself, especially if such inquiry arises from every interested individual who has concern with maintaining their coffee bean freshness.

In this blog post, we will discuss what sunlight does to coffee beans and how light, temperature and humidity can impact the taste of a cup of coffee at home. Sunlight and Coffee Beans (for the Casual Drinker) Knowing how sunlight affects coffee beans, from the casual coffee drinker to those who take their beans more seriously

The Chemistry of Coffee Beans

So before going into details of whether coffee beans can set out in the sun, it is pivotal to know what makes a coffee bean and not only that but every bit-detail which share how susceptible they are to their surroundings. The oils and sugars that are released during roasting are the really risk compounds no big secret there nor is the caffeine in those beans (which, as far as chemicals go, isn’t of much interest anyhow) or even all of those polyphenolic antioxidant sun worshiping molecules like chlorogenic acids.

Coffee beans are roasted at high temperatures and undergo many complicated chemical reactions, with the Maillard reaction being one of the most important for browning and flavor development. In addition to these reactions, many of the resulting volatile compounds are extremely vulnerable to light, oxygen and temperature. These factors will contribute greatly to the flavor characteristics as well as your bean’s freshness.

Of course, freshly roasted coffee beans do have a peak freshness period (usually two to three weeks after roasting). In this time, beans undergo a process of releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) which is known as degassing. This is the range where the beans are at their peak of purity, flavor and aromas. Storing it incorrectly can speed up the bean degeneration which will cause them to deteriorate in quality before they have been used at all.

Can You Sun Dry Coffee Beans? The Effects of Light Exposure

In simple terms: No, you should not store your coffee under direct sunlight. Much like how sunlight can greatly accelerate many phases of an agricultural process such as the drying of harvested coffee cherries after coffee beans are roasted, sunlight becomes largely detrimental. Let’s explore why.

1. Coffee Bean Oils Decompose

There are a couple of reasons sunlight does a number on coffee beans, one of them is the oil inside the beans. Coffee beans are naturally very oily — these oils are part of what create the flavor and aroma in an outdated pot. Light in general, especially from UV rays may with time result in these oils to be oxidised: broken down.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Agriculture portal wrote that when coffee beans are exposed to sunlight, the oils on their surface oxidize faster and become rancid. Oils that go rancid can produce off-flavors, hampering your coffee with a stale or harsh taste. Eventually, after just a short amount of time in direct sunlight your coffee beans will begin to have a negative effect on the flavor.

2. Rise in Temperature and Heat exposure

Sunlight also means heat, and ofcourse heat is the biggest enemy to preserve coffee bean freshness. Whole coffee beans will absorb the ambient air (and moisture) of any environment in which they sit — a component that also ages your espresso. These aromatics are contained in volatile compounds within the beans that dissipate more rapidly when exposed to heat.

That heat can also evaporate away some of those very essential moisture contents within the bean too. Roasted coffee beans are dried in what also makes them special: they have a bit of moisture but that moisture is the one helping to keep their flavors alive. This final vestige of moisture evaporation is accomplished through direct exposure to the sun, leaving beans parched and lifeless. This leads to a weak uninspired tasteless cup of coffee.

3. Light-Induced Oxidation

Oxidation is perhaps the biggest cause of coffee bean spoilage and sunlight speeds this up. This is light-induced oxidation, which happens when the beans are exposed to air (oxygen) and shine a little light, decaying their quality in quick order. Light increases the rate of chemical reactions between oxygen and the oils and fats in the beans.

Coffee beans begin to oxidize and lose their flavorful elements, complexity, and aroma. The result is a cup of coffee that tastes boring and has none of the zesty flavors that fresh beans should produce. Even if you keep your coffee beans in an opaque but semi-transparent or thin plastic container, they are still not safe from light exposure and a similar fate.

4. Impact on Flavor Profile

In addition to causing your coffee beans to go stale, light exposure can also change the flavor of your beans. But exposure to UV rays and/or heat also triggers chemical reactions that can make some flavors stand out more, and others less. Something as simple as beans being exposed to light can cause bitter or sour tasting flavors in your coffee that overshadow the complexities that give your coffee a distinct flavor.

Furthermore, if you like fruity, floral or chocolate undertones in your beans then subjecting them to sunlight could cause these nuanced flavors to disappear. This union of sunlight and oxidation can create a deterred flavor profile in fresh coffee beans that prevents you from enjoying the full spectrum of tastes fresh coffee ranges from.

How to Store Coffee Beans the Right Way: Keeping Them Fresh

Moving on, thus placing coffee beans in sunlight can be adverse to the freshness. Definitely, this leads to another question of what is a proper way to store your coffee beans and keep them good as long as it gets maintained? These are some of the dos and don’t when it comes to storing coffee beans so that its original taste does not fade away, and they can preserve for a longer period.

1. Store in a Cool, Dark Place

This is the best way to keep coffee beans — that doesn’t mean you should keep them in your pantry. Do not use extreme temperature zones or direct sunlight, in case you are going to put the olive oil near your window sills, exposed to sunshine countertops or between appliances that can warm such as stoves or refrigerators it is better to avoid these places.

A cupboard or pantry is good, as is a dedicated coffee storage container. Oxidation takes place more slowly in a cooler environment, which means less flavor and aroma lost for your coffee beans.

2. Use an Airtight Container

The amount of oxidation with ambient air also has a major effect on the weakening of coffee beans. Coffee beans go stale as soon as they are in contact with air because oxygen actively starts chipping away the oils and volatile compounds the moment coffee is roasted. Place the vanilla beans in an airtight container to keep out oxygen, and thereby oxidation.

Choose airtight containers that were made for this purpose, as they are fitted with special valves which allow CO2 to leak through (a byproduct of the roasting process) while also preventing oxygen from entering the container. Which will release about 40% of the carbon dioxide in the beans, but preserve a good majority of their freshness. A vacuum-sealed vessel is another great choice to store your coffee beans longer.

3. Not using Transparent or Clear Containers

As much as clear glass jars give an appealing view and let you see all your beautiful beans, they do not make good storage containers. Because the beans, as we mentioned before, are more prone to light — and with this containers of transparent glass or receive light directly on the scale of oxidation affecting our coffee bean flavor.

So make use of non-transparent containers hiding light. Ceramic or stainless steel tins are an ideal choice as they limit the sunlight exposure and air exposure.

4. Purchase Beans in Small Batches

Despite air, light, and moisture, coffee beans degrade over time. Buy beans in smaller quantities to always get the freshest coffee possible. That way you can get them used before they risk going stale.

This way you can buy small portions of a variety of beans and roasts, and not worry about how to store them in the long run.

5. Only Grind Right Before You Make Your Coffee

And, of course, the next level up from there is to grind your coffee beans right before brewing! Once coffee beans are ground they become more susceptible to oxidative damage as the exposure of oils and compounds to air, light, and moisture is a cause for worry.

Since grinding your beans just before brewing preserves as much of their flavor and fragrance as possible, you get the richest tasting coffee with them.

6. Should I Freeze My Coffee Beans?

Freezing coffee beans is one of those controversial topics in the world of coffee. Even then, third-wave coffee experts debate the merits of freezing beans: some say it can protect their freshness while others worry that the moisture in a freezer could be bad for your grounds.

If you opt for the freezer, store coffee beans in an airtight, vacuum-sealed bag to lockout moisture and prevent freezer burns. When you want to use them, allow the beans to come back up to room temperature and then grind/brew.

Drying: The World’s Best Tumbler Dryer Hosted by Light

Sunlight is key in the very early stages of coffee production (the drying phase), however. Once the coffee cherries are picked, the beans must be removed and undergo a drying process before they can be roasted. Sun-drying the beans naturally is often employed in the world’s traditional coffee-growing regions, particularly those that enjoy intense tropical sunlight.

This has been a traditional way of sun-drying coffee in large open patios or drying beds, allowing them to be exposed to the sunlight over a few days up to weeks. These facilities are used to dry the beans, thereby losing moisture and preparing them for storage or roasting.

But after being toasted, beans should stay in darkness, because that is when they are most susceptible to environmental elements such as light, heat or air.

In conclusion, sunlight takes its toll on coffee beans and should be stored in a light-blocking container.

Then, is it okay to put coffee beans under the sun? Could the answer be any more negative? Although sunlight can be a boon in the case of initial coffee production, it can destroy roasted coffee beans as well. When it is exposed to the sunlight, heat, and oxygen that break down the bean while roasting; The coffee beans lose their flavor, aroma, and freshness

In order to keep your coffee beans and get the most flavourful cup out there, store them in a cool dark place, put the lid on tightly after every use and you must avoidely sunlight. Follow these best practices, and you can give yourself the best chance of every brew tasting as fresh and delicious as possible.