![]() Conversely, studies found that the coffee stored in the jute sacks displayed more undesirable characteristics such as papery and jute. In the study our QC team conducted, coffees stored in hermetic packaging maintained desirable flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, citrus and red fruits. The bags used for hermetic sealing are impervious to moisture. In those studies, vacuum packaging - removing air and creating a hermetic seal - proved to be the best way to preserve coffee quality. Several studies have found that, rather than storage conditions, the best indicator of a coffee’s longevity was packaging. The highest temperature difference between our AC and non-AC warehouses was only 8☌ at its highest point in June, and conditions in the AC warehouse were never near freezing.Īdditionally, these studies were conducted on coffees that were stored in packaging that was not hermetically sealed. Cold storage studies typically involve conditions that are near-freezing. However, there are several key differences in conditions between previous studies and our QC team’s study. Previous studies have found that cold storage can prolong cup quality. Two-way ANOVA analysis, a statistical method commonly used in research to measure the difference between groups, showed no significant differences in water activity, density or moisture content between the two storage conditions. The results were striking: While humidity and temperature in the non-AC warehouse were vastly different from the suggested storage conditions, and from the AC warehouse conditions, the team found no significant difference in cupping scores. Since the purpose was to evaluate quality, not consistency, only two cups were used to cup the coffee. Then, the Hong Kong QC used SCA cupping protocols to evaluate cup quality. The team drew samples from each bag and checked moisture content, water activity and density. Samples were drawn at the end of each month over the course of 9 months. The team used an LCD Digital Temperature & Humidity Meter HTC-1 H596 thermometer to record temperature and relative humidity (RH) daily. All of these coffees were stored in hermetic packaging. To begin, the team selected a range of coffee grades, both specialty and commercial, to store in two warehouses in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong - one with AC and one without - for 9 months. When the QC team set out to evaluate the impact of AC on warehoused coffees, they wanted to retest this initial hypothesis and determine how cupping quality varies between AC and non-AC storage. ![]() The initial reasons coffee was stored in AC storage were to keep humidity and temperature constant. Too much humidity can also cause mold or mildew growth, ideal relative humidity (RH) is 60%. ![]() Humidity: Similarly, studies have shown that environmental humidity, the measure of how much moisture is in the air, can affect coffee by traveling in and out of bags of coffee. In some conditions, vast fluctuations in temperatures can cause condensation inside a bag of coffee, which can ruin coffee. ![]() Changes in the energy status of the water molecules in coffee can affect flavor and freshness. Temperature impacts coffee by modifying water activity inside the bean. Temperature: The ideal temperature range for coffee storage is 20-25☌ (68-77☏). Oxygen: Oxygen has such a detrimental effect on coffee that some articles refer to it as a “contaminant.” As coffee interacts with oxygen, it causes the flavor molecules to oxidize and even turn rancid, causing off-flavors and a flat taste. There are three factors that influence coffee quality during transportation and storage: oxygen, temperature, and humidity. To do this, they evaluated the difference between storage with and without air conditioning (AC). Recently, our quality control (QC) team in Asia Pacific undertook a 9-month test to explore potential ways to maintain coffee quality while minimizing the environmental footprint in the warehousing of coffee. ![]() We’re always striving for better solutions that save money, reduce environmental impact and maintain the quality of green coffee. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |