Coffee can be purchased in different formats and presentations, according to our needs, tastes and budget. Capsules aside, you may have noticed that many bags have a curious hole, although not all have it. Its presence is not arbitrary and responds to a very specific utility that makes these containers the best options for buying and storing coffee.
We must never forget that coffee is a product extremely sensitive whose quality can be affected by a multitude of factors, even long before preparing the infusion itself. Until it reaches our cup in liquid form, the grain goes through different processes in a productive chain from the coffee plantation itself; if one of those phases fails, the others can go to hell.
As consumers, obviously, we don’t control the early stages; We can only choose what type of coffee to buy and from whom, allowing ourselves to be guided by the qualified specialist who guarantees us the traceability and quality of the coffee that you can offer us to buy, with the most recent roast possible, and freshly ground, if applicable.
We know that specialty coffee is expensive -or maybe we should say that generic coffee from multinationals is too cheap-, and the last thing we want is to waste it. This is where the packaging comes into play, which should also be paid attention to even when buying supermarket coffee. Although it is not a perishable product, it does not expire, yes lose qualities organoleptic and nutritional.
Why valve packs are the best
The hole or circle that we mentioned at the beginning is nothing more than a valve incorporated into a specific type of container and that plays a fundamental role when it comes to packaging and keep coffee, either in beans or ground.
Is depressurization valve It can be seen both in hermetically sealed packages, the most common in artisan roasteries or specialized stores selling in bulk, and in vacuum-packed ones, mainly for industrial use.
The function is not to fill or empty the packet, as it is not really a hole. Once the container has been filled, it is closed by means of a thermal or hermetic seal, almost always provided with self-closing to be able to open and close it at home without having to resort to other secondary packaging. Although the coffee will not be as protected from the outside as in a vacuum container, we can keep it for up to three months -unopened- very fresh and with minimal loss of aromas.
So what is the use of? valve? Very simple: to protect the coffee from itself.
Once roasted, the coffee beans begin to release gas, carbon dioxide, in an imperceptible way for the human being, but that can harm its quality. If the package were completely closed and hermetically sealed, that CO2 would stay inside, affecting the coffee itself and accelerating its degradation.
And that’s where the happy valve comes into play, thanks to its ingenious mechanism one way. Through its opening the gas released is expelled outside, but prevents anything from the atmosphere from penetrating inside. It is a single exit route that at the same time acts as a barrier to air or external volatile substances.
Consuelo Gran Aroma – Italian coffee beans – 2 x 1kg
Lavazza Coffee Beans, Qualità Oro Perfect Symphony, Round and Aromatic 100% Arabica Espresso Coffee, 500 g Pack
The only drawback of this type of packaging is that they’re more expensive, and not all roasters or specialty shops invest in them. If you can choose, choose to buy hermetically sealed coffee with a valve and store it in a cool pantry and away from aggressive odors. If the bag lacks a valve, try to consume it as soon as possible, and, once opened, transfer the coffee to an airtight container.
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