Meldrew The reusable bags get variable reviews on places like Amazon. They lose their vacuum.
I’ve thought about them and then putting them in another bag, but it all gets to be a bit of a faff.
Interesting to read what @tompoland says about freezing. I started freezing as it was better than not, but if there is a better alternative, should probably explore it.
PortafilterProcrastinator If the reusable bags lose their vacuum then its got to be the non reusable system which is a shame as I was trying to be more environmentally friendly. Might look at the luvele system again.
tompoland Thanks for the explanation. I am only just returning to my coffee journey you might say. So all the knowledge and information on the forum from everyone is so helpful. As @DavecUK states the friendliest forum.
PortafilterProcrastinator I prefer grinding frozen beans. The pour feels a bit thicker and the flavor, maybe, a bit fuller. And of course instead of the beans lasting up to three weeks after vacuum sealing alone, they are still producing peak flavor after months. Now if only I could convince my wife to move the freezer next to the coffee island …
These days I mostly have the pouches of beans (18g doses) in a small cardboard box on a shelf under the machines on the coffee island (therefore, not frozen, just vac sealed). The vacuum seal keeps the air out of course and the cardboard box keeps the light out. From my reading it seems that air and light are the two biggest degraders of fresh coffee.
Here is the article that started me down the frozen coffee beans path, and caused me to buy a vacuum sealer. https://www.beanscenemag.com.au/ona-coffee-introduce-frozen-coffee-menu-act-venues/
Personally, I can see no point. I have 4 kg bagged up. Sometimes the beans degass a little at which point I would snip the top of the bag off and reseal. The Dave said why? CO2 is widely used as a preservative. I often drink beans that are 10 to 12 weeks past the date at which I vacuum packed them, plus the standing time.
If the reusable bags lose their vacuum due to de-gassing and it is true that carbon dioxide is used as a preservative (which it is) then this might not be as much of an issue as thought, particularly if you are not freezing and using disposable vacuum bags. You can re-vacuum in both cases.
The issue is obviously air getting in, rather than de-gassing from the inside. How you would identify that I don’t know, doesn’t seem possible for the normal person.
So maybe, depending on ones thoughts about CO2, vacuum bags aren’t such a bad idea.
PortafilterProcrastinator The major advantage of having a slightly puffed up bag is the positive pressure….you “know” air can’t be getting in!
Sounds good to me, just a vac pack it will be.
Systemic - I attest to this. Same experience here.
I was in Lidl today - picked up one of these - https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/kitchen-equipment/silvercrest-vacuum-sealer/p51075
I expected it to be rubbish but just vacuum packed 1kg of beans into 100g packs and it worked brilliantly. New fav thing!
Got yourself a bargain there. Best way to keep your beans fresh. If you buy in kilos, the vac sealer will pay for itself in no time.
I am just going to be passing Lidl tomorrow and just happen to spot these. Oh these would be good to try and they are cheap. Wonder if the wife will fall for it.Bet they don’t have them. Lol
DavecUK Less than the price of a kilo of beans. I’d been looking at more expensive versions on line. Only negative is that this cheap one doesn’t have a cutter built in. But, I presume that like me you own scissors. :-)
PS - looking at the pictures on Amazon this seems to be exactly the the same bar cosmetics.
I’ve had one for a couple of years & it’s still going strong. Just have to take a little break between each seal as there’s an interlock to let the element cool
