How Coffee is Grown (#)

  „Once the beans reach this stage they are called parchment or pergamino beans and are stored in this form until traded. Storing raw coffee with its parchment skin retains its moisture and freshness and keeps the beans in optimal condition. Before exporting, they are milled to remove the parchment, leaving a greenish colored bean, known, not surprisingly, as green beans. It is in this form that coffee is traded.“

http://www.equalexchange.com/intro/ eeintro3.html - Cached

See Technorati for links to this site, see Alexa for related sites and search this website for ›Storing Coffee Beans‹.

Some slightly related:

How to make great coffee

  „Whole beans will begin to lose freshness 21 days after roasting. As with ground coffee, freshness of whole bean coffee can be substantially extended if vacuum packed, to avoid exposure to oxygen.“

http://www.coffeeassoc.com/how2make/default.htm - Cached

- Coffee Science Information Centre

  „After harvesting the next stage is to remove the outer layers of the bean and create a stable, dry, green coffee bean. Two methods may be used, 'dry' or 'wet', to get the beans to the 'parchment' stage: within their hulls with most of their moisture removed. They can be stored in this state prior to processing to remove the hull, after which they are sorted and graded and ready for export around the world.“

http://www.cosic.org/background-on-coffee/ coffee-production - Cached

The many methods of brewing coffee - coffeecrew.com - victoria, b.c. canada

  „Grind beans yourself if you have the time and means. Coffee stores better in the bean form. Fresh grounds produce a better tasting coffee.“

http://www.coffeecrew.com/articles/.../ the-many-methods-of-brewing-coffee.html - Cached

View topic - Sour coffee? - Coffee Forum

  „Obviously its better if you buy from your local specialty roaster- they can sell small volumes direct to you in whole bean (or if you request) ground form. Its always better to buy the whole beans and invest in a grinder so you can grind beans as you need them. Ground coffee can deteriorate at a pretty quick clip...“

http://www.coffeeforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=794 - Cached

Coffee History - Learn about coffee...

  „This involves rubbing off the parchment layer and polishing the bean for an attractive appearance. At this point the coffee beans are a light green to bluish color. The coffee is then graded. This means the coffee is basically sorted by size, shape and imperfections.“

http://www.javacafe.com/cofhistory02.htm - Cached

Archived in Storing Coffee Beans, Fresh Coffee Beans, Raw Coffee Beans