Degassing Coffee: Definition, Importance, & Factors to Consider

Have you discovered and tasted the rewards of home roasting coffee beans yet? Remember, identifying and developing your preferred coffee flavor profile takes time and patience. An important step in this process is degassing your coffee beans. When you purchase roasted coffee beans from your local cafe or grocery store, the bag usually has a degassing valve. However, if you are buying freshly roasted coffee beans from your local roaster or you roast your own coffee at home, you most likely will need to degas the beans on your own.

Before we begin exploring the degassing process, it is helpful to review the coffee roasting process as it relates to gases.

So, Are There Gases In Coffee Beans?

In short, the answer is yes. During the roasting process, gases form within the coffee beans. These gases are primarily made up of carbon dioxide. In fact, carbon dioxide makes up approximately 90% of the gas released. The remaining 10% is comprised of nitrogen, other gases, and volatile compounds.

You may be wondering how carbon dioxide and other gases end up in the coffee beans in the first place. 

A study has shown the Maillard reaction plays an important role in the formation of carbon dioxide during the roasting process. The build-up of the carbon dioxide and other gases is what results in the first crack during the roasting process. As the roasting process continues, some of the gases are released, particularly during the last phase.

Despite this initial release of gases, the majority still remains in the coffee after roasting is complete. This is why home roasters and those who purchase locally roasted beans need to degas their freshly roasted coffee.

Learn more about the Science of Coffee Roasting.

What Does it Mean to Degas Your Coffee?

Degassing your coffee simply means that you are allowing the beans to release the remaining gases after roasting. 

As the beans are removed from the roaster, gases continue to escape. Initially, the gases dissipate more rapidly, but over time the rate significantly decreases. It is estimated that 40% of the carbon dioxide is released within the first 24 hours after roasting. Most of the gas escapes within the first few days after roasting is complete. However, it can continue up to around a couple of weeks.

However, the objective of degassing your coffee is not to have all the gases disappear. The carbon dioxide serves as a barrier of sorts, blocking out oxygen. When the carbon dioxide is released from the coffee beans, it is replaced with oxygen. This process is known as oxidation and eventually will result in stale coffee over time. 

The key is to degas your coffee for an optimal length of time. This will take some practice as it depends on a variety of factors, which we will review.

I’m Eager to Brew My Coffee. Is Degassing Really That Important?

Yes, if your goal is to brew flavorful coffee. 

If coffee is not  properly degassed before grinding, small bubbles will appear during the brewing process. This is because the carbon dioxide repels water. The result is uneven flavor extraction and ultimately coffee with a less than optimal flavor and profile. Some have described the taste as sour.

Taking the time to degas your coffee properly allows the hot water to extract the aromatics and oils from the grinds. It will be worth the wait in flavor. 

To release any remaining carbon dioxide, you can allow your coffee to bloom before brewing. Bloom your coffee grinds by dampening them with a small amount of hot water for a couple of minutes. The hot water will release additional carbon dioxide before you commence with the full brewing process.

It is worth noting there are differing opinions on the foam layer produced by remaining gases. This is specifically as it relates to espresso. On a freshly brewed espresso shot, the foam layer is called crema. The tan-colored (some describe as reddish-brown) crema exits the espresso machine first. It then settles at the top once the brewing process is complete.

For some, a perfect espresso shot includes the right amount of crema. They find that crema gives espresso a fuller flavor and a longer aftertaste relative to drip coffee. On the other hand, too much of it will ruin the espresso’s flavor.

Others find the crema to be overrated and unnecessary. Some experts believe crema can indicate freshness or degree of roast. However, they don’t think it is directly correlated to the espresso’s taste.

Now you have a better understanding of the process.

The Next Step is Learning the Things to Consider When Degassing Your Next Batch of Home Roasted Coffee Beans.

1. Studies Have Shown the Roast Level can serve as an Indicator to the Carbon Dioxide Level in Roasted Coffee Beans.

Darker Roasts were shown to have a higher level of residual carbon dioxide relative to lighter roasts. Residual carbon dioxide is the gas remaining after the roasting process is complete.

2. With Roast Levels Constant, Studies Have Shown that the Speed of Roasting Affects Degassing Rates of Roasted Coffee Beans.

Coffee beans roasted more quickly at a higher temperature tend to degas at a higher rate. This is relative to coffee beans, with the same roast level, that are roasted at a lower temperature over a longer period of time.

3. Grinding Accelerates the Degassing of Coffee.

Grinding the roasted coffee beans results in a higher rate of degassing. One study found a degassing rate as high as 73% within minutes after grinding. This rate compares the carbon dioxide level immediately prior to grinding to the level minutes after. 

The grind size plays a factor in the degassing rate. The study showed the finer the grind size, the higher the rate of degassing.

Prevent carbon dioxide from being released too quickly as it will compromise the fresh taste of your coffee. Protect the freshness by minimizing the time between grinding and brewing your coffee.

Make sure you select an optimal grinder for your home roasted coffee beans.

• Find a variety of high-quality coffee grinders available for purchase with free shipping and one pound of premium green coffee beans included.

4. Several Other Factors Can Have An Effect on Optimal Degassing Time for Coffee.

In addition to roast levels, the optimal degassing time will depend on several things. These include harvesting techniques, processing method, bean size, and your planned brewing method. 

For example, natural (dry) processed coffee beans have been found to take longer to degas than washed beans. With natural processing, the fruit is not removed until the drying process is complete. On the other hand, washed coffee beans have their fruits removed before they are dried.

As previously mentioned, darker roast coffees were found to have a higher level of residual carbon dioxide.

• Try Burman Coffee’s 3-pound Dark Bundle for a selection of three green coffee bean varieties perfect for dark roast.

However, despite having a lower level, lighter roasts need more time to degas compared to darker roasts. This is because lighter roast beans haven’t broken down as much as darker roasts. Therefore, they degas at a slower rate. The longer roasting time of darker roasts results in more tiny cracks from where the carbon dioxide is released. More of these cracks results in a higher rate of degassing.

Learn more about the differences between light and dark roast coffee beans.

Brewing method also plays a factor in how long you should degas your coffee. The following is a rough guideline on degassing times based on your planned brewing method: 

• Espresso machine: 1-2 weeks
• Pour over/filter: 2-7 days
• Aeropress: 2-7 days
• French Press: 2 days

5. Proper Roasted Coffee Bean Storage Will Help With Degassing.

Storing your home roasted coffee beans in proper containers  will ensure they are degassing  while preventing oxidation. 

An ideal coffee bean storage container has a degassing valve. This one-way valve will allow carbon dioxide to be released. The degassing valve also prevents oxygen from entering the container. The carbon dioxide escapes slowly through the degassing valve- it helps push out the oxygen helping the roasted beans from becoming stale. There are other attributes to look for in coffee storage containers including light and moisture protection.

Remember, a small level of carbon dioxide is ideal. It prevents the coffee beans from becoming stale or oxidizing.

There are storage containers that build up pressure to minimize the amount of carbon dioxide that escapes. Increased pressure in the container creates an environment that promotes proper aging.

Vacuum packing has been a popular way to protect roasted coffee beans from light, moisture, and oxygen. However, without a degassing valve, it requires the beans to be completely degassed before storage. Doing so sacrifices much of the aroma and flavor brought on by the aging process of the roasted beans.

• Check out these storage bags with degassing valves to store your home-roasted coffee beans. They are available in a few different sizes.

Degassing coffee is one of several important steps in the home roasting process. To learn more about the home roasting process, visit Burman Coffee Traders’s Coffee Learning Center.