Balance Coffee

United Kingdom

What Are The Chances My Coffee Is Contaminated With Ochratoxin? One study said that more than 50% of the coffee beans they tested were contaminated with OTA. The problem might be even bigger than that though. Cross-contamination is a major issue in coffee farming and processing. Even if a crop was originally OTA-free, if it was processed on contaminated machines, it's contaminated now, too. How Do I Avoid OTA Contaminated Coffee Beans? The best way to avoid OTA in your coffee is to know where your beans came from. Pay attention to the farm they were grown at, the plant they were processed in, and how they were shipped. Insist on purchasing coffee beans from companies that test for OTA. It's really that simple. How Do I Make Sure My Old Coffee Is Safe To Drink? There is no magic button to make sure your older coffee beans are safe to drink. There are far too many variables to make promises like that. However, there are a few things you can do to give your coffee beans the best chance at staying safe and tasty for longer. Keep Coffee Beans Cold This is the number one way to keep your coffee beans as safe as possible. I know a lot of people who still keep their coffee beans at room temperature. While it's okay to do this for a short period of time, extended storage at room temperature will accelerate the process of beans going bad. It can also encourage the growth of the mold that creates OTA. So, just pop your whole beans in the freezer, or at least the refrigerator. Mold can't grow in those temperatures. The cold will also extend the life of your coffee, saving some of the flavors as it ages.