Coffee Storage: How to Store Coffee Beans Properly to Keep it Fresh


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The key to making delicious coffee is to start with quality ingredients. Coffee has only two ingredients – coffee and water. In order to make the best cup of coffee possible, it is a must to use the freshest, best quality coffee beans you can get your hands on. Since it is impossible to finish an entire bag of coffee in one brewing, it is important that you know how to store coffee to preserve its freshness.

The fresher the coffee is, the richer and more flavorful your beverage will be. No fancy machines or brewing technique will help you make great-tasting cup of java without fresh coffee beans.

If you brew your own coffee at home, you have probably heard a lot of advice on how to store coffee beans properly. A lot of people have their opinion on how to do it right. Some methods work, while the others don’t.

In the hopes of helping our coffee-loving readers out there, we decided to list down some tips and tricks on how to store coffee beans properly. Read on and use these tips to preserve your coffee beans’ flavor and freshness.

Keep coffee away from the four agents

Keep coffee away from the four agents

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As a coffee lover, you might be tempted to put your coffee beans in a glass container and have it on display on the kitchen. A shelf lined with jars of coffee can be a sight to behold, but it’s not good for your coffee. In fact, light is one of the biggest enemies of coffee. Coffee, when exposed to light over a long period of time, may lose its freshness. This can directly affect the flavor and aroma of your favorite morning beverage.

Heat, air, and moisture are also some factors that can negatively affect the flavor of coffee. When exposed to these elements, it can lose its best flavors well before it goes bad. Never place your coffee beans on the kitchen counter or in a cabinet near the oven. To keep your coffee beans fresher for longer, we highly recommend that you place it in a cool, dry, and dark place – preferably at room temperature.

Keep coffee away from these four these four agents of deterioration and you’ll have the best chance of brewing fresh, delicious cups of java.

Buy in small batches

Buy in small batches

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Proper coffee storage can help keep your beans longer. However, you should also consider that coffee tends to lose their freshness soon after they are roasted.

Whole beans usually last longer than pre-ground coffee. Whole beans will last for about a month after roasting. That time frame is shortened if the coffee is pre-ground. In fact, this type of coffee will only stay good for about one to two weeks. Whether you buy whole beans or pre-ground coffee, we suggest that you buy in small batches.

If you prefer whole beans, buy just enough that you can consume before the end of the month. Since pre-grounds tend to lose its freshness faster, just purchase enough for a week.  There is no point in buying a big batch of coffee only for it to go stale after a few weeks. Not only is it a waste of money, it’s also a waste of good coffee.

Place coffee in an air-tight container

Place coffee in an air-tight container

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When it comes to food and drinks, fresh is always best. The problem is that, coffee loses its freshness quickly once its original packaging is opened. It oxidizes when it comes in contact with air. The longer it is exposed to air, the more the coffee flavor is degraded. This is why it’s important to learn how to store coffee beans properly.

If you are a coffee connoisseur, you probably spend a little extra for high quality beans. If you want to create an incredible cup of coffee, we recommend that you store your coffee correctly. The retail packaging isn’t designed for long-term storage.  Ordinary kitchen canister may not do the job either. Keep your coffee beans in an airtight container in order to maximize the aromas and flavors in your cup. In this case, you may want to consider getting the best coffee storage container for your beans.

The Frills Coffee Vault, Beansafe Container, Tightvac Coffee Vac, and the Planetary Design Airscape are our top picks for the best coffee storage containers.

How to store coffee in the freezer

How to store coffee in the freezer

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Some of you have probably heard this advice before. Although coffee is best to be kept in a cool place, it should not be kept in the freezer.

As mentioned above, moisture ruins the flavor and aroma of coffee. Unless the coffee is completely sealed, coffee will be subjected to flavors. Humidity levels in the freezer fluctuate, which can introduce a host of problem. What’s more, coffee is porous. If left in the freezer for an extended period of time, it can take on the flavors of the other foods in the freezer.

Freezing the coffee is also a waste of time, especially if you drink it daily. It’s fine to freeze coffee provided that you place it in a sealed and airtight container. Once you take it out of the freezer, make sure that you’ll be using the whole thing. Putting it back in the freezer will only ruin your coffee. If you intend to freeze it, we suggest that you divide it into smaller batches and place them in an airtight container before freezing. That’s how to store coffee in the freezer.

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