What Is The Best Way To Store Coffee To Keep It Fresh Longer?
Have you ever had a dull, lifeless cup of coffee? Did your morning cup of coffee taste differently than it did last week? These are signs that your coffee is going stale. The best way to keep your coffee flavorful longer is to use the freshest beans possible. Over time, coffee will eventually lose its flavor. But you can keep it fresh longer by storing it properly. From the right containers to myths about storing coffee, here is the secret to making your coffee last longer.
How Do You Story Coffee To Keep It Fresh?
There are many myths about how to store coffee to keep it fresh. When it comes to keeping coffee fresh, air, light, and moisture have the biggest impact on flavor.
Air will oxidize the coffee and make it taste stale. Similarly, light will cause coffee to go stale faster. Also, frequent temperature fluctuations can also impact the flavor of your coffee.
With that in mind, the best way to store coffee is to keep it in an opaque and airtight container. As long as it is away from heat sources and moisture, you can keep the container on the countertop. When stored properly, coffee beans will last several weeks.
However, ground coffee only lasts a week or two. For that reason, you should store your coffee as whole beans as long as possible. However, ground coffee is more convenient.
For the best of both worlds, keep your coffee beans in an air-tight container. But grind two or three days worth of coffee in advance. Then store the ground coffee in a metal tin or jar so it's ready when you need it most.
Here is the right way to keep your coffee fresh longer.
1. Buy Direct From A Coffee Roaster
The biggest secret to having the freshest-tasting coffee is buying directly from a coffee roaster. And this probably seems pretty convenient since I'm a coffee roastery. And that is a fair point, but hear me out.
Coffee beans start aging as soon as they come out of the roaster. And even if you store them properly, they will never taste as fresh as they did yesterday.
When you buy from a boutique roaster like me, you get the freshest coffee available. I roast coffee no less than twice a week. If I'm shipping to the West Coast, figure a few days to process the order and four until they actually arrive. Worst case, we're talking two-week-old beans.
Now, let's say you buy my beans from a retailer. I have to ship the coffee to them, which adds a few more days. And you don't know how long my coffee has been sitting on their shelves.
Are you buying beans from one of the larger roasters at a retail store? That can easily add two, four, or more weeks between when those beans were roasted and when you buy them.
If your goal is the freshest, most delicious coffee possible, buying direct is the best option. Whether you buy from me or another small coffee roastery, you are maximizing the flavor and shelf life of your beans.
2. Use an Opage, Air-Tight Container
Ideally, you should store your coffee in an airtight container that blocks out light. Look for a container with a tight-fitting lid. I really like earthenware jars with a rubber gasket on the lid. But dark plastic and metal containers are also a good choice.
While some coffee roasters recommend glass containers or mason jars, I don't trust them. While they are air tight, it's too easy for light to shine through on the beans. If you have to go this route, store your coffee in a cabinet away from moisture, heat, and condensation.
Another reason to avoid mason jars is off-gassing. Coffee beans release carbon dioxide, which is why all coffee bags have one-way valves.
Because of the threaded lids on mason jars, they can actually build up pressure. The same is true of any container with a locking lid.
While the risk is really low, they could explode if you happen to forget about them. Then again, who forgets about coffee? But maybe go check your pantry just in case.
If you do buy your coffee at the grocery, off-gassing is one way to tell fresh beans from older beans. Fresh beans will still be vacuum packed and you can see the shape of the beans in the bag. While older bags of coffee will be puffy or bloated.
3. Put Coffee In A Cool, Dry Place
Because heat and moisture can ruin your coffee, store the container in a cool, dry place. As long as the container is completely opaque, you can keep your coffee right on your countertop.
Just make sure it is a few feet away from your dishwasher, sink, and stove. Also, make sure it isn't in direct sunlight. The temperature fluctuations are a bigger risk than the moisture, but both can impact the flavor of your coffee.
If light can get through the container, you should put your coffee in one of your upper cabinets or your pantry. Sure, you could use one of your lower cabinets, but who really wants to bend over first thing in the morning?
4. Store Your Coffee As Whole Beans
I know that ground coffee is more convenient, but whole beans last at least four times as long.
If you do want to grind your coffee in advance, only grind as much as you will use in a day or two. Obviously grinding before you brew is best. But if you grind your coffee the night before and store it properly, you can make delicious coffee first thing in the morning pretty easily.
This is also why I don't sell pre-ground coffee. It's really convenient, but you are trading flavor for ease of use. And I’m not willing to make that compromise. Get a [good coffee grinder](link to types of coffee grinders article) and you can make delicious coffee anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions About Storing Coffee And Keeping It Fresh
Can You Store Coffee In The Bag?
Well, you really shouldn't store your coffee in the original packaging. But you can store your coffee in the bag in a pinch. It really depends on how quickly you use the coffee. For example, one of my 250-gram bags of coffee will make two or three 12-cup pots of coffee, four to six 3-cup French press pots, or five to eight pour-overs. If you can go through that much coffee in a week, you could keep it in the bag. It's definitely not optimal, but it will stay reasonably fresh. If it's going to take you anything longer than a week, you really should put it in a different container.
How Do You Store Bulk Coffee Beans?
If you have a serious coffee addiction and you buy in bulk, the best way to keep your beans fresh is to vacuum seal them and store them in the freezer. They will last two to three months. If you can't vacuum seal them, you can still store them in the freezer, but they will only last one to two months.
Can You Freeze Coffee?
Yes, you can freeze coffee for long-term storage, but it's important to do it correctly. Ideally, vacuum seal whole bean coffee in heavy freezer bags. Freezing coffee beans without vacuum sealing limits how long they will stay fresh. The same goes for freezing ground coffee. When vacuum-sealed, frozen coffee beans will last two to three months, while vacuum-sealed ground coffee will last about half as long.
Does Putting Coffee In The Refrigerator Keep It Fresh Longer?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions about storing coffee. But your fridge keeps your food fresh! It has to be the same for coffee, right? Well, not really. The moisture level in your fridge is too high for coffee. Unless you have it in a really good storage container, it can still oxidize. Your fridge is also full of a lot of other flavors. Do you really want your coffee to taste like Parmesan cheese or the leftover curry from three nights ago?
Order Fresh Coffee Beans From Cupa Now
Roasted fresh in Orlando, Florida, Cupa Coffee Roasting offers high-quality, small-batch coffee with an excellent shelf life. We have whole bean coffee for all your weekly needs and bulk coffee for those with serious addictions. And you get fast, free shipping on all orders over $40. Plus, you can order wholesale beans for your coffee shop, retail store, or workplace. Ask about our custom roasts and blends for wholesale customers.