How to Store Coffee at Home
For our first blog about coffee, we will start with the basics. How coffee beans are stored can have a significant impact on the quality of flavor you experience when brewing coffee at home. The potential threats to consider when preserving coffee are oxygen, moisture, heat, sunlight, and time. In this blog, we will help you avoid these threats by covering what to store your coffee in, where to store it, and the optimal time frame for consuming coffee.
The Container Matters
To maintain the freshest coffee possible, it is best to keep coffee beans in an opaque, air-tight container. This prevents oxygen and sunlight from degrading the coffee.
Often, the bags that coffee come in are not ideal for storing beans long term. Once the bags are opened, they are typically not air-tight, so oxygen will degrade the quality of the beans faster. If you prefer to keep coffee in a bag, it is best that the bag is lined and that there is a zip-lock to prevent air from getting inside.
It is beautiful but do not store your coffee in a see-through container
See-through glass can be very aesthetic for you home; however, if coffee is stored in glass, sunlight will compromise the flavor of the beans. There are plenty of pretty opaque canisters that are airtight and will preserve beans properly. I purchased mine from T.J. Maxx, but you can find a container basically anywhere: Amazon, Target, Anthropologie, ect.
Where to Store Your Beans
Surprisingly, where coffee is stored can affect how your coffee will taste once it is brewed.
Try keeping coffee beans away from places that tend to get hot. For example, placing coffee near a toaster oven or microwave can cause the beans to heat up and degrade the structure of the bean. This will result in a bitter or flavorless cup of coffee once it is brewed.
It is best to avoid putting coffee in the fridge or freezer. Coffee is porous -- the moisture from the fridge or freezer can cause the oils within the bean to be pushed to the surface. This will lead to the beans expiring at a faster rate. Additionally, the coffee can absorb flavors from food in the fridge or freezer. So, to prevent coffee from tasting like celery or fish, keep it out of the fridge.
Avoid putting coffee in the fridge or the freezer
The best location to store coffee is in a cool, dry place. This could be in an area on the counter that is out of the way of sunlight or in a pantry. I store my coffee in the drawer of my bar cart so that it is away from light and any appliances that would expose it to change in temperature.
Purchase Small Batch and Whole Bean
Typically, the rule of thumb is to consume beans within 1-2 weeks of opening and only grind your beans right before brewing. You can still consume the coffee after the 2-week period; however, people often say that the flavor of the bean will greatly diminish after this time.
When purchasing beans from a roastery, check the roast date. Once coffee is roasted, it is suggested to wait about 72 to 96 hours before consumption. This allows the coffee to release enough carbon dioxide so that it won’t compromise the flavor of the coffee. Typically, when purchasing beans there will be a vent on the bag that allows them to off-gas the carbon dioxide without allowing oxygen in that would degrade the quality of the bean. Once the packaging is open, the 1-2 week time frame should be applied to experience the best quality flavor of coffee.
Purchase whole beans and grind right before brewing
As for purchasing ground coffee, don’t do it unless you have to. As soon as coffee is ground, the quality of the coffee decreases at a quicker rate since there is more surface area exposed to the potential threats mentioned in the intro (i.e. oxygen, moisture, heat, sunlight, and time). When the coffee bean is whole, the inner portion of the bean is protected, so it is best to purchase beans whole and grind them directly before brewing. This keeps the beans fresher for a longer period of time, and preserves the intended flavor of the coffee.
Follow these Steps to Properly Store Your Coffee
Store in an opaque, airtight container
Avoid appliances that heat up
Don’t put it in the fridge or freezer
Consume within 1-2 weeks of opening
Purchase whole bean coffee and wait to grind the beans until you brew
Be sure to follow these steps to brew the freshest tasting coffee at home! Please let me know in the comments if you already use these methods, or if you’ve tried them out after this post. How does it work for you? Until the next update, let’s keep making a difference!
