Important: How to Properly Store Coffee
So you finally did it: you splurged on a well-designed bag of whole beans from your favorite third-wave coffee shop. You carry the bag like a cherished infant home and prepare yourself a cup, curious to see if your palate can pick up on the tasting notes stated on the package: black cherry, dark chocolate, and caramel.
But, as you pat yourself on the back, pleased with both your purchase and your palate—perhaps more blackberry than black cherry?—you have a thought.
When your gaze falls on that open bag, you begin to perspire, thinking how to maintain your beans at their freshest and most delectable state.
There are three basic questions you should ask to keep your best beans in top shape and produce better-tasting coffee at home, and we have the answers.
Is There a Difference Between Storing Whole vs. Pre-Ground Coffee Beans?
Freshly ground beans, according to experts, produce the greatest tasting cup of coffee. The longer you wait between grinding and brewing, the more probable your beans have started to oxidize, resulting in a batch that is less fragrant and full-flavored. So, if you're a coffee connoisseur with a penchant for high-end beans, get into the habit of purchasing them whole and grinding them yourself just before brewing.
It couldn't be easier to keep your leftover whole beans—the ideal vessel is usually the bag the beans came in. Foil-lined bags with a one-way valve keep oxygen out while allowing carbon dioxide emitted by newly roasted beans to escape. If your beans come in a paper bag or other type of packaging without a one-way valve, transfer them to a clean, dry, opaque, airtight container and store them in a cold, dry location away from direct sunlight.
If you prefer the convenience of pre-ground beans, store them in the same way you would whole beans in a paper bag: clean and dry, opaque, airtight container in a dark, cool location. In a nutshell, avoid contact with air, moisture, light, and heat, and your beans (ground or whole) will be considered adequately stored.
What Is the Shelf Life of Coffee Beans?
Whole coffee beans can survive up to three months if stored properly, but just because they aren't stale or rotten doesn't mean they're still fresh. It's best to brew your beans between one and two weeks after opening the container for the most vibrant cups with the most taste. Pre-ground beans can be kept at room temperature for about a week.
Coffee beans can be frozen or refrigerated.
Coffee is hygroscopic (a fancy term for absorbent) and putting it in the fridge exposes it to both aromas and moisture, both of which will affect the flavor of your coffee and cause it to lose freshness faster. The fridge isn't a good place to keep coffee.
When it comes to freezing coffee beans, though, the answer isn't so simple. While most experts do not recommend freezing coffee, they also do not advise against it. Freezing beans can decrease the staling process, according to Peter Guiliano, chief research officer of the Specialty Coffee Association, but you shouldn't put your everyday coffee in the freezer.
Freezing coffee—especially beans in their original, unopened bag with a one-way valve—is fine, according to Erika Vonie, director of coffee at Trade, because they're kept at a consistent temperature, away from sunlight, and may be degassed.
Keeping unopened packages of whole or ground beans in the freezer for later use gets a thumbs up, but if you've been keeping a container of pre-ground coffee in the freezer and simply taking what you need every morning—you might want to reconsider your method, as keeping your coffee going back and forth, in and out of the freezer isn't ideal.
The Coffee Buying and Storing Rule of Thumb
It's easy to get caught up in the ritual of brewing a hot cup of coffee every morning, but don't get caught up in all the storage questions—the easiest way to produce the greatest brew is simply this: Purchase only as many whole beans as you'll need in the next two weeks, and store them in their original foil-lined bag with a one-way valve (or an opaque airtight container) in a dark, cool location. Whether your coffee is best served hot or iced, freshly grind only what you need, when you need it, and you're set to go.
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