Coffee drinkers all differ in their opinions about the best way to store beans, and insist on doing everything from freezing coffee to storing it whole in glass canisters. So what is truly the best way to preserve the flavor of coffee grounds?
According to the National Coffee Association, coffee's biggest enemies are air, moisture, heat, and light — in that order. Contact with air causes coffee to lose flavor; moisture will make it deteriorate more rapidly; heat will spoil it; and sunlight will cause beans to taste stale.
Transfer coffee grounds to a container with an airtight seal, and store them in a cool, dark, dry place, where they will keep for as long as two weeks. When possible, buy valve-sealed (not vacuum-sealed) whole beans, and grind them right before brewing them.
Generally, coffee shouldn't be frozen — the extreme cold will break down the bean's oils, and the very porous grounds will easily absorb other flavors in the freezer. If you've got a surplus of coffee, however, you can freeze it in a pinch. But know that you shouldn't return it to the freezer after it's been removed — and never place it in the refrigerator.
Got a burning question? Contact us.
Converse
Acne Jeans
Jovovich-Hawk
I'm not so sure this is a burning question at all. It's been answered quite definitively quite some time ago, as long as you seek out people who know what they are talking about -- rather than those who hold on to "old wives' tales" who accept them as fact.
1I have always wondered about this actually.
2The biggest difference is with whole beans vs. pre-ground ones. I always buy the whole beans and grind them immediately before I'm going to use them so they have the freshest possible taste.
3Most of this is fine, except that I will sharply disagree with the "use it in two weeks" bit. By the time two weeks have gone, the coffee will be stale. Use it within five days, seven at absolute most, from date of roasting, NOT date of purchase. If you don't believe me, get some roasted yesterday, and compare it with whatever you've been drinking. You'll never tolerate that old stuff again. Better yet, learn to roast at home, always fresh! And its not nearly as difficult as you'd think.
One more small thing: in choosing the size for the sealable container, choose one with minimal extra space in it. If you buy the roasted coffee in one pound bags, (typical), consider having two containers, each holding about half the bag. Use out of one until its gone, then open the second, which will have kept fresher by not having new air intrude.
4I don't drink it fast enough to store 4 only 2 weeks in an airtight container?! Any other suggestions? I buy organic so I hv no choice other than 2 freeze it. I just seal it up good so no moisture gets in.
5Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.