what to know when storing coffee at home

One of the easiest things to overlook when brewing coffee at home is how to properly store your coffee. From the container you use to the location you choose, there are a few factors to keep in mind. 

Container Choice

Keep your coffee fresh in an opaque glass or plastic container, a ceramic container, or a container made from a non-reactive metal like stainless steel, and make sure it has an airtight seal. Each of these materials is optimal for maintaining coffee freshness because they add nothing to the taste of your coffee. 

Location

Keep your coffee container in a dark location because light exposure will cause your coffee to go stale. Opaque containers are the best for storing coffee because light can’t pass through them as easily, but you can use a glass container as long as you store it in a dark place like a cabinet

Temperature

Storing your coffee in warm areas can cause them to lose flavor. You should avoid keeping them areas above your oven, next to your fridge, or beside your microwave. If your coffee is kept in a warm area, it is likely receiving some extra, unwanted humidity that will cause the beans to go bad in a short period of time. 

Keeping it Fresh 

Ground coffee: good for 1-2 weeks 

Whole beans: 1 month 

If you purchase your coffee in large bags, keep out enough for a few days and store it in a separate container from the rest of the coffee. The majority of your beans (or grounds) should be stored in a separate container to reduce the amount of air exposure to the bulk of your coffee. 

The best way to keep your coffee fresh is to grind your coffee when it’s time to brew, rather than storing pre-ground coffee. This, combined with storing your whole beans in an air tight container, will help you get the most out of your beans for a fresh tasting cup of coffee.

Once whole beans are ground, there is a higher proportion of surface area, which causes them to go stale much more quickly. The best way to keep your coffee fresh is to grind your coffee when it’s time to brew, rather than storing pre-ground coffee. This, combined with storing your whole beans in an air tight container, will help you get the most out of your beans for a fresh tasting cup of coffee.

The Freezer vs Room Temperature Debate

You may have noticed your grandparents storing coffee in the fridge and thought they were crazy, but there’s actually some science behind it. If you read into the great Fridge vs Room Temperature debate, you’ll see that there are pros and cons to both.

Once a bean is roasted, it begins to age. It loses some flavor each day, until it goes completely stale. The freezer is said to lock in those flavors if the coffee is stored in an air-tight bag. For the freezer method to worth it, you have to remove the coffee from it’s bag and pour it into a vacuum sealed bag or container. Set your beans out to thaw a few minutes before grinding them. Your beans should stay fresh for up to 2 years in the freezer. 

On the other side of the debate are those who say that coffee is ruined by being kept in the freezer because it compromises the flavor if it isn’t sealed properly, which can easily happen. All it takes is for a small amount of moisture to find its way into the freezer (think about how many times you open the door) and into a tiny inconsistently in the seal of your bag or container. Storing coffee at room temperature is said to maintain the flavors of your beans, but with this you have to accept that they’ll have a shorter shelf life. 

If you’re unsure where you stand in this debate, here are the most important things to remember when storing your coffee.

  • Use containers with an airtight seal

  • Separate your beans into two containers

  • Store one of them in an area you do not constantly get into

  • Store them in a cool, dark place away from direct light