There are several opinions in the coffee industry around storing coffee at home. As a reminder, here is our view on the matter:
Fresh air is coffee's greatest enemy. Oxygen and moisture within the air are quickly absorbed by the roasted beans, at the expense of their inherently delicious flavours.
When a bag is opened, in general, wholebean coffee begins to lose its flavour when left out after one week, while ground coffee can do so within an hour of opening. If you are using wholebean coffees, store them in their bags at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.
Never store your coffee in the fridge – not even in an air-tight container. Fresh roasted coffee is incredibly hygroscopic, and will quickly absorb odours in the air. A fridge normally contains strong aromas, which will then be transferred to your cup.
The best way to store coffee is in the freezer. This is because the inert environment will help to lock in the fine flavours over a much longer period of time. This method of storage is especially recommended if you are a low volume user of fresh, ground coffee.
When taking coffee out for brewing after freezing it, always ensure that you take out only as little as is needed, and return the rest of the pack back to the freezer, immediately. This is because if kept out for long periods of time, condensation will form on the grounds, and thus destroy the flavours – particularly if this water is then re-frozen. Coffee does not like frequent extreme changes of temperature.
Having said all that – best way is to drink your coffee quick while it’s fresh!
