Perfect Coffee Storage Tips

By Todd Langwell

Looking for the perfect cup of Java? Confused about conflicting tips on how best to store coffee? Look no further. Here is the real low-down on how to keep your favorite coffee beans fresh and full of flavor.

Grind beans as you need them. Keeping coffee in its whole-bean state is always recommended, and the "grind as you go" method is guaranteed to produce the freshest-tasting coffee. Types of grinders range from antique hand-crank grinders, to blade grinders, to the preferred adjustable burr grinder. Low-end for a quality burr grinder is about $35 and can be priced well over $100, but blade and hand grinders are available for as little as $10.

Keep beans in an airtight container. Air is the chief enemy of coffee flavor. Keeping your coffee in an airtight container is the best way to ensure a long and richly flavored life for your favorite beans. Opaque Mason jars with a rubber seal are perfect for keeping air out and taste in. Other good options include solid zip-seal bags and securely locking decorative tins.

Keep beans in a cool, dark place. Light is another infamous degrader of coffee flavor. Heat will also work to breakdown the oils and sugars that provide the robust taste that coffee lovers crave. The best policy is to keep your coffee container on a lower shelf of a well-ventilated pantry. Because light is damaging to coffee, transparent containers, while attractive, are not recommended for storage.

Do not keep coffee in the refrigerator. Contrary to popular belief, the refrigerator is perhaps the worst possible place to store coffee. The reason for this is that beans hate moisture. Keeping beans dry is imperative, and when stored in a freezer or refrigerator, coffee is subjected to condensation, which can degrade flavor and cause beans to mold. The best rule of thumb is to keep beans in a cool (not cold) dry place.

Only buy as much coffee as you will use in two weeks. The two-week rule is a great guide for coffee freshness. While buying coffee in bulk may seem attractive from a price perspective, for truly fresh coffee, buying in smaller amounts is best. Even the best airtight containers will still subject the beans to flavor-killing oxygen as it is repeatedly opened. If you must buy coffee in bulk, consider a vacuum sealing system to keep the stored portions fresh and safe from air and moisture.

Again, remember these basic rules of the perfect cup:

• The enemies of coffee are light, air and moisture.
• Buy fresh coffee regularly and always store it in a cool, dry place.
• And finally, the best-tasting bean is a freshly ground bean.

Following this coffee storage wisdom is sure to produce a cup of brew that will bring the joy of the freshest coffee to every Java lover. Bon Appetit!

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