How Comfy Are Your Beans?
A Coffee Storage Primer
Storing our coffee seems to be the last thing we give any serious thought to when it comes to coffee. I would even go so far as to say most of us don't even have a solid explanation for why we store our coffee the way we do. For some of us, we store ours like dad or Aunt Mable used to store theirs. Others of us have bought into some of the old wives' tales out there (the freezer and fridge thing to be exact). I think that some of us may even have this idea that we can put it anywhere and it'll be fine.
Well if you want to pretty much guarantee that you'll be drinking stale or off-tasting coffee in no time, stop reading. If you're still hanging with me, let's go over the basics.
Basic rule of thumb: If you're comfortable, your coffee is comfortable. Are you comfy in the fridge or the freezer? Do you like severe temperature changes? Didn't think so. Neither does your coffee.
The Don'ts of Coffee Storage:
1. Don't put it in the fridge. Coffee is very absorbent and will immediately begin absorbing the flavors of what is around it. Secondly, coffee hates humidity and the fridge is loaded with it.
2. Don't store coffee in the freezer after you have begun using it. Again, it's a moisture issue. It's actually inconclusive as to whether or not there is any benefit to putting coffee in the freezer before you use it. It's a pretty big debate that I don't advise entering. I personally think the potential negatives outweigh any potential gain you may experience.
3. Don't leave coffee unsealed and exposed to oxygen.
The Dos of Coffee Storage:
1. Store it in a sealed container, preferably a glass jar. Coffee's archnemesis is oxygen, which lives to break down and destroy your precious beans. Take out what you want to brew and then seal it back up immediately.
2. Store it at room temperature. Coffee likes stability when it comes to temperature.
3. Store it away from sunlight.
Does it Matter When I Grind My Beans?
The best way to enjoy your coffee, as you may have heard, is to grind the amount of coffee you need right before you brew it vs. grinding it all at once when you buy it. But we understand that for some folks, it's hard to justify the cost of a quality burr grinder--we totally get it! We just can't deny that grinding your whole bag of coffee at once DOES speed up the staling process, especially if it takes you a while to go through a bag.
We didn't dig into all the science behind these tips (and trust us, it exists), but hopefully it helps you with the essentials! After all, why pay good money for good coffee, only to potentially ruin it by improper storage?