10 Amazing Expert Tips for Coffee Storage: Prolong Freshness for ALL types
Proper coffee storage ensures the freshness and flavor of your favorite brew.
Storing coffee might seem straightforward, but there are key factors to consider to maintain its best quality. Storage is important not just for the flavor, but also for the lifespan of your coffee beans!
Check out this video to learn more (brought to you by Coffee Kev)!
From the moment they’re roasted, coffee beans undergo changes that can significantly impact the taste. Understanding the principles of storage is an essential step toward a better cup of coffee.
| Coffee Type | Best Storage Option |
|---|---|
| Arabica Beans ☕ | • Airtight container • Away from light, heat, and moisture • Use within two weeks of roasting |
| Robusta Beans ☕ | • Airtight container • Cool, dark place • Avoid refrigeration/freezing • Away from strong odors |
| Ground Coffee ☕ | • Air-tight and opaque containers • Cool, dark place • Avoid refrigeration/freezing • Buy in small quantities • Avoid clear containers |
Get ready to dive deep into the world of storing coffee and ensure your daily dose always ticks all the right boxes!
1. Best Ways to Store Coffee Beans: Coffee Storage Tips
When it comes to storing coffee, there are some practices that can notably extend the shelf life and maintain the quality of your coffee.
Whether storing coffee beans or ground coffee, it’s crucial to understand appropriate storage conditions to prevent staleness and flavor loss.
We recommend you store your coffee in an airtight container to protect it from exposure to air, light, heat, and moisture, which can deteriorate its quality:
- Glass,
- ceramic,
- non-reactive metal containers
with airtight seals are highly recommended for coffee storage.
To prevent light exposure, you could use dark-colored or opaque containers.
Keep your coffee container in a cool, dark, and dry place.
TIP: Contrary to common belief, keeping coffee in the freezer or refrigerator isn’t a good idea . Coffee can readily soak up odors and moisture from its environment, resulting in a diminished taste.
Moreover, temperature fluctuations – when moving coffee in and out of the fridge or freezer -, can cause condensation that can damage the coffee.
2. Storing Different Types of Coffee: Arabica, Robusta, Ground Coffee
Storing different types of coffee, including arabica beans and robusta beans, has a profound impact on the overall quality and flavor profile of your morning pick-me-up.
The crux of coffee storage lies in maintaining the unique characteristics of the roast and the type of bean.
Coffee Storage #1: Arabica Beans
Arabica beans contain approximately 60% more lipids and almost twice the amount of sugar than the other common type of coffee bean, Robusta. This contributes to their sweetness and complex flavor.
Proper storage is crucial for Arabica beans:
- Keep them in an airtight container.
- Keep them away from light, heat, and moisture.
- Use within two weeks of roasting to ensure the freshness and flavor quality.
Arabica is most often used in high-quality espresso blends, but it can also be used in all other brewing methods. Due to its subtler flavors, it’s best enjoyed black or with minimal additions.
Coffee Storage #2: Robusta Beans
Robusta beans, known for their higher caffeine content and strong, robust flavor, demand a different kind of attention in storage.
Here are some key points on how to store Robusta beans:
- In an airtight container: One of the main threats to coffee beans is oxygen which can degrade their quality. Keep your Robusta beans in an airtight container to minimize their exposure to air.
- Keep in a cool, dark place.
- Avoid refrigeration or freezing: Despite what some may think, coffee beans do not fare well under extremely cold temperatures.
- Purchase quality beans.
- Away from strong odors: Coffee beans are highly porous and can absorb flavors and aromas from their environment.
Coffee Storage #3: Ground Coffee
Just like for Arabica and Robusta beans, the main focus for storing ground coffee should be to limit its exposure to the elements: air, moisture, heat, and light.
- Air-tight and opaque containers: Ground coffee quickly absorbs flavors and moisture around it. Storing it in an opaque, air-tight container keeps flavors intact and prevents it from turning stale.
- Keep it in a cool, dark place.
- Avoid refrigeration or freezing.
- Buy in small quantities: Once exposed to the environment, ground coffee starts to lose its freshness. It’s best to buy smaller quantities,
- Check roasting date: The closer the roasting date, the fresher the coffee will be.
- Avoid clear containers: Even if they are air-tight, clear containers allow light to reach your coffee which can degrade its flavor.
Different roast levels further complicate coffee storage.
Light, medium, and dark roasted coffee each have their storage needs.
Darker roasts, having lost more moisture during processing, are more prone to getting stale if exposed to air for longer periods.
It’s a good practice to only buy the amount you need and store beans in airtight containers, away from light, moisture, and heat.
3. 4 Common Misconceptions About Coffee Storages: How to Preserve Coffee Freshness?
Many coffee lovers unknowingly sabotage their favorite morning ritual by storing coffee incorrectly.
Let’s debunk some myths and learn how to keep our beloved beans at their freshest:
- Preserving coffee in the fridge or freezer might seem like a good idea to maintain its freshness, but in reality, it’s not. The possibility of coffee soaking up moisture and smells from the refrigerator or freezer exists, which could harm its taste.
- Coffee should be stored in its original packaging: The packaging might not adequately shield the coffee from air, moisture, and light. It is advised to move the coffee to airtight storage containers engineered specifically for coffee preservation.
- Coffee should be ground before storage: Pre-grinding coffee and storing it is not recommended because it increases the exposure to air, which subsequently speeds up the loss of flavor. Opt for grinding your coffee beans right before brewing for a fresh and full-flavored cup.
- Warming up coffee again serves as a method to recycle it: This process of reheating coffee can modify its taste, leading to a less delightful beverage. The warmth can generate a bitter profile in the coffee and eliminate its appealing attributes. It’s recommended to prepare fresh coffee when required, as opposed to heating up previously made coffee.
