How to Keep Your Beans Fresh at Home
A few simple habits make a real difference to how your coffee tastes days after roasting. Here's what actually matters and what doesn't.
One of the most common questions we get at the counter is how to store coffee properly once it's home. The short answer is: keep it away from air, light, heat and moisture, and try to buy only what you'll use within a few weeks.
An opaque, airtight container does most of the work. Clear glass jars look nice on a shelf but let light degrade the beans faster than you'd think, especially if they sit near a window. A cupboard away from the oven or hob is usually the best spot in most kitchens.
The freezer is a trickier subject. It can work for long-term storage of whole beans in a sealed bag, but opening and closing that bag repeatedly introduces moisture and temperature swings that can do more harm than good. If you do freeze beans, it's best to portion them out first so each bag is only opened once.
Finally, try to grind just before brewing rather than in advance. Ground coffee loses its aroma far quicker than whole beans, sometimes within the hour, so a hand grinder or a decent electric one is a worthwhile investment if you're serious about what's in your cup.
