How to Store Specialty Coffee to Keep It Fresh
Specialty coffee offers extraordinary flavor and aroma. It is only natural that you want to protect it and ensure every cup is just as enjoyable. Storing it the right way can help keep your coffee fresh. However, storing coffee is not as complicated as you might think.
If you’re wondering how to store coffee beans, these specialty coffee storage tips will show you how to keep coffee fresh for longer.
Why Freshness Matters
Coffee starts to lose its freshness as soon as it is roasted. The more complex and nuanced it is, the more it has to lose. For this reason, specialty coffee, known for its intricate flavors and aromas, is worth protecting. Although you might not notice drastic changes between freshly roasted coffee and coffee that was roasted a few weeks ago, if you wait long enough, you’ll start to notice the difference.
For freshness, whole beans are often the best alternative, as they stay fresh longer than ground coffee; they simply have a smaller surface area exposed to oxygen. The container where you store the coffee is important, too.
Choose the Right Container
When possible, keep your coffee in its original bag. Good coffee bags are designed to protect the coffee from oxygen, moisture, and light. Even when it is opened, it is still a good idea to keep the coffee in its original bag.
If you decide to transfer it to another container, simply ensure that it is airtight and protects the coffee from direct sunlight and heat sources. You might want to display your coffee and keep it within easy reach, but a cool, dark place, such as a cabinet or pantry, is a better option.
Keep Coffee Away from Heat and Light
Coffee, like all organic matter, undergoes slow chemical changes over time. Oxygen oxidizes it, and direct sunlight can break down some of its most delicate flavor compounds. Heat can accelerate these processes, making your coffee lose its freshness faster.
Protecting your coffee from heat sources and light is essential. Although you might be tempted to store it in the fridge, coffee can absorb unwanted aromas and be exposed to moisture. Instead, keep it somewhere dry, such as a cupboard away from your stove.
How Much Coffee Should You Buy?
How much coffee to buy depends largely on your habits and the people you share it with. Modern packaging, including airtight bags, pods, and capsules, helps coffee stay fresh longer. As long as you don’t open the bag, your coffee will stay fresh for weeks.
It’s always better to order smaller amounts of coffee more often rather than buying large quantities and storing them yourself. Ordering frequently also means your coffee is more likely to have been roasted closer to when you consume it.
The Best Way to Store Coffee
Storing coffee is not as complicated as some sources make it look. Keep your coffee as whole beans when possible, store it airtight in a cool, dark place, and only grind what you need.
At the end of the day, coffee is organic matter, and it will lose its freshness and flavor over time, so buy only what you expect to consume over the next few weeks, and then get some more. Smaller, more frequent orders are also an opportunity to try new types of coffee, so it’s a win-win.
To ensure you receive your coffee at peak freshness, order from Hayman Coffee, all our coffee is roasted on the same day it is shipped to you, and we offer free worldwide shipping!
