Is there anything better than the smell of freshly roasted coffee? While nothing can make coffee last forever, following proper coffee storage principles will keep your beans fresh for as long as possible. While the best way to store coffee beans is an airtight container that keeps out air, moisture, and light, I decided to write a short post detailing other tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years for storing coffee beans that keep them tasting great for up to a month.
Especially if you’re forking over extra money for specialty coffee beans, the correct storage of coffee will keep your beans tasting fresh as long as possible!
**Best of Brewing is supported by our readers, and we sometimes earn a commission through the affiliate links on our website.**
Coffee Storage 101
Coffee does not expire as quickly as other perishable food in your kitchen, and even when it is past the expiration date, it is still safe to drink for several months. However, safe and delicious are completely different concepts. And if you’re a true coffee geek like me, you want to preserve the flavor and aroma of freshly roasted coffee.
The most obvious coffee storage principle is avoiding oxygen and moisture with an airtight canister. Those enemies of coffee freshness will degrade flavor and smell the fastest. Yes, many original coffee packaging is theoretically airtight. However, in my experience, an opened coffee bag never vacuum seals again and bean quality degrades within one week.
Read More: The Best Coffee Canisters And How To Choose
Why Coffee Expires
You know by this point that coffee expires, but why does that happen? Why can green coffee beans last for years but roasted beans only a month or two? Similar to cooked food, roasted coffee beans undergo certain chemical reactions that leave them susceptible to aging.
Besides the Maillard reaction that changes the color and chemical content, the caramelization of sugars occurs later in the roast. This reaction is when the bean’s complex carbohydrates break down into smaller sugars that can dissolve in water.
These compounds that dissolve in water are what give coffee its flavor, but with time and oxygen, they also break down.
How to Keep Coffee Beans Fresh Longer: Avoid These Enemies of Freshness
To properly maintain the amazing smell and taste of fresh coffee beans, it is crucial to know why coffee expires. Proper coffee bean storage is about avoiding these enemies of freshness and prolonging the life of your coffee.
So let’s check out the common factors that age coffee and how the proper storage of coffee fights against them.
Air
Most food spoils because of oxidation, and oxygen has the same aging effect on roasted coffee beans. Storing your beans in an airtight and sealed container is the best way to delay this process. Investing in a coffee grinder and grinding just before you brew will also delay the speed at which air makes your coffee go stale.
Moisture
Due to the high temperatures of coffee roasting, beans contain almost no moisture. But in a humid environment, the beans can reabsorb moisture and take on weird flavors. Moisture speeds up the aging process and can even induce mold growth. To prevent moisture, store in a dry environment and avoid regular temperature changes.
Heat and Light
Light is a form of energy. And just like fruit ripens on your counter, both heat and light will age your coffee. So while glass airtight containers are convenient, keep them out of direct sunlight.
Avoid Pre-Ground Coffee
Unfortunately, even the best coffee storage measures won’t matter much if you buy pre-ground coffee. As a whole bean, the internal structure of the coffee is protected from contact with the air. Ground coffee, however, is almost entirely exposed. That extra surface area allows oxygen to age the coffee significantly faster. Investing in a grinder at home is an ideal way to avoid this problem, and it also gives you way more flexibility over your brewing methods.
Read More: The Best Coffee Grinders Under $100: 7 Budget Coffee Grinders
Airtight Canisters: Storing Coffee Beans for Flavor
I realize that it may be surprising to a regular coffee drinker that we specialty coffee lovers even geek out about the best storage containers. However, specialty beans can be expensive, and that extra effort really does preserve freshness.
Here are my top 3 storage containers for coffee:
- Premium stainless steel & zero-BPA
- Airtight seal with CO2 release valve
- Track Freshness
- Perfect coffee lover gift
- Vacuum-sealed canister
- Powerful silicone ring that stops air, moisture, and odors
- Food-safe 304 18/8 stainless steel material
- Sleek/minimalist design
- Simple airtight top
- BPA-free plastic resists odors and stains
- Dishwasher safe
Read More: Other Top Airtight Coffee Canisters
How To Store Coffee Beans: 3 Principles
There is no avoiding time and oxygen, and your coffee will age no matter what you do. But keeping the following rules in mind will slow down the process as long as possible. Your coffee will still taste best for 1-2 weeks after its roast date, but with proper storage, you will, hopefully, not notice a change before you finish the bag.
1. Keep Coffee Beans In An Airtight Container
Many roasting companies package their coffee in resealable bags that you can close like a ziplock bag. This type of coffee bag is better than the loose-fitting/bendable ties that most have, but you should still store that bag in an airtight container for further protection.
Most coffee containers have an airtight seal, but the better models have a vacuum pump (either manual or electric) that removes any remaining air inside after you seal it.
2. Find A Cool Dark Place
Warm environments speed up aging, as do light and moisture. So once you have your beans in their airtight container, store them in a cool, dark, and dry place. A dark room-temperature cupboard is a fantastic solution.
The key is to avoid any extreme temperatures or temperature changes. Temperature changes create moisture that speeds up aging and encourages mold growth.
3. Buy Small Amounts at a Time
The National Coffee Association recommends something that may sound obvious but will go a long way to ensuring fresh coffee at home. Try to buy coffee in small batches that you can finish within a week or two. This schedule is not possible for everyone, but small batches plus the storage tips above will mean fresh coffee all the time.
How To Store Coffee Grounds
As mentioned above, the increased surface area makes storing ground coffee trickier—oxygen has much easier access to the coffee bean material. In general, you should follow the same coffee storage rules above and hope for the best. Unfortunately, there is no secret knowledge for storing coffee grounds, unless you plan to freeze them (more on that below).
The one exception I make for this rule is storing Turkish coffee. Because that method requires such a precisely fine grind, it will still taste better to buy pre-ground coffee ground on industrial machines.
Storing Coffee Beans Long Term: Can You Freeze Them?
Ideally, you would not need to store coffee long-term because you’re buying it in small batches that last you 1-2 weeks. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you want to store your beans for multiple months, freezing coffee beans is a fantastic trick that works.
Frozen beans, when packaged correctly, can maintain coffee freshness for six months to a year.
Roast Coffee at Home
Because green beans last for years, another way to ensure long-term coffee storage is to learn how to roast them at home. It might take time to learn the skills, but many people successfully roast small batches at home without any specialized equipment.
Final Thoughts on Keeping Coffee Beans Fresh
Hopefully, you have a greater appreciation for the science behind coffee freshness. Even though coffee holds up to aging more than other foods, the taste of your brewed coffee begins to degrade quickly when you fail to store the beans correctly.
Remember to avoid coffee’s enemies—air, heat, light, and moisture—to stretch out those delicious flavors as long as possible!
Want more coffee tips directly in your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter here.
FAQs
Should you store coffee in the refrigerator?
While a refrigerator seems like the perfect cool and dark environment for coffee, you should avoid storing coffee there. Fridges are too cold, the beans will absorb odors, and the regular temperature changes will cause moisture to form on your beans.
Should I store coffee beans in the freezer?
If you consume your coffee within 1-2 weeks, freezing coffee beans is not helpful. But for long-term storage, the freezer will keep your coffee fresh for six months to a year. Vacuum-seal the beans and defrost them before opening them to avoid moisture.
What container is best for coffee?
The best containers for storing coffee are airtight and opaque, and the best models will have a vacuum pump that removes air before sealing.
What does expired coffee taste like?
Expired coffee loses the delicate tasting notes that fresh beans have, which are replaced by muted and sour flavors. And in extreme cases, old coffee will taste rancid.
Pingback: Can You Freeze Coffee Beans? Yes, But Here Is How To Do It