The Proper Way to Store Whole Bean and Ground Coffee –

2025-01-08
Posted by PSEDEN

How to store whole bean and ground coffee? Good news! We found the right way in this article. Follow these steps to keep it fresh! Coffee is best stored in a dry, airtight container. When storing your favorite blends at home, avoid air, moisture, heat, and light. Here are quick facts on how to properly store coffee beans and grounds for maximum freshness. and taste.

The Proper Way to Store Whole Bean and Ground Coffee - coffee beans photo

coffee storage location

While convenience is key (who wants to go get coffee at 6 a.m.?), you want to store your coffee to keep it fresh and delicious. Consider this:

Choose a cool, dark, dry place, such as in a pantry or cupboard.
Do not store coffee in the refrigerator or freezer; humidity can cause moisture to seep into the packaging.
Avoid placing in warm areas such as above/next to an oven or in cupboards that may become hot from exposure to sunlight or cooking equipment.
You can place your coffee on the counter if it is in an opaque, airtight container, out of direct sunlight and away from any heat sources.

Coffee container type

Once the vacuum-sealed package is opened, the coffee begins to lose its freshness quickly. Therefore, it is best to transfer your coffee to a dedicated coffee can as soon as possible.

For best results, use opaque glass, ceramic, or non-reactive metal containers with airtight seals.
Clear glass or plastic containers should be kept in a dark place.

Coffee freshness over time

Coffee begins to lose freshness immediately after roasting; the flavor reaches its peak over the next few days. Ground coffee is best consumed within one to two weeks after roasting, and whole beans within a month. Here are some tips to keep your coffee tasting its best:

Always buy freshly roasted coffee in quantities that will last you one to two weeks. (Most coffee subscription services offer beans roasted to order.) Then, store them properly.
Seal large amounts of coffee in an airtight container and store in a cool, dark place, and place smaller amounts of coffee in another container for daily use. Open the larger container only when the smaller container needs to be refilled. This reduces much of the coffee’s exposure to air.

Ground coffee vs. whole beans

Ground coffee has a higher surface area and spoils faster than whole beans. If you have the time, energy, and equipment, grind your own coffee beans every morning. If you’re not ready for this level of commitment, you can still have delicious, fresh coffee if you use whole beans within a month of roasting and ground coffee beans within two weeks of roasting.

DIY roasting and grinding

If you’re a coffee connoisseur, you might want to try buying, roasting, and grinding your own green coffee beans. Green coffee beans are usually available from high-end coffee retailers. Green beans store better and have a longer shelf life than roasted coffee beans; if stored properly, they can stay fresh for more than a year.

With a little work, you can roast green coffee beans at home and grind them as needed to get the freshest coffee possible.

During the first few days after coffee is roasted, coffee beans release large amounts of carbon dioxide. Store them in a valve-seal bag or in an airtight container and open the container once a day for the first few days after baking to release any built-up carbon dioxide.

Purchase instructions

For the freshest coffee, choose a brand that uses valve seals rather than vacuum seal packaging.

Vacuum-sealed coffee must be aged before packaging because the gases released from the coffee can cause the bag to swell or even rupture. In contrast, valve-sealed coffee allows gas to escape from the coffee package but not air to enter, so it can be packaged immediately after roasting.