We share our best practices for safely and efficiently storing your coffee.
Ok, so you just received a bag of your favorite Royal Cup or H.C. Valentine coffee in the mail. You're beyond excited, and vigorously tear the box open while standing in your driveway. As your neighbors stare at you from across the street you drop to your knees and emphatically thank the heavens for this caffeinated nectar. You rush inside to begin preparing a cup. You gently cut open the coffee bag, hands shaking in excitement, and begin to prepare the beans. However, as your coffee begins brewing your excitement leaves you; the clock is now ticking. Those delicious little nuggets of caffeinated gold are now losing their freshness by the second. What do you do?
First off take a deep breath; it's just coffee for goodness sake (albeit the best coffee around). We have you covered. Check out 3 easy tips to help properly store your favorite coffee!
How long will unopened coffee last?
Typically unopened bags of coffee will keep for about 1 year. But remember, once a bag's seal has been broken, flavor loss begins. Note: Best practice tip from National Coffee Association - "Coffee begins to lose freshness almost immediately after roasting, so it is far better to purchase it in smaller quantities. Buy freshly roasted coffee frequently, and buy only what you will use in the next one or two weeks."
What's the best way to store opened coffee bags?
We recommend keeping your coffee inside a reasonably cool, dark cupboard closed with a bag clip. Where do you normally store your bread at your house? Could be a great place to also store your opened coffee bags. To get a little more life out of your coffee you can also pour it into an airtight container. You can find a host of great containers on Amazon and Google. Recently we have been really enjoying the EVAK Containers by Prepara to store our coffee and loose leaf tea around the office.
Should I freeze or refrigerate my coffee?
We would have to say probably not. Refrigerating or freezing opened coffee will not extend its shelf life. Freezing your coffee always raises the risk that your coffee could get freezer burn. Coffee is also hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs the smells of the environment it is in. So you probably don't want that week old tuna casserole in the same area as your coffee.
