There is a lot of discussion on the internet about how to best store your coffee beans. There are a few guidelines that we try to abide by:
- Always try to buy your coffee beans as fresh as possible after they’ve been roasted. If a roaster sells direct, go that route rather than a grocery store. You’d always check the expiry date on Milk before you buy, so why not coffee?
- Don’t freeze your coffee beans. Your grandmother may have kept her can of Foldgers in there, but there was no reason for it. Beans last longest at room temperature in an air sealed container.
- Buy whole beans, once beans are ground their shelf life shortens even further. Some say months, but I can notice the taste after a week or less.
- Grind your coffee beans fresh before your brew, preserve that freshness and brew them at their best time when they are just beginning to release their aroma from grinding.
- Keep them in an air sealed container, I always remove my beans from the bag and keep them in a sealed mason jar. Not only does it keep them fresh, but they look very smart on the counter and is a handy reminder on when it’s time to try a new roast.