How to properly store coffee beans so that they remain flavorful for a long time: useful tips

Coffee is a drink without which it is very difficult to imagine the morning of almost every person. It is a very tasty and invigorating drink that can be prepared and served in many different ways. But it is very important to remember that beans and ground coffee must be properly stored to keep the drink flavorful and tasty.

The FoodOboz editorial team shares useful tips to help you store ground coffee and beans properly. The tips were published by INSIDER.

How long can coffee be stored?

Max Gualtieri, an experienced barista, coffee roaster, and founder of Joules and Watts Coffee, says that there are a number of factors that determine how long coffee stays fresh.

"The type of coffee, mainly the variety and degree of roasting, can affect the longevity of coffee," the expert says.

It is very important to know that coffee freshness is affected by moisture, heat, and oxygen.

Gualtieri says that the best thing to do is to buy whole beans so that coffee stays fresh longer.

"Whole beans have a smaller total surface area than ground coffee, which means that whole beans are less exposed to oxygen, which slows down the oxidation process, resulting in a stale coffee taste," the barista says.

Most roasting experts recommend brewing whole coffee beans within the first two weeks after roasting. However, with proper storage, they can last up to two months.

"Ground coffee starts to lose its flavor as soon as you grind it," Gaultieri says.

To keep your coffee as fresh as possible, brew it right after grinding the beans.

Once coffee is ground, it loses its flavor about sixteen times faster than whole bean coffee. If the coffee is pre-ground, it should last about a week before it loses its flavor.

It is best to store coffee in its original packaging

Gualtieri says it's important to store the beans in the right packaging to help with degassing and oxidation, which are the two main processes that change the flavor of coffee.

"During degassing, the carbon dioxide that is formed in the beans during the roasting process is released from the beans. When carbon dioxide is released from the beans, it carries with it compounds that determine the flavor and aroma. After the carbon dioxide is released, it is replaced by oxygen, which seeps into the porous beans, which also leads to a duller flavor," Gualtieri explains.

It's worth noting that, according to the expert, exposure to air further increases oxidation, which makes the choice of storage location very important.

By preventing contact with air, you can slow down this process.

The best way to store coffee

Coffee is best stored in its original packaging, which has a one-way valve that allows carbon dioxide to escape and prevents oxygen from entering.

"If the original packaging does not have a degassing valve or you prefer to pour the beans into another container, be sure to use an opaque, airtight container," the barista advises.

What affects the freshness of coffee

1. Heat and moisture

2. Sunlight

How to store ground coffee?

"It is best to grind coffee just before brewing. Grinding coffee exposes all the flavorful compounds in the beans to the air. This accelerates the processes that cause coffee to spoil, so to prevent coffee from becoming stale faster, brew it immediately after grinding," the expert summarized.