Should I leave my coffee in the bag? Or should I put it in a tin, like Grandma used to? My colleague keeps her coffee in the fridge. But what's the right way to do it?
Some of you might feel the same way. There are many myths surrounding the proper way to store coffee. But just as many of these myths are simply wrong. Don't worry – we'll explain the correct way so your coffee tastes delicious and fresh even after some time!
Why is coffee storage so important?
Coffee is a perishable product. Therefore, it also has an expiration date. As with many foods, coffee spoils more quickly if it oxidizes, is stored at temperatures that are too high or too low, or comes into contact with foreign substances. Above all, coffee is exposed to air. The oxidation process removes aromas from the coffee, or rather, the coffee releases its aromas into the air. This is why coffee left out in the open tastes bland and often only has a bitter, roasted flavor. The coffee oils can also become rancid due to exposure to air, distorting the taste. Therefore, the question of how to properly store coffee is absolutely valid!
1. Store coffee in a coffee canister.
This is actually a really good way to keep coffee fresh. You'll need a large container that seals as airtight as possible. It's important, however, that you leave the coffee in the container. If you pour it out, the coffee will start to oxidize, and then the container won't be very effective.
2. Store coffee in the refrigerator
There are differences here too. If the coffee is completely airtight, meaning unopened, then you can store it in the refrigerator or even the freezer. This will keep it fresh for significantly longer. Before using it, you absolutely must bring it back to room temperature, otherwise it won't taste good. Ideally, however, your purchasing habits should be adjusted to your coffee consumption so that you avoid this problem altogether. Freshly bought coffee simply tastes best.
If the coffee is already open, we don't recommend storing it in the refrigerator, as coffee readily absorbs odors and moisture. This can lead to your coffee suddenly tasting like onions because you had them in the fridge.
3. Should I pre-grind the coffee?
You have a pretty tin and want to save yourself some work in the future by pre-grinding your coffee. Please don't! This significantly reduces the shelf life of your coffee, and it will definitely lose all its aroma within 5-7 days. It's best to store coffee as whole beans and grind it fresh when you need it. This way, you're guaranteed the best flavor.
4. Store coffee in the bag
Since you naturally only buy high-quality specialty coffee, this is the best option. High-quality products, like our roasts, have an aroma valve. This valve allows CO2 released from the roasted beans to escape from the bag, but prevents oxygen from entering. Thanks to these specially designed bags, the coffee is thus protected from air, heat, and moisture. Therefore, our clear recommendation is: leave the coffee in the bag.
How fresh does coffee really need to be?
When we say coffee is a fresh product and tastes best fresh, we don't mean freshly roasted, because coffee needs to rest for an average of 10 days after roasting. It needs to release CO2 before it can be packaged. Before this resting period, the coffee hasn't yet developed its full flavor potential. Therefore, "fresh" is a bit of a matter of definition here.
We hope you learned something from this week's blog post! As always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask! We're happy to help.
Your SIMON&BEARNS Team
Coffee storage - 4 do's & don'ts
Should I leave my coffee in the bag? Or should I put it in a tin, like Grandma used to? My colleague keeps her coffee in the fridge. But what's the right way to do it?
Some of you might feel the same way. There are many myths surrounding the proper way to store coffee. But just as many of these myths are simply wrong. Don't worry – we'll explain the correct way so your coffee tastes delicious and fresh even after some time!
Why is coffee storage so important?
Coffee is a perishable product. Therefore, it also has an expiration date. As with many foods, coffee spoils more quickly if it oxidizes, is stored at temperatures that are too high or too low, or comes into contact with foreign substances. Above all, coffee is exposed to air. The oxidation process removes aromas from the coffee, or rather, the coffee releases its aromas into the air. This is why coffee left out in the open tastes bland and often only has a bitter, roasted flavor. The coffee oils can also become rancid due to exposure to air, distorting the taste. Therefore, the question of how to properly store coffee is absolutely valid!
1. Store coffee in a coffee canister.
This is actually a really good way to keep coffee fresh. You'll need a large container that seals as airtight as possible. It's important, however, that you leave the coffee in the container. If you pour it out, the coffee will start to oxidize, and then the container won't be very effective.
2. Store coffee in the refrigerator
There are differences here too. If the coffee is completely airtight, meaning unopened, then you can store it in the refrigerator or even the freezer. This will keep it fresh for significantly longer. Before using it, you absolutely must bring it back to room temperature, otherwise it won't taste good. Ideally, however, your purchasing habits should be adjusted to your coffee consumption so that you avoid this problem altogether. Freshly bought coffee simply tastes best.
If the coffee is already open, we don't recommend storing it in the refrigerator, as coffee readily absorbs odors and moisture. This can lead to your coffee suddenly tasting like onions because you had them in the fridge.
3. Should I pre-grind the coffee?
You have a pretty tin and want to save yourself some work in the future by pre-grinding your coffee. Please don't! This significantly reduces the shelf life of your coffee, and it will definitely lose all its aroma within 5-7 days. It's best to store coffee as whole beans and grind it fresh when you need it. This way, you're guaranteed the best flavor.
4. Store coffee in the bag
Since you naturally only buy high-quality specialty coffee, this is the best option. High-quality products, like our roasts, have an aroma valve. This valve allows CO2 released from the roasted beans to escape from the bag, but prevents oxygen from entering. Thanks to these specially designed bags, the coffee is thus protected from air, heat, and moisture. Therefore, our clear recommendation is: leave the coffee in the bag.
How fresh does coffee really need to be?
When we say coffee is a fresh product and tastes best fresh, we don't mean freshly roasted, because coffee needs to rest for an average of 10 days after roasting. It needs to release CO2 before it can be packaged. Before this resting period, the coffee hasn't yet developed its full flavor potential. Therefore, "fresh" is a bit of a matter of definition here.
We hope you learned something from this week's blog post! As always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask! We're happy to help.
Your SIMON&BEARNS Team