Properly Storing Your Special Coffee

Since I have a bit of a cold and sore throat I am going to forgo my coffee tasting today.  Instead, I am educating myself on how to best store coffee so that it will retain as much flavor as possible and stay fresh longer. 

The first part is actually obvious to me.  It is better to buy coffee in whole bean form and store it in whole bean form.  (Grinding your own beans is easy and worth the effort)

The second part is a bit of a surprise to me.  Roasted whole beans should last 1 to 2 weeks, when stored at room temperature.   And, they need to be kept in an airtight container that blocks out all light.  No plastic or metal containers as they can contaminate the taste.  Ceramic is best.

I never really knew what to do with with my coffee beans.  One friend always puts hers in the refrigerator while another always puts hers in the freezer.   So, this is the deal.......the refrigerator is not an option.  It is not cold enough and the coffee will act like baking soda and absorb and deodorize the odors.  Yucko!  Freezing is an option, though.  If you know that you will not be using your awesome coffee beans in the near future or you have a large quantity then you can freeze them!  Ok, but there is more to it than just tossing them in the freezer to chill.  They should be in their original package airtight then put into a zip lock bag that has the air squeezed out.  Finally, the beans should be put into yet another bag that blocks out all light......say a brown paper bag.  Easy!  When you are ready to use your coffee, take out just how much you need and let it thaw before grinding.  Please note:  coffee should only be frozen and thawed once. 

So, freezing is an option, but not the first option to store coffee beans.  (Freezing may alter the taste)

In conclusion, keep your coffee away from the following:

* Air
* Moisture
* Excessive Heat
* Direct Sunlight



And use a special ceramic container or special vacuum coffee container to store it if you want to use it right away.

That's it for now.  I learned something and the only other thing I have to say is  "GO DUCKS!!!!"