Storing Coffee
At work I am often confronted with the question of how best to store coffee. Yesterday two gentlemen came into my store to buy coffee and asked just that. While talking to them another gentleman behind them was listening and his eyes grew wide when I gave my explanation. All this time he had been doing the wrong thing, but assuming that he knew what he was doing he had never asked the question. Relief filled his face as he said ‘Well you learn something new everyday!’ So for those of you who want to join in on the knowledge of storing coffee, then here it is.
Let’s start with whole beans. Putting beans into the refrigerator should be avoided as it is pointless. It doesn’t slow the changes in flavour so all they are doing is taking up space in your refrigerator! On the other hand, freezing whole coffee beans for up to three or four months will make them last longer and keep their flavour better than keeping them in the cupboard for the same length of time. However, some experts believe that freezing coffee beans can change the taste of the coffee as coffee oils can congeal and lose their original consistency. For this reason dark roast coffee beans (which have the highest oil content) is perhaps not the best idea in the world!
Moving on to ground coffee, this should never be stored in the refrigerator. Most of the components that go to make a good cup of coffee are water soluble so any contact with moisture and high humidity should be avoided. The refrigerator is the most humid place in the home and it contains odours which can affect the flavour of your coffee. Ground coffee should also never be put into the freezer this will cause it to lose flavour as well. The water vapour in the air will get into the coffee causing it to deteriorate.
Once coffee has been ground it should be stored in an airtight container away from direct sunlight. To get the best flavour from your coffee you should use it within two weeks of grinding it.
The best solution to the problem of storing coffee is not to store it, but to purchase small amounts more frequently. This would then keep both of the coffee drinker and seller happy, a win-win situation if ever there was one. This is a common practice among the Italians who are known to purchase coffee several times a week in quantities of perhaps 100g.
‘Just enough of a good thing is too little.’
Marquis of Halifax, Miscellaneous Thoughts and Reflections: ‘Youth’.
Let’s start with whole beans. Putting beans into the refrigerator should be avoided as it is pointless. It doesn’t slow the changes in flavour so all they are doing is taking up space in your refrigerator! On the other hand, freezing whole coffee beans for up to three or four months will make them last longer and keep their flavour better than keeping them in the cupboard for the same length of time. However, some experts believe that freezing coffee beans can change the taste of the coffee as coffee oils can congeal and lose their original consistency. For this reason dark roast coffee beans (which have the highest oil content) is perhaps not the best idea in the world!
Moving on to ground coffee, this should never be stored in the refrigerator. Most of the components that go to make a good cup of coffee are water soluble so any contact with moisture and high humidity should be avoided. The refrigerator is the most humid place in the home and it contains odours which can affect the flavour of your coffee. Ground coffee should also never be put into the freezer this will cause it to lose flavour as well. The water vapour in the air will get into the coffee causing it to deteriorate.
Once coffee has been ground it should be stored in an airtight container away from direct sunlight. To get the best flavour from your coffee you should use it within two weeks of grinding it.
The best solution to the problem of storing coffee is not to store it, but to purchase small amounts more frequently. This would then keep both of the coffee drinker and seller happy, a win-win situation if ever there was one. This is a common practice among the Italians who are known to purchase coffee several times a week in quantities of perhaps 100g.
‘Just enough of a good thing is too little.’
Marquis of Halifax, Miscellaneous Thoughts and Reflections: ‘Youth’.
posted by The Coffee Bloke | 4:28 pm
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