After paying good money for coffee beans, the last thing the consumer needs is to see that product deteriorate after a few weeks. Follow this guide to help you keep your coffee at its best.
Many consumers tend to buy their coffee at the store, either in bean form or grounded. However, what happens after they bring it home is critical to maintaining the freshness of the coffee. Without doing some testing on their own, most people tend to rely on hearsay and store their coffee in the freezer. While this may sound like a good idea from the start, as the temperatures are low enough to keep the coffee from oxidizing, what actually happens is that the coffee itself is attacked by the moisture in the fridge, particularly if their is space within the bag storing the coffee. This moisture can itself cause coffee to oxidize.
Secondly, people rely on other products on the market, such as vacuum bags or coffee pod containers. While it makes sense that without the presence of air particles, this should also keep the coffee from oxidizing. There is yet a product on the market that can hold the pressure of the vacuum without failing after many weeks. Most containers just do not hold the required vacuum for long enough. There is also feedback from many coffee connoisseurs that the vacuum can also suck out the oils from within the bean. Without this essential oil, the consumer will lose the important crema when extracting their coffee.
The most effective way to store your coffee, is the also the most simple. Keep your coffee stored in its original paper bag that it came in. Squeeze out all the air in it, and keep it rolled up with an elastic band. This may sound simple, but it is also the best method for storing your coffee. Keep it in a cool and dark place away from sunlight, as any light can also damage coffee. If you live in a humid environment, then check that where you keep it is also a dry place. It helps to throw in a decanter bag in amongst the coffee, so extract any moister in the remaining air.
Phillipe Smith is a long time coffee addict. Keeping coffee fresh is a priority in his family. For more information on how to store your coffee, visit this link.
