Like other foods grown from the earth, coffee tastes best when it’s fresh. So how can you maintain the freshness of your coffee beans? Follow these 5 easy steps below and learn how to keep your coffee’s flavor alive.

  1. Buy whole bean: Whole bean coffee maintains its flavor longer than ground coffee, which tends to lose its distinct taste about an hour after opening. It’s best to buy whole bean and grind it as soon as you’re ready to brew.
  1. Buy the right amount: The cardinal rule to keeping coffee fresh is: buy only the appropriate amount. You should have just enough for about two weeks worth of coffee drinking, or else you risk spoiling it. Although coffee can remain fresh in an airtight container for up to two years, never open a package and leave it sitting on your counter for more than a few weeks. It’s best to buy small packages of a coffee at a time.
  1. Look for the right packaging: Packaging is another determinant of coffee’s freshness. For roasted coffee that lasts the longest, look for containers that have plastic film covering the top or a foil bag that flushes out nitrogen; each should also include a heat seal (a valve lock is best for keeping external air out). This type of packaging helps maintain the moisture of the coffee beans, keeping them fresh longer. Again, whole beans are best and will be better protected when packaged as such. Coffee in plastic bags or wax lined sealed bags should be avoided as they are more likely to let in air; the oxidation will cause beans to go stale.
  1. Open at the right time: You should open coffee containers right before you intend to drink the coffee. Roasted beans lose their freshness within just a few days of opening; ground coffee goes bad even quicker. Remember never to keep coffee near an oven or window, as it’s subject to harsh temperatures that may spoil it quicker.
  1. Store correctly: Storing your coffee is essential to keeping it fresh. Place opened beans in a clean and dry container that’s airtight, and store in a dark location at room temperature. Extreme heat, cold and light have a negative impact on the aroma and flavor of all types of coffee. Unlike popular belief, putting coffee in the fridge does not help it last longer: Moisture in the fridge or freezer is damaging to coffee’s freshness, and odors in fridge spaces may also hamper its natural taste and aroma. Glass and ceramic containers are best for keeping damaging external factors at bay.

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