by Elizabeth Kelly

Created on: February 01, 2009

Sherlock Holmes had his Moriarty. Superman cowered in the face of Kryptonite. But for your coffee beans, no matter how powerful and robust they seem, the big enemies are air and moisture. Just a hint of exposure to these dastardly elements, and your coffee's precious oils -which are the source of all that yummy flavor- will disappear as fast as the Invisible Man. When you've spent hard-earned cash on expensive beans, how can you keep them as fresh as the day they were roasted?

The Whole (Bean) Truth

Step one to keeping your coffee beans fresh is to buy and store them in whole bean form. Once ground, more of the bean is exposed to air, and the process of deterioration begins. You may have noticed that your favorite gourmet coffee shop grinds each pot before brewing, despite the fact that pre-ground would be much quicker. Purveyors of the good stuff know that fresh ground coffee from whole beans tastes considerably fresher.

Trash That Bag

When you buy coffee by the pound, the store usually packages it in those little bags with the fold-over tops. While they may seem convenient, especially of you can't resist the temptation to buy a million kinds at once, they spell trouble for your coffee's freshness. However handy they seem, never store your coffee in the bags. The flimsy paper packaging exposes the beans to air, moisture, and even smells from your home. Think of them as temporary transport, like the baggie your goldfish comes in.

Seal the Deal

Even if you purchase your coffee in a metal can, the lid is far from airtight. You'll need to transfer the coffee to another jar. Choose a ceramic, glass, or heavy plastic container with an airtight lid. Look for one that has a rubber gasket closure, like the ones often used for flour and sugar. The main point is that it is able to be sealed and keeps air from contaminating those beans. Think of your container as the Fort Knox of coffee. Tip: Pour coffee from a metal canister without spills by making a hole in the plastic lid before transferring.

Band Together

Even after reading all of the reasons why you should store coffee in a sealed container, there will still be some of you who still choose to keep it in the store bags. Whether it's because you go through it quickly, or just because you can't be bothered, your beans are in the cabinet in little, folded-over paper bags. If this is the case (and there's no changing your mind), do this at least: rubber band the top. While it's no substitute for airtight storage, using a band

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