by Leann Zotis

Created on: February 09, 2009   Last Updated: February 12, 2009

Excessive exposure to air, moisture, heat and light are the enemies of fresh coffee. For a perfect cup of coffee every time it's important to start with the freshest coffee beans. Fresh coffee beans start with proper storage of your coffee as soon as you bring it home.

Proper storage of coffee beans is as much about what not to do as it is about what should be done. In spite of what many people believe, it is never a good idea to refrigerate or freeze your coffee supply. Moisture will lead to deterioration of the flavor. Likewise, the commercial container you brought your coffee home in is not a good long term storage device.

For the freshest coffee, buy your beans whole. Store them in an air-tight glass container and don't grind them until the day you plan to use them. Grinding the beans releases the flavorful oils of the coffee. Exposure to air destroys these flavors rapidly.

For the most consistently fresh supply of coffee, purchase small quantities on a regular basis. Only buy what you can use in a seven to ten day period. Freezing coffee should be a method of last resort, which can be avoided by regular purchases from your favorite coffee supplier.

Use several small air-tight containers to store small unused portions of coffee rahter than one large one. Glass is a good storage container because it doesn't hold the odors of the original beans leading to contamination of future stored batches of coffee. Keep the containers small; repeatedly opening one storage container day after day will unnecessarily expose coffee to the air, causing rapid deterioration of rich coffee flavor.

Store the air-tight container in a cool, dark location. Refrigeration is never an option when it comes to coffee storage. Avoid cabinets next to the stove or cabinets on an outside wall that receive warmth from the summer sun as well.

If, by chance, you do find yourself with an unusually large supply of coffee, it is acceptable to consider freezer storage. Wrap small portions in plastic wrap and place each wrapped portion in a sealable freezer bag. Eliminate as much air as possible before freezing.

Once you remove a portion of coffee from the freezer, plan on using it quickly. Do not refreeze any unused portion. The thawing and refreezing process will cause sweating of the coffee. Remember, moisture is one of the worst enemies of coffee flavor and freshness.

THE STEPS TO PROPERLY STORING COFFEE ARE SIMPLE:

Buy fresh coffee beans in small quantities on a regular basis.

Grind them at home yourself right before using or purchase them freshly ground from a good coffee supplier.

Store small quantities of coffee in an air-tight glass container away from light, heat, air and moisture.

Never refrigerate and use freezing only as a method of last resort.

If you must freeze, wrap small portions in plastic wrap and freezer bags. Freeze once and only once. Coffee removed from the freezer must be used promptly; refreezing is not an option. Refrigeration is never an option.

Follow these basic storage steps and you'll enjoy fresh, flavorful coffee every time.

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