How To Keep Your Coffee Fresher For Longer
Coffee is a perishable food item, fighting against time and other elements of our wild world to maintain its integrity and flavour. If you’re investing in high quality coffee you want it to last for as long as possible, I get that. Here’s how to keep your coffee fresher for longer without storing it in an Atmos canister or vacuum sealing and freezing it.
But first, a disclaimer. Your coffee is likely “fresh” or “good” for longer than you think it is, especially if you drink lightly roasted coffee. Your coffee is not on a 4-week mortal countdown, and it doesn’t magically turn “stale” a month after roasting. Coffee ages like any perishable food item, but let your taste dictate when it’s no longer “good” to you, not some arbitrary date on a bag. Ok, now for the tips. Regardless of what you store your coffee in - the bag it came in, a mason jar, an Atmos, the freezer, whatever - these tips can extend the life of your coffee.
1. Keep it away from light and heat.
Both of these elements speed up the oxidation process, so store your coffee in a dark, cool place. If it’s not dark where your storing it, make sure the container you’re storing it in is at least translucent if not opaque.
2. Keep it away from oxygen.
I’m no scientist, but from what I understand there are compounds created in the roasting process that make your coffee smell and taste good. When those compounds are exposed to oxygen, some horny little O2 molecules infiltrate your coffee’s business and start gobbling up precious electrons. Whatever you’re storing coffee in, make sure it’s sealed.
3. Speaking of oxygen…
This tip might be the most undervalued. When you’re dosing out your coffee from your container of choice, don’t tip the container over and pour recklessly. Scoop out your desired dose from the top. Eldric Stuart from @harkencoffee taught me that if you leave the beans undisrupted, the oxygen that is already present will create a protective barrier around each bean. Introducing new oxygen will help expedite the loss of freshness. So always scoop from the top, and never pour the beans from the container as it introduces new oxygen to the bottom layers and disrupts the stable environment.
By following these tips, you can help extend the life of your coffee and keep it fresher for longer. While it's true that nothing can completely stop the aging process of coffee, taking these simple steps can help you get the most out of your beans and enjoy delicious coffee for as long as possible.
So there you have it! Try out these tips and let me know which ones work best for you. And remember, while it's important to take care of your coffee, it's also important to enjoy it while it lasts!
