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The reason it's important to store coffee properly is so it retains its flavors and aroma. Coffee is a part of life for several thousands of people—for many, it is an essential part of their morning ritual or the beverage that gets them through the day.
Those enthusiastic about coffee might lean towards whole beans and ground coffee for its freshness and depth of flavor, while some may prefer instant coffee for its convenience.
However, even the best quality whole or ground coffee can go flat and stale if not stored correctly.
The science behind storing coffee
Coffee, whether ground or as whole beans, undergoes a natural process of oxidation. Once exposed to oxygen, the compounds responsible for the taste and aroma of coffee begin to degrade. Over time, such oxidation leads to stale, flat tasting coffee.
Heat, humidity, and the degree of exposure to light also impact the quality of coffee, along with air. The ideal place to store coffee is in a dark, dry, and cool place.
- Air exposure breaks down coffee's aromatic compounds, leading to a loss of flavor and aroma
- Light exposure is also important in understanding the best place to store coffee. Direct sunlight accelerates the breakdown of oils in coffee, making an opaque container the ideal choice to store coffee.
- Moisture is key in preserving coffee's flavor and shelf life. Coffee is highly absorbent, meaning it takes on odor and moisture from its surroundings. If not stored in an airtight, dry place, the coffee can take on unwanted flavor, or have mold growth.
- Temperature changes can also cause coffee to go stale, as heat speeds up the chemical reactions that cause the loss of flavor.
Coffee roasting and storage
Roasting coffee is the process of heating green coffee beans in order to develop their aroma, taste and color. The longer the beans are roasted, the darker they become, which determines the varying levels of acidity, body and oil content. While there are several varying levels of coffee roasting, the broader two are light and dark roasts.
Light roast coffee beans are roasted for the shortest amount of time. Lighter roasts have light brown shades, and have higher acidity and lesser surface oils. They retain more of the coffee beans' natural flavors, and tend to have light, fruity or tea-like notes.
Dark roast coffee is roasted for longer, giving the beans darker hues and a smoky, sometimes bitter flavors. The longer roasting process brings more of the oils to the surface, giving the coffee a richer flavor and the beans a shinier appearance.
The different roast levels of coffee make a difference in how they should be best stored. Light roast beans are less porous and contain minimal surface oils. Therefore, light roast coffee tends to resist oxidation somewhat better than darker roasts. Darker roasts are more porous and have a higher oil content, making them more prone to oxidation.
Exposure to air causes the oil to go rancid, resulting in unpleasant, stale notes. Overall, choosing a dark, dry place to store coffee is the best way to go about it.
The best way to store coffee is in an airtight, light-proof or opaque container. Ceramic, stainless steel or vacuum sealed glass jars are ideal, as they protect the coffee from air and light exposure.
The container should ideally be kept in a cool, dark pantry or cabinet, away from direct sunlight or heat sources like stoves and ovens. Since coffee is highly absorbent and takes on the flavor of its surrounding, make sure there are no lingering smells or aromas in the jar from previous uses.
Pre-ground coffee has more surface area than whole beans, making it more susceptible to oxidation. For those who want the freshest cup of coffee every time, it is better to store roasted whole beans, and invest in a good coffee grinder.
For those who prefer the convenience of pre-ground coffee, the best way is to use smaller, airtight containers to store coffee instead of keeping a large bag or jar. This minimizes the exposure to air each time the jar is opened.
The worst places to store coffee
While storing coffee in clear jars on countertops does look appealing, it exposes the coffee to light, decreasing its shelf life faster. Similarly, placing containers used to store coffee near the stove or windows expose the coffee to heat and humidity from cooking and direct sunlight, which adversely affects the freshness of the coffee.
It is a common practice to store coffee in the fridge or the freezer, and it may seem logical too. However, the environments in a fridge or refrigerator can introduce moisture, and fluctuating temperatures can cause condensation.
Freezing is only recommended when the intention is to store coffee for longer periods, even so, the whole beans should be stored in airtight, smaller bags. The smaller bags are important to avoid repeatedly freezing and thawing of the coffee.
Storing instant coffee
Unlike whole beans or ground coffee, instant coffee undergoes a preservation process that inherently gives it a longer shelf life. Since the process of making instant coffee involves dehydration, there is considerably less moisture, which reduces the possibility of mold or other such damages.
It is not as sensitive to light either.
However, air and moisture can still degrade quality over time. While oxidation is less likely to affect instant coffee, it can still clump and lose flavor when exposed to moisture. The best way to keep instant coffee is to keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Some people opt to store instant coffee in the freezer for long-term storage, unlike whole beans or ground coffee, this does not affect instant coffee.
It is important to store coffee properly to preserve its rich, aromatic flavors. All things considered, it is best to store coffee, whole beans, ground or even instant, in cool, dark, and dry environments, safe from moisture, heat and light.
Whole beans are likely to last longer than pre-ground coffee, while instant coffee is not as susceptible to heat and light as the other two.
