A freshly brewed cup of coffee is enough to get the taste buds tingling and set you up for the day ahead; so how do you keep this momentum going day after day? By making sure your coffee is preserved correctly. Coffee beans should be stored properly to preserve their rich flavour, aroma, and freshness.
Being exposed to air, light, moisture, and heat can quickly degrade the quality of the beans, leaving your coffee tasting flat or bitter. Whether you’re a fan of the premium single-origin beans or prefer an everyday blend, how you store your choice of beverage makes all the difference.
Below we explore the best ways to store coffee beans so every brew tastes as fresh as the day it was roasted.
Why Does Coffee Storage Matter?
How you store your coffee directly affects its freshness, flavour, and aroma. Once roasted, coffee beans begin to lose their natural oils and aromatic compounds due to the exposure to air, light, heat, and moisture. When poorly stored, this process happens at a faster rate and leads to stale, bitter, or flat-tasting coffee. However, properly stored coffee preserves its essential qualities, so each brew delivers the rich, full flavour intended by the roaster. In short, how you store coffee determines how good your cup will taste.
Top Tips for Storing Coffee Beans
To retain the rich flavour and aroma of your coffee beans, proper storage is key. Follow these simple steps to preserve your coffee’s natural oils, aroma, and complexity:
- Use an Airtight Container – Beans should be stored in an opaque, airtight container protecting them from air and light which can cause oxidation and flavour loss.
- Keep Them Cool and Dry – Place the container in a cool, dark spot – preferably a cupboard – and away from heat, sunlight, and moisture. Try to avoid storing near stoves or windows.
- Avoid the Fridge or Freezer – While it may seem like a good idea, keeping beans in a fridge exposes them to condensation and odours from other foods, which can ruin their flavour. Only freeze beans if bought in bulk and portion in airtight bags.
- Buy Fresh, Small Batches – Try to only purchase amounts you’ll use within two to three weeks. Freshly roasted beans lose their peak flavour after about a month.
- Grind Just Before Brewing – Grinding accelerates the loss of flavour so keep your coffee beans whole until you’re ready to brew for the best-tasting coffee.
Common Storage Mistakes to Avoid
So now you’re aware of the best storage methods for your coffee beans, lets dive into the mistakes we here about at Inglewood Coffee Roasters that you don’t want to make:
- Storing in the Original Bag – Most coffee bags don’t protect beans from air or light.
- Keeping Coffee Near Heat or Sunlight – Heat causes oils to deteriorate faster and flavours to turn bitter.
- Using Clear Containers – Light can penetrate and degrade coffee quality. Use dark or opaque containers instead.
- Refrigerating Coffee – Keep beans at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
- Grinding Too Early – Grind only what you need just before brewing.