Coffee Storage

Fresh coffee tastes best – that's clear. Conversely, it loses its aroma over time. While coffee doesn't last forever, you can enjoy it for significantly longer with a few simple steps. We'll show you how to store your coffee optimally.

Why does coffee change its taste?

The biggest factors affecting coffee beans and ground coffee are oxygen, humidity, temperature, and light. If coffee comes into contact with any of these factors, it can lose its aroma more quickly and even become inedible.

Whole beans last longer

Pre-ground coffee loses its aroma more quickly. Therefore, it's best to buy coffee beans and grind only the amount needed.

• Whole beans retain their aroma for about five weeks.
• Ground coffee should be used up within two weeks.

Pack airtight

Coffee often comes in special aroma-preserving packaging, where the beans are protected from oxygen under a protective gas or in a vacuum bag. Oxygen reacts with certain components of the beans and gradually causes the coffee to taste rancid.

To counteract this, it is recommended to store coffee as airtight as possible. Tins or resealable bags are particularly suitable. A practical tool is the freshness clip – it keeps bags securely closed and is Significantly more robust than conventional supermarket clips.

Coffee likes it dry

Moisture is one of coffee's biggest enemies. Roasted beans have a very low water content and can easily absorb water.

• If coffee absorbs too much moisture, the full aroma will not be extracted during brewing.
• Moist coffee can also clump during grinding.
• If coffee is stored in too humid conditions, it can become moldy – then it is not only problematic in terms of taste, but also in terms of health.

Neither oven nor refrigerator

Temperature also affects coffee quality:

• Refrigerator: High humidity can cause condensation on the beans. Furthermore, unwanted aromas from other foods can transfer.
• Store in a place that is too warm: High temperatures cause the beans to dry out, coffee oils to evaporate, and the coffee to lose its body. If the heat is too high, the roasting process continues – the coffee becomes bitter or, in the worst case, burnt.

Can you freeze coffee?

Generally speaking: Yes. Coffee or espresso beans can be frozen if you keep a few points in mind:

• Pack airtight and thaw: Ideally, the beans should be vacuum-packed to prevent oxygen and moisture from reaching them.
• Rationing: Before freezing, the coffee should be divided into daily or weekly portions.
• Defrost only once: Coffee should be thawed not refrozen become.

If you don't have a vacuum sealer, you can try removing as much air as possible from the packaging using a vacuum cleaner or your mouth. Even though coffee loses a small amount of its aroma when frozen, this is the best way to keep beans fresh long-term.