You just finished brewing the first pot of your latest Encore Coffee Club coffee, now how do you properly store the fresh coffee? In the bag? cabinet? or step into the freezer? These questions and more will be answered in our latest blog. We will share how to store your coffee to ensure you consistently brew delicious coffee at home.
Like most culinary products, coffee starts losing freshness once it’s been picked from the plant. And once we roast it sadly, yes, the inevitable will happen, it will die. No longer will it have those fresh flavor notes – the fruity, maybe bright, maybe bold flavors will be gone. The good news is there are easy ways to help slow down this process.
KEY: Store in SEALED bag until first use
We know it’s tempting to rip open that Encore Coffee Club coffee, but try not to until you’re ready to brew the first cup. We package all of our freshly roasted coffee in special bags to keep it fresh. So, the primary key in proper coffee storage is to keep it in the unopened bag until you are ready to use it for the first time.
So, you resisted for 30 seconds before ripping open the coffee and brewing your first cup. Now what? Do you roll up the bag and throw it in the cupboard? Storing in the bag is an OK solution if you are going to use up the coffee quickly, but not if it’s open for longer than a week or two. Oxygen is the enemy of fresh coffee, so it’s always best to store opened coffee in an airtight container.
KEY: Store coffee DRY & AIRTIGHT
Storage containers can be as simple as a mason jar, but we prefer airtight food storage containers. Our preference is the Planetary Designs Airscape food storage container. You simply place the coffee beans into the container and slide their unique plunger, which forces the air out of the container. Top if off with a beautiful decorative lid and your set. What next, where do I put this container. In the cabinet? refrigerators? Freezer?
KEY: Store coffee at ROOM TEMPERATURE
This part is easy – store that coffee container on your counter or out of sight in a cabinet. The refrigerators are best for fruits & veggies, BUT NOT COFFEE. Besides oxygen, the second killer of coffee is moisture. When you take your coffee in and out of the refrigerator, condensation will form on the beans and quickly degrade the coffee quality.
Uncle Ebenezer knows it’s going to be cold cold cold in that freezer – but should you store your coffee in the freezer? NO… well, in general, NO! Like the refrigerator, taking coffee in and out of the freezer will cause condensation to form on the beans. So, for everyday use, we do not recommend storing in the freezer. There is one exception to his rule if you are storing coffee long term freezing may help maintain freshness. However, the coffee needs to be vacuum-packed and frozen right after roasting. In cases where you buy in bulk, this is a way to take a portion and freeze for later consumption. But once you have ‘thawed’ the coffee and opened the package, follow our above guideline for fresh coffee storage.
You now have the basics of coffee storage. For the best cup of coffee at home, it is best to buy only the amount you will use within a few weeks. Once open, store in an airtight container at room temperature.