subject: How To Keep Coffee Fresh [print this page] Your coffee may taste great to you but did you know that its probably stale? This is because coffee beans deteriorate quickly once they are roasted. The rate of deterioration depends largely on how the beans are handled. If you don't know how to store coffee properly, you're probably drinking stale coffee without knowing it.
To keep coffee fresh, the National Coffee Association (NCA) of USA Inc. states you should keep it away from excessive air, moisture, heat and light. Store coffee beans in an airtight glass or ceramic container and keep it in a cool, dark place. Don't put the container near the oven or a window where it can be affected by the elements. A cabinet near the oven is too warm while one on an outside wall of your kitchen may receive heat from the sun.
How do air, moisture, heat and light affect coffee? After roasting, the beans release carbon dioxide at room temperature for the next three days. While doing so, the chemical composition of the beans changes, more so when they are exposed to air, moisture, heat and light. An increased amount of air from an open container causes oxidation and the beans become stale. If moisture is present, the flavor changes and becomes weaker.
Several people believe that freezing coffee is a good idea and will help keep it fresh. In truth, extreme temperatures are the foes of coffee. This is the reason why refrigeration or freezing of coffee is not advised. The NCA agrees and said that coffee will deteriorate immediately with these conditions.
To keep the flavor and freshness of coffee, purchase only what you need. Never stock up on coffee unless you have a lot of money to waste. Pick whole beans if you can and grind only what you need. Lastly, avoid extreme temperatures when storing coffee.
