Ultimate Guide | How to Store Coffee Beans

If the beans are to be consumed in less than a week, they can be stored in a cool and dry place, away from sunlight, in a non-porous, airtight coffee container. The best way to store coffee beans for extended periods of time is open to debate, with many experts encouraging people not to buy more coffee than can be consumed in a couple of weeks.

While some experts recommend that you not freeze coffee beans, this is a highly contested topic. At the very least, you should only be freezing coffee beans once during their lifespan, never refreezing a batch that has been previously frozen; once they have thawed, do not put them back in the freezer. If you do plan on freezing coffee beans, it is best to put the original package in an airtight freezer bag and evacuate all of the oxygen prior to closing.

Because anaerobic chemical reactions will happen within your coffee in even the most ideal environments, it is not recommended to store unused coffee beans for long periods of time. However, putting beans in a freezer slows the reaction down, with deep freezers being ideal if you’re planning on storing them for months. The question of how to keep coffee beans fresh for long periods of time is somewhat a misnomer in that regard, as you could definitely store them, but they would no longer be fresh.

A coffee storage container should satisfy some basic requirements. It needs to be airtight (to decrease oxidation) and non-porous (to prevent chemicals from leaving or entering). Thus, containers without some sort of air seal should not be used. Porous materials like wood, ceramics and pottery, some metals, and some plastics should be avoided.

The best coffee bean storage containers are typically made from glass and contain a rubber seal where the lid is inserted. A great coffee storage container can also be made from specifics plastics or metals. Just make sure to avoid porous varieties of plastic, like PE, PP, PTFE, PVDF, or EVA.

Unfortunately, once the coffee is ground it deteriorates quickly. Most cafés have policies to dispose of coffee that was ground more than 24 hours ago, and for good reason. Storing ground coffee is a measure of last resort, as it should be used as quickly as possible after the grinding process.

When this is not an option, the best way to store ground coffee is quite similar to storing beans: an airtight, non-porous coffee container placed in a cool, dark space. Similarly, the best way to store ground coffee in a freezer is to place its original packaging in a vacuum-sealed freezer bag.

24 hours is the window for passable results, and anything more is highly detrimental to the quality of your coffee. If you are storing ground coffee for more than a few weeks, you should reconsider grinding or purchasing such large quantities.

Yes, in a pinch, the ground coffee will still have some caffeine. But it will be bland, stale, and hard to stomach. If that doesn’t turn you off, keep it in a deep freezer, taking care not to refreeze thawed grinds.