How to store coffee beans and grounds

Roasted coffee changes once it is exposed to its surroundings. Four things speed that up: air, light, heat and moisture. Good storage simply limits all four.

The basics

• Keep the coffee sealed between uses: close the bag inside the box tightly, or move it to an airtight, opaque container.
• Store it somewhere cool and dark, such as a cupboard away from the stove, oven and sunny windows.
• Keep it dry. Use a dry scoop and avoid storing coffee above a kettle or dishwasher.
• Buy an amount you will use in a reasonable time. A 12 oz box is roughly 20 cups at our suggested ratio.

Fridge or freezer?

A refrigerator is usually not a good home for coffee: it is humid, and coffee absorbs odors. Freezing can work for unopened coffee you will not use for a while, if it is well sealed. Let a frozen container come to room temperature before opening it so moisture does not condense on the beans, and avoid moving coffee in and out of the freezer repeatedly.

Whole bean versus ground

Ground coffee has far more exposed surface than whole beans, so storage matters more once coffee is ground. If you buy whole bean, grind only what you need for each brew.