Expert-Approved Tips For Storing Coffee Beans For Maximum Flavor

The task of selecting coffee beans can be challenging enough—and that’s to say nothing about storing the item once you’ve made your purchase. There are so many different roasts, flavor profiles, and regions to choose from. Prices can vary by a wide margin as well, but no matter how much money you spend on coffee beans, you’ll want to make sure you’re storing the item properly. 

• Marco Suarez is the Co-owner and CEO/CXO of Methodical Coffee in Greenville, South Carolina.

Proper storage can mean the difference between a great tasting cup of coffee and a mediocre or even bad tasting cup of joe. According to Marco Suarez, Co-owner and CEO/CXO of Greenville, South Carolina’s Methodical Coffee, “Coffee can last a very long time if stored properly and won’t hurt you, though it likely won’t taste great.”

We turned to Suarez for his expert advice on storing coffee beans so that you can achieve maximum flavor and freshness with every cup of joe you brew at home.

Storing Coffee Beans 101

When it comes to storing your coffee beans, you want a climate controlled environment, says Suarez. If you are using a special container (and not the bag or coffee canister the coffee came in when you brought it home from the market), it should be “air tight, dry, and dark,” Suarez advises. A loose seal means air can get in and this will result in oxidation which can compromise the quality of the coffee. 

Be wary of storing coffee in limpid containers as featherlight can also lead to oxidation. Coffee beans that have oxidized can grow stale, and stale coffee beans aren’t likely to result in a delicious pot of coffee.

“You also don’t want to store the coffee in something that can allow moisture to get to the beans or anywhere near a lot of humidity,” explains Suarez.

Fridge And Freezer Storage

Storing coffee beans in your fridge or freezer—indeed, chilly, droughty places in your home—can prolong freshness, says Suarez, who adds a warning of sorts: Because “coffee is dry and porous and will absorb the moisture and odors in your fridge or freezer,” if you opt for popping that bag of beans in your refrigerator or freezer, Suarez says to take care to “keep it in a truly airtight container or double bag it to keep the moisture and odors out.” Double bagging the beans will also prevent it from getting freezer burned.

To Grind Or Not To Grind

Grinding coffee increases the surface area for oxygen to penetrate explains Suarez. And this move “greatly accelerates the oxidation process causing the coffee to go stale very quickly.” 

The coffee guru says if you own a grinder, it’s preferable to purchase whole bean coffee and grind it as you go. Don’t grind more than you intend to brew and grind it just before whatever brewing method you choose, advises Suarez. 

And if you’re wondering just how long those beans will be good for, Suarez has notes on that too: “Whole bean coffee is at its freshest 3-4 days after and within 30 days of its roast date.” That said, the coffee expert says coffee can be enjoyed two months past its roast date, even by those with rather “discerning palates.” It may be a little less glowing and lack some of the nuance it contained immediately post-roast, but it’s perfectly sippable.

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Containers For Coffee Beans

It’s not necessary to store coffee beans in a special container. Suarez explains that since most coffee bags are a laminate of three different materials: a food-grade plastic on the inside, a metallic middle layer, and a paper layer on the outside, the bags are extremely air tight. If you know you’re not going to grind and consume the coffee within about a month of purchase, then you might want to consider a special canister that has a mechanism for removing oxygen and essentially protecting the beans from air exposure. Two that Suarez likes are Fellows Atmos Vacuum canister or an Airscape Coffee Canister. 

Again, coffee beans that have oxidized or been kept around longer than recommended won’t spoil, but it may disappoint you. Take it from Suarez: “If you smell [your] coffee, but you don’t smell much, there’s a good chance the coffee is old or has been exposed to open air for a long period of time. And if you brew it, you’ll likely only taste the bitterness.”