Where you store your beans (and ground coffee) really matters.
By keeping those elements at bay, you help ensure the coffee stays vibrant and enjoyable for longer.
Like any agricultural product, coffee beans, though roasted, still expire and can even go rancid.
Photo:Mykola Sharshon/Getty Images
To make the most out of your coffee beans, heres how to store them properly.
A dedicated canister or even a clean mason jar can also do the trick.
Ground coffeehas similar storage rules, but is prone to expire faster.
Once ground, those flavorful aromatic compounds start to dissipate fast.
But if possible, grinding fresh before each brew is always the better move flavor-wise.
Should Coffee Be Stored in the Fridge or Freezer?
Generally speaking, your pantry is a better home for coffee than the fridge or freezer, says Klein.
Another downside to the fridge and freezer?
That said, freezing coffeecanwork if youre strategic.
Does your refrigerator seem a little stinky without the coffee?
Your grounds were likely seeping up the scents.
Replace the grounds often for the best results.
Does Coffee Expire?
Improperly stored coffee wont necessarilyget moldyand rotten, but it can go bad.
Coffee doesnt necessarily go bad in the traditional sense, but it does lose flavor.
Dark roastswith surface oils are especially prone to going rancid.
If your coffee smells dull or tastes offmore woody than vibrantits probably past its prime.
