Emma Miller
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks. It helps you wake up in the morning, it is invigorating, and can even unite people, because the most hearty conversations often take place over a cup of coffee. Like any product, it can deteriorate and lose its properties over time. Depending on how it is stored, its shelf life increases or decreases.
How long does an open pack of coffee keep?
Experts advise storing coffee beans after breaking the factory packaging for no longer than a month. If we are talking about an open packet of ground or instant coffee, the period is much shorter – from 4 to 7 days.
After this time, the aroma is not as bright, and the taste becomes slightly bitter, sometimes even cloying.
The best way to store coffee: beans, ground, or instant
Coffee is affected by four factors: air, moisture, heat, and light. Beans or powders can easily absorb foreign odors, so it is better not to store them near products that have a persistent aroma.
This product is hygroscopic. This means that it easily absorbs moisture from the air. Simply put, you should not store beans or ground/dissolved coffee in places with high humidity, even if the storage container is tightly closed.
Oils can evaporate when exposed to high temperatures, so containers should also not be kept near an oven, stove, or on a windowsill.
Then where and in what is better to store instant, ground, or grain coffee? Baristas say that the best place to keep it is in an airtight, opaque bag with a valve. A jar with dark or opaque glass is also a good container for storing coffee beans because it also protects from sunlight.
The most ideal place in the kitchen would be dry drawers and cabinets with a door that are not near heat sources.
If we talk about how to properly store pre-packaged coffee beans, the rules are not particularly different. Regardless of the material of the package, you should ensure that it is dry and free from temperature fluctuations.
At what temperature to store coffee
The optimal storage temperature for coffee beans varies from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. If you deep freeze them, then down to -12 degrees Celsius.
Can you store coffee in the fridge?
Neither type should be stored in the refrigerator. It is better to use a kitchen cupboard for this purpose. If stored in the refrigerator, it will quickly lose its properties, it will cease to be aromatic, and it will begin to be bitter.
Is it possible to freeze coffee?
To extend the shelf life, you can also freeze ground coffee – divide it into portions, and place it in an airtight and completely dry container. Before making a drink, take your supplies out of the freezer a day in advance and leave them at room temperature.
