How to Store Your Artisan Coffee and Keep Your Beans Flavorful & Fresh

In talking with our customers over the last several weeks, it's become clear that we need to have an intervention.

Yes, this may be a difficult conversation to have…

But it's time we have it before more damage is done.

STOP STORING YOUR COFFEE IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

Yes, coffee is a perishable food. 

And once it's ground, it will rapidly lose its flavor.

But, it's not that perishable.

The rule of thumb for coffee storage is this: Treat your beans like bread. Keep them airtight, out of sunlight, at room temperature, and out of the refrigerator to maximize freshness. 

The enemies of coffee's flavors are light, heat, air, and moisture. Control those four factors, and you should be able to enjoy our coffee for up to 30 days before it starts to lose its flavor.

Here are my tips on how to keep your Adventure Dog coffee as fresh-tasting as possible.

Store the unopened bag in a cool and dark place. This is not the top of the refrigerator. Or the top of the stove. Or on the counter in direct sunlight. We recommend the pantry. 

Once you open the bag, you're racing the clock against oxygen and light. Your best bet is to transfer the coffee to a vacuum-sealed container. These containers push the oxygen out. Airtight containers lock oxygen in with the beans. For that reason, we recommend the Airscape Ceramic..

If you don't have an airtight container, squeeze all of the air out of our bag and roll it up tight. For our 12-oz bags, use the tin tie that comes with the bag...or better yet, a rubber band. For our 4-oz bags, use the plastic zipper. Then put our bag inside a resealable plastic bag and squeeze all of the air out of that bag before sealing it. 

If you keep your home temp below 75 degrees, you should be able to store the beans in the proper container at room temperature. 

But, if you keep your home warmer than 75 degrees, you'll need to ignore my earlier warning. Move the beans into your refrigerator...but only as a last resort. 

You see, coffee's cell structure is relatively porous. 

That means your beans like to absorb aromatics from the air around them...like onions. 

Or last night's salmon.

If you're using a good airtight container, those aromatics shouldn't be too much of a problem. 

But, not all airtight containers (excluding the Airscape) keep the air out. Some air will still get in and create a second problem when the beans are cooled: condensation. 

That condensation will push the coffee bean's oil to the surface. This ages the coffee faster and makes it lose its flavor.

If you're grinding your beans at home... you're maximizing the coffee's freshness and flavor profile. The key is not to fall into the efficiency trap.

"I'll grind my coffee for the week...or just the next couple of days."

No.

Only grind the amount you're going to use that day. 

You see, the whole bean is Mother Nature's protective container. Once you've broken the bean, the coffee oxidizes quickly. 

If you don't have a grinder and we're sending you ground beans, follow the storage directions I outlined above. Once you break the vacuum seal on our bags, get those grinds right into the Airscape. 

Preserve the freshness to preserve the flavor!