Enjoying a cup of coffee is one of the small pleasures that we can give ourselves in our home; However, buying different presentations involves knowing how to store it in the correct way to avoid losing flavor over time.
As a result, in this article, we will show you how to store coffee so that its aroma and flavor are preserved at all times.
The importance of preserving coffee beans
You may think that preserving coffee beans is an easy task and is not relevant, but it is not.
Preserving coffee is as important as preserving beer. For example, if you open a beer, keep it in the fridge and after a week you want to drink it, you will realize that it will have lost all its flavors.
Something similar happens with coffee.
What is the main enemy of coffee?
Humidity. Coffee exposed to moisture for long periods of time will not only cause your coffee to lose flavor but can even cause mold and mildew to appear, and no one, absolutely no one wants their coffee to reach that point.
Obviously, having a specialty coffee the best thing you can do is consume it as soon as possible (this does not mean that you are abusing yourself!).
Tip: DO NOT put the coffee in the freezer
Coffee expires faster when you put it in the freezer.
It is not known why, but there is a strange conception that if you put the coffee in the fridge and/or in the freezer it is better preserved. This is a lie.
In the freezer, we do not prevent humidity from consuming our coffee and forcing it to lose fundamental properties.
Now comes what you’ve been waiting for!
How to preserve the coffee? Better methods
Now that we know that we can prevent our coffee from going bad, it is important to know the best preservation methods.
These methods have the main objective of protecting the taste of the coffee and keeping it fresh as if it had just been roasted (although it will never be possible to reach that point).
Method 1: Sealed Bag
Of course, the best method is with unopened coffee in its packaging, but in this case, we would not be enjoying it.
Method 2: Closed with Ziploc or with a clamp
The second best option is, after opening it, to close it quickly if it has a Ziploc style closure or uses some type of clamp to seal the opening.
And how long can it be properly closed without deteriorating?
About 1 month.
This does not mean that after a month your coffee has lost its richness, there are many good quality coffees that can spend 2 or 3 months preserving most of their properties. This is another point to keep in mind.
Method 3: Airtight Containers
Hermetic containers or Tupperware can also be a solution since they are sealed until they are opened.
Method 4: Glass jars
Another option is to use glass containers or jars.
How to preserve ground coffee?
Once you have acquired ground coffee, you must store it in a space free of humidity and away from heat sources, these are the two most dangerous elements that can spoil it before its time.
How to preserve the coffee once it has been opened?
Try to keep it in its respective container and, if it is stored in a bag, use hooks to prevent the content from being exposed to humidity and heat from the environment.
A room temperature is recommended, between 25 and 15 degrees Celsius; be sure to store it in a dry space away from the sun’s rays, like your cupboard;
We should never put ground coffee in the fridge and always try to use the original containers or packages in order to maintain the aroma of the coffee.
For better coffee preservation, we recommend buying according to the level of consumption in your home and not storing it for longer than 7 days.
Although it is true that there are different types of ground coffee, depending on the preparation method we want, they do not require a different preservation method, all types of ground coffee must be kept away from humidity, air, and high temperatures to retain its flavor.
How to preserve coffee beans?
If you have raw coffee beans, it is possible to keep them in an airtight container away from heat and sources of natural light.
If, on the other hand, you have roasted coffee beans, remember that it has a longer shelf life than ground coffee and, unlike ground coffee, it is possible to keep the coffee beans in the refrigerator, in order to reduce oxidation and exposure. heat.
Where to keep the coffee?
To store coffee beans we can use properly closed glass containers, due to the properties that glass has for preserving coffee.
When using reused glass containers, such as bottles and jars, be sure to sterilize them properly before using them to store your sample, both for hygienic reasons and not to affect the smell of the coffee.
In conclusion
Taking care of coffee is taking care of its aroma and its magnificent properties. You should always keep it in a place with a temperature commensurate, if possible, a good room temperature: neither hot nor humid/cold.
As you can see, the elements that most put the conservation of coffee at risk are humidity, high temperatures, and oxidation caused by exposure to air.
Taking these elements into account, it is recommended that you have a specific area in your kitchen for preserving coffee, it can be a small pantry or a drawer that is at room temperature and away from both sources of natural light and radiating appliances. hot.
Remember that having a supply of coffee greater than your usual consumption means storing it for a longer time and seeing the possibility of losing its flavor and properties.
Smart consumption and following the steps described above are the key to enjoying authentic coffee.
Keeping it in its general packaging and closed with a clamp is a great option although you can also move it to other hermetic containers.