How to properly store coffee

If you, too, are a true coffee lover, you choose the varieties you like best with care and can't wait to brew a good cup and enjoy its aromas. Well! Then you probably know the challenges coffee faces in staying fresh and flavorful. 

To preserve the aromatic and organoleptic characteristics as long as possible, you must keep your coffee far from air, humidity, heat and light. Oxygen leads to oxidation of the fats in the bean, heat and light cause the coffee to go rancid. Humidity encourages mold. 

But how can you avoid all this? Let's look at some practical steps that protect your coffee from everything that can spoil it. 

Prefer coffee beans 

Ground coffee is more vulnerable to degradation compared to whole coffee beans due to its larger contact area with atmospheric contaminants. This is why we always recommend choosing whole coffee beans that can be freshly ground just before brewing.  

On our website you will find the coffee section of Laboratorio di Torrefazione Giamaica Caffè, among the best Italian premium coffee roasters. 

Suitable quantity for consumption 

Once the original package is opened, the coffee inevitably starts to deteriorate and lose flavor, little by little.  

Ideally, it's always best to buy packages that contain the most appropriate amount of coffee based on your average consumption, avoiding overly large packages that would take several months to consume. Besides saving money, matching what we buy to what we actually drink also means less food waste and more sustainable consumption. 

That is why you will find 0.5 kg packs of Giamaica Caffè beans on our website. 

Original bag 

Storing the beans in the original bag might be a good idea if the package is dark (to keep light out) and has the one-way valve, also known as the aroma-saving valve. This is very important because it allows the natural transpiration of the gases produced while keeping oxygen out of the bag. 

Below is an example of a bag with aroma-saving valve. 

Airtight canister 

Opt for an airtight container for storage to add a touch of style to your coffee station. They are available in both glass and metal, which are both excellent materials for storing your coffee beans. 

Tip: If you typically store your coffee beans in a light-exposed area, consider opting for dark or opaque airtight containers. These variants prevent light from penetrating, thereby enhancing storage conditions. 

Our favorites: 

Fellow's elegant Electric Atmos, available in 0.7 or 1.2 liters 

Airscape by Planetary Design available in three sizes: 250 g, 500 g and 1 kg 

Extra tip: we suggest always washing the canister before adding fresh coffee to remove any smells and oils that have inevitably been released from the previous beans. 

Cool and dry place 

Remembering the list of "coffee's enemies" at the start, it is easy to understand why it is always best to store the container in a cool, dry place, thus away from heat and humidity. 

Fridge yes or fridge no? 

There are different opinions about storing coffee in the fridge.  

Our answer is no, in general, the fridge is not the right solution for storing coffee. Like heat, too much cold does not help preserve flavors. 

Certainly, cold temperatures can help slow down the loss of the coffee's properties. However, the sudden change in temperature also leads to condensation, meaning water droplets that speed up mold formation. In addition, coffee tends to absorb a lot of surrounding odors, including food. 

Therefore, unless it is very hot and no other cool place is available, it is best to avoid the fridge as a storage place. 

On the other hand, if you do not use coffee for long periods, you can freeze it in a well-sealed package. 

Shelf life 

Coffee also has an expiry date, which generally means "aroma expiration." So coffee can be consumed beyond the indicated date but it will certainly have lost much of its aroma and fragrance. 

In general, the earlier coffee is consumed the better. There is also a rule, called the "rule of 2" to get an idea of how the aromatic and organoleptic properties evolve. 

If not properly packed, coffee beans will lose 50% of their properties in 2 days, ground coffee in 2 hours, and a cup of espresso in 2 minutes. 

However, by following the tips above, beans can easily last up to a few months and ground coffee up to 2 weeks. 

Now that we've seen the best ways to store it, it's time to choose the coffee.

Here you can find all the coffees from Laboratorio di Torrefazione Giamaica Caffè. The special feature of this roastery is to stay true to tradition by using an original Erbisti open flame roasting machine prioritizing quality over quantity. 

The choice is yours!