The Best Way To Store Coffee

Whether you consider yourself a "coffee person" or not, learning how to store beans correctly is a no-brainer. It's crucial for keeping them fresh and tasting their best. Fridge, freezer or pantry? Bag, tin or jar? Opinions vary, but here's the method we think is best for those of you who drink coffee on a daily basis:

Don't store coffee in the freezer. Store it in an airtight bag or container in a cool, dry place.

Contrary to popular belief, storing coffee in the freezer isn't great for daily consumers. That's because opening and closing the freezer door causes drastic temperature changes that can create condensation, which is very problematic for coffee. Moisture and beans? That's a recipe for disaster. For bags you're digging into daily, it's best to find a cool, dry place in your pantry.

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It's also important that the bag is airtight and ideally contains a one-way valve. Oxygen, like moisture, isn't good for beans either, and you want to keep as much out of the bag as possible. Because coffee beans release CO2, however, it's best to find a bag with the aforementioned valve, whereby gas can escape.

If, however, you're storing a bag of unopened coffee for future use, the freezer is a good choice.

The freezer keeps beans fresher longer, and, according to a new study by Scientific Reports, a cold environment can also improve taste. Cold beans grind more evenly, which results in a more consistent flavor that can be extracted from a smaller quantity. Uneven grounds produce different flavors and an ultimately unbalanced cup of joe.

And how do you get around the hazardous temperature fluctuations if you plan to grind your frozen beans every day? Try storing them in individual portions, so you can keep batches sealed until ready to use.

If that sounds too high maintenance, maybe you're not a true coffee snob after all (we kid). And you might just want to stick with the pantry.