Investing in high-quality coffee can feel like a race against time. Can you brew it all before the beans go stale? When not stored properly, oxidation and moisture can lead to loss of flavor and, eventually, the need to throw your prized coffee out.
It’s a journey for coffee to get to your cup, from seed to plant and harvest, where it’s then roasted, packaged, and sent to its destination. Honor that journey. Learn how to keep your coffee fresh for as long as possible.
What to consider before investing in coffee storage
Consider how much coffee you need. Is it just to have on hand for a morning cup, or do you need pots all day? Monitor how much coffee you brew on a weekly basis, then purchase as close to that amount as possible.
If you want options, consider a swap of beans with coffee enthusiasts. Communicate to ensure you don’t overbuy, so you can share special beans when they are fresh.
It’s also wise to know your beans. Check the roast date. Each bean has its ideal window of freshness. Dark roasts and espresso roasts have a shorter timeframe, while denser light roast beans can stay fresh longer.
“We love our coffee, and we don’t want any of our coffees to go to waste,” says Pam Viguera, manager of Fellow Coffee in Los Angeles. “Once you’re smelling all of that fruitiness, that passion through the florality and the sweetness in your coffee, it’s already degassing and begins to taste flat. The flavor is going out. Poof. Every single day, it’s already aerating, losing its effervescence. I’m going to try to catch it at the freshest, while all of the nuances are still there and the sweetness is peaking.”
Coffee beans stored in Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canisters, a cup of brewed coffee, and a wooden scoop on a table
It’s good to store your coffee in a sealed container with very little air. A vacuum-sealed container is even better. Removing as much air as possible will keep coffee fresh longer.
Fellow’s Atmos Vacuum Canister creates an airtight environment. With clear glass and black stainless-steel options, Atmos offers a simple twist-to-lock feature.
Fellow, based in San Francisco, is known for its minimalist design of kettles, coffeemakers, pour-over sets, and insulated drinkware. It’s earned the brand fans around the world.
“The lid is where the magic is at. After cranking it back and forth, it’ll become tight to the grip, and an indicator that will show green means you’re good to go,” says Viguera. Last year, Fellow added an electric version of the Atmos Container that can be charged with a USB-C cable and creates a one-touch vacuum seal that lasts longer than the manual version.
Planetary’s stainless steel Airscape Canister is another vacuum seal option. It comes in eight colors and features a port to introduce inert gases that create a barrier between dry goods and oxygen. It’s available to buy alongside a bottle of Airgone Argon Gas.
You can also transform any mason jar into an optimal storage container with an electric mason jar vacuum sealer.
Storing exact amounts of coffee beans in single-use tubes is a favorite of specialty shops that make pour-overs. Though it may feel like your kitchen is a science lab, weighing out beans to store in single-dose vials can provide a time-saving shortcut in the morning.
Founded in 2014, Weber Workshops blends traditional craftsmanship and modern technology to create high-performance coffee tools. Weber makes BPA-free polymer bean cellars for professional and home use. Each tube stores a single serving and has a one-way valve cap that allows carbon dioxide from freshly roasted coffee to be released.
If an average coffee drinker consumes a 10-ounce bag every week or two, one dozen Weber Workshop tubes can accommodate it all. Each tube will hold approximately 22-24 grams of coffee.
“When leaving the coffee in the original bag or moving to a canister, each time the container is opened to make coffee, an exchange of air occurs, over and over again,” says Andrew Pernicano, director of customer experience and wholesale at Weber Workshops. “By contrast, when you divvy the bag up all at once into single doses, it’s one exchange in total. After that, off-gassing of denser CO2 from fresh coffee will displace the less dense oxygen in the head space, helping to preserve the coffee longer.”
For greater storage, or to have multiple coffees on hand, Weber makes durable polymer tubes that can be stored at room temperature or in the freezer.
“Prolonged exposure to sunlight, heat, humidity, and oxygen can accelerate oxidation and degradation of flavors,” says Pernicano. “To avoid this, single-dose storage, in cellars or small vacuum-sealed pouches, will allow you to grind straight from the freezer without jeopardizing the rest of the coffee.”
Tubes without a one-way valve will also offer some additional freshness, but not as much as options that take out oxygen. Some coffee professionals repurpose medical equipment like 50-milliliter centrifuge tubes.
There are many crafty tube storage options on the market. Be sure to fill the tubes to extend the life of the beans.