You know that feeling when you buy ground coffee and a couple weeks later it starts to taste stale? What a waste! We wanted to know if there is a better way to keep ground coffee fresh. And you know what — we did! Keep reading, because we found the best way to store coffee to maximize its shelf life!
Why does coffee go bad? Two reasons – moisture and oxygen.
If you’re storing grounds in the fridge or freezer, taking it out, putting it back in, taking it out… you get it. This process allows moisture into your grounds and accelerates the decomposition process.
If you’re storing coffee grounds in the pantry, there’s a very good chance you’re storing it in a bag or container that has a weak seal. Allowing oxygen into the container causes the grounds to go stale, cutting down the shelf life by months!
Tip 1: Stop Buying Ground Coffee, Go For Whole Bean
Before asking “how do I keep ground coffee fresh”, ask yourself — do you need to buy ground coffee?
We get that buying ground coffee saves times and is a necessity if you don’t have a coffee grinder at home. However, it’s much easier to store whole bean coffee for longer! Maybe it’s time to invest in a decent coffee grinder?
Buying a coffee grinder gives you the option of buying ground coffee or whole bean coffee. Doesn’t sound like a big deal? You might not know it, but ground coffee is usually more expensive than its whole bean counterpart. Give it long enough and your grinder pays for itself and then some! Not only that, but the different brewing methods require different types of grounds.
In short — switching to whole beans might solve part of your problem, but you’ll still need a way to store coffee beans!
Tip 2: Seal It In An Airtight Container
While you can use tupperware or other containers, most containers are not actually airtight. To get the longest shelf life out of our coffee beans, we recommend getting an airtight storage container. We looked at several options and found one for a great price with plenty of features.
This airtight container does an awesome job at keep whole beans or ground coffee fresh! Because moisture and oxygen are the main cause for beans and grounds going bad, sealing them in an airtight container allow you to store them in the freezer or the pantry for much longer!
Many containers out there are made out of cheap plastic. This container is made from stainless steal, meaning it is BPA free and it is nearly impossible for the container to warp.
Honestly, we’d trust even the most expensive beans to this container. Don’t believe us? Check out the thousands of satisfied reviews on Amazon!
Tip 3: Store Coffee In The Freezer
The National Coffee Association recommends that you store coffee in airtight contains in a cool environment, out of direct light for the longest shelf life. To keep ground coffee fresh, we recommend that you buy an airtight container, grab a couple of Ziplocs, and portion out enough coffee to last a week in each bag. After that, place all pre-portioned bags into the airtight container and store it in the freezer!
It is imperative that you keep moisture out of the can, otherwise you will ruin your grounds! Once you store the grounds in the freezer, leave them in there until you need them for the week.
At the beginning of each week, take out a pre-portioned bag from the freezer and empty it into another airtight container in your pantry. This ensures that the beans are kept frozen until they are needed, greatly extending how long you can keep them!
Tip 4: Buy In Smaller Quantities
This may not be the best decision financially — everything is cheaper when you buy in bulk. However, if you’re finding that half of your coffee is going straight into the compost because you can’t drink it fast enough, try buying in smaller quantities!
The best way to store coffee and prevent waste? Only buy as much as you’re going to use! Even if it’s cheaper per ounce to buy in bulk, it’s probably more expensive than buying the right amount. Keep track of how much coffee you’re using every week, figure out how long your beans typically last, and use that to figure out how much you should buy!
Before You Go!
Hopefully you found something here that you liked? Whether you did or you didn’t, we appreciate you supporting our site! Our efforts here are fueled by you and a healthy dose of coffee. Feel free to check out our other articles, guides, lists, and more!
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