How to store coffee at home: beans, ground, grounds; containers, jars and shelf life

Strong aromatic coffee is a drink beloved by millions. Many people cannot imagine their morning without a cup of hot drink. In order to truly enjoy the refined aromatic notes and taste, ground and bean coffee must be stored correctly.

The invigorating and tonic properties of the aromatic liquid depend on the variety, heat treatment method, country of origin and quality of raw materials. It is important to store coffee in accordance with all requirements. You need to know what to store beans in and at what temperature coffee can be stored.

How to properly store coffee - general rules and features

It is worth grinding the beans immediately before preparing the drink.
Experts call the basic rules for storing coffee:

It is highly undesirable to keep the product for a long time. The drink may lose its important qualities. Buy only enough product to use in 1-2 weeks.
You need to grind the grains immediately before cooking.
It is preferable to store coffee beans rather than ground coffee powder. Essential oils remain intact inside the beans. After grinding, the oils come into direct contact with oxygen, and after storing ground coffee for a long time, the taste of the drink deteriorates significantly.
Temperature conditions for storing all types of coffee are +13- +16 degrees.
The humidity indicator is of utmost importance. The required humidity level for proper storage is 50-60%. The product is not stored near the stove, on which it is constantly cooked.
Choose a container designed for storing coffee with an airtight lid.

What are the dangers of improper storage?

If you break the rules, the consequences may be as follows:

When the ground powder comes into contact with air, oxidation occurs, which negatively affects the taste of the drink.
The wonderful aroma may evaporate from the drink or become very weak.
Because the beans absorb surrounding odors, the drink may end up with a strange aftertaste.
In a room with too dry air, grains often break into small pieces.
After opening the package, it is recommended to store coffee beans in a room with the required humidity. Otherwise, mold may form.

Due to improper storage of beans, the drink may lose its aroma.

Shelf life of beans and ground coffee in vacuum packaging

In packaging, the shelf life of coffee beans can reach two years if the original pack is hermetically sealed. Once the package is opened, the grains can be stored for no more than 15 days. Roasted beans are stored for 4-5 days.

On a note! If you use a special container for grains, storage increases to several months.

After grinding the beans, the powder should be used immediately. But in vacuum factory packaging, ground powder is stored for about a year. If the seal of the package is broken, it is advisable to use the product within 10 days.

Suitable conditions and terms

The optimal conditions and shelf life of coffee beans depend on their type, country of origin and method of roasting the product.

Type of coffee	Package	0º- — 20º	+13º — + 16º	+20º — + 35º
Grain	Closed	1.5 years	1 year	6 months
Open	2 months	10 days	24 hours
Ground	Closed	2-3 years	6 months – 1.5 years	4-6 months
Open	3-4 weeks	10-14 days	5 days
Soluble	Closed	5 years	3 years	1-1.5 years
Open	1 year	4-6 months	10-11 months

More recently, a new type of product has appeared - capsules for brewing an aromatic drink. Capsules for making coffee are not allowed to be stored for more than 12 months; after this period they are considered unfit for consumption.

When kept in the wrong conditions, the beans oxidize and aromatic compounds evaporate, causing the invigorating drink to lose its odor. They absorb moisture, mold or a thin film appears on their surface, which smells sharp and unpleasant.

Features of storing coffee beans

How to store coffee beans:

In the original vacuum packaging, carefully cut off a corner. Don't cut off the entire top of the pack. Pour in the required amount of beans, and then, having expelled the air from the bag, twist the top as tightly as possible and secure it with a clamp.
The storage temperature for coffee beans should not be too high and, conversely, too low. A suitable temperature indicator is 14-15 degrees.

On a note! Avoid high indoor humidity and sudden temperature changes. It is better not to keep grains in cabinets hanging near stoves.

A glass container with a tight-fitting lid is suitable for storage.

How long can coffee beans last?

The shelf life of an unopened pack of coffee beans is approximately 24 months. Many people are interested in how long coffee beans can be stored after opening, and whether all of its beneficial properties are retained when depressurized. Once the package is opened, the grains must be consumed within a week.

How much coffee beans can be stored at different temperatures in a vacuum sealed package:

+13-16 degrees – 12 months;
0 to -20 degrees – 18 months;
+25- +35 degrees – 9-10 months.

Can coffee be stored in the refrigerator?

Some people prefer to store coffee in their refrigerators, citing the fact that the low temperature is beneficial for preserving the aromatic oils in the beans. In fact, the volatility of aromatic substances is affected not so much by temperature as by oxidation, which occurs due to direct contact with oxygen. Cold storage rooms are not suitable for storage for a number of reasons. Due to the constant opening of the door, the humidity inside the chamber is almost always increased, and in addition, there are various odors that the beans will certainly absorb.

Can grains be stored in the freezer?

If you purchased grains in large quantities, a freezer is suitable to preserve the product. Once the product is removed from the freezer, it should not be re-frozen. Experts advise packaging grains into small portions before freezing. For these purposes, it is better to use squares of foil or cling film.

A modern freezer operating on a dry freezing system is suitable for storing grains. Packages with grains should be placed in a separate compartment. If it is not possible to separate bags of grains from other frozen foods, place all bags in a plastic container and close with a lid.

How long can coffee beans last in the freezer? The shelf life reaches one and a half years.

Choosing the optimal storage location

Where can you put coffee and ensure its safety?

Open shelves

Open shelves will not protect you from temperature changes, humidity, sunlight and air. That is why it is better to find another place.

Closed closet or pantry

It is advisable that the pantry or closet be located as far as possible from the window, stove and sink. Make sure that there are no spices, herbs or fruits next to the jar in which the coffee is stored.

Fridge

The presence of foreign odors in the refrigerator compartment affects the taste of coffee. Temperature changes when opening and closing the door also negatively affect the condition of the drink.

Storing ground coffee

Fans of the aromatic drink often buy already ground powder. If you don’t have a coffee grinder, this is the most suitable option and saves a lot of time. Features of storing ground product:

Manufacturers often take care of high-quality vacuum packaging. The contents of a closed package are stored for a long time.
It is not recommended to pour products from several batches into one container.
The product jar must be airtight and filled to the top.
The powder instantly absorbs all odors. For this reason, tightly sealed packaging should be kept away from other products.
If you need to measure a portion of coffee, under no circumstances should you do it with wet cutlery. No moisture should get inside.

Shelf life of ground coffee

The duration of storage depends on which method was chosen:

In sealed original packaging, the contents are stored for up to one year;
In glass with a tight-fitting lid – 7 days;
If exposed to oxygen, the product should be used immediately.

Tips for choosing in a store

A tasty and aromatic drink is obtained from high-quality coffee. It is desirable that it be in grains.

Green beans can be stored for almost 5 years, but after roasting their shelf life is reduced to 3 weeks.

How to choose bean coffee

The packaging must have a special gas valve. This means that the coffee beans were packaged immediately after roasting, and they did not lose their quality.
The roasting date must coincide with the packaging date and not exceed two months.
The packaging must not be damaged.

When purchasing, find out what variety is in the pack: Arabica, Robusta. These are two different varieties, differing in shape, taste, and price. When the Arabica variety is packed in a package, then . If a mixture of two varieties - the percentage of varieties. Other information is from the evil one.

How to choose ground coffee

The question of where to store ground coffee has already been considered. It’s worth figuring out how to choose this product in the store.

When buying ground mixture in vacuum packaging, pay attention to the package. It should be dense, as if compressed. A soft bag indicates depressurization.
When looking at the packaging, look for information about grinding and roasting. Coarsely ground coffee is prepared in Turks. After preparing it, you need to infuse it to make the drink richer. Finely ground powder is used to prepare the drink in coffee machines. Medium-ground coffee is optimal, from which the drink is brewed both in a Turk and in a coffee machine.
Roasting ground beans is a matter of taste. Everyone chooses for themselves.
The type of coffee also matters, as the taste and aroma of the drink depends on it. Variety information should be clear, not vague.

How long does capsule coffee last?

Nowadays, capsule coffee is being used more and more often, so the question becomes relevant: how long can coffee be stored in capsules? Since the capsule product is always sealed, the shelf life is extended to two years. The timing depends on compliance with all required storage conditions, as well as on the manufacturers themselves.

It happens that suddenly there are several coffee capsules in the kitchen cabinet. Throwing away expensive capsules is not an option, but is it possible to use an expired product?

It has not been scientifically proven that expired capsules can cause harm to health. But you should be prepared for the fact that the drink will not be as aromatic, and the caffeine content in it will be lower than in the fresh product.

The impact of expired coffee on human health

Some brave souls claim that it is impossible to get poisoned from expired coffee. Actually this is not true. Even though the actual shelf life of coffee exceeds the shelf life, sometimes old coffee can cause illness or food poisoning.

You should not drink coffee if:

natural coffee has become damp, acquired a musty smell, and become moldy. A drink made from such grains can cause stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting;
The coffee smells like rancid fat. Spoiled oils are harmful to the liver. This coffee is especially dangerous for people with gallbladder diseases;
expired instant coffee causes heartburn and indigestion.

Storing green coffee

It is allowed to store green coffee in all possible ways: indoors in compliance with all rules, as well as in the freezer compartment. Green beans have the longest shelf life. In unopened factory packaging, green beans can be stored for 36 months. If you create comfortable storage conditions, green beans can be used after five years.

As a rule, green coffee is sold by weight in specialized stores. After purchasing, you should carefully sort through each grain, separating beans with black spots and kinks. After this, the grains are dried on paper towels for 12-15 hours (at room temperature).

On a note! When placing the product in the freezer compartment, you should know that before use, the temperature of the grains must be at least + 17 degrees.

conclusions

To prevent coffee from expiring, try to buy it for 1-2 weeks so that the taste and aroma remain at their peak when consumed. You should not stock up unnecessarily.
The best way to preserve the freshness of coffee is in foil bags with a degassing valve and a ziploc seal. A slightly less successful option is ceramic and opaque glass jars. Tin and plastic containers are best avoided.
The optimal conditions for storing the coffee you drink every day are room temperature, in a place protected from moisture, heat and light. A kitchen cabinet is the best option.
Never store coffee in the refrigerator! Dot.
Store coffee purchased for future use in the freezer, strictly following the rules described above. If you plan to gradually consume your supply, divide the coffee into portions, package and store them separately. The extracted portions should subsequently be stored only at room temperature.

How to store instant coffee

Coffee in a can
True connoisseurs of the drink zealously criticize powdered sublimate, but millions of people drink instant drinks every day. Rules for storing instant drinks:

Unopened factory packaging is stored for about five years. As soon as its integrity is compromised, the shelf life is reduced to six months.
An instant drink in powder or granules cannot be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, where it will quickly lose its taste.
To avoid excess moisture getting into the jar, wrap the top tightly with foil after opening.
If the aromatic properties are lost, a cinnamon stick will help, which should be placed directly in the jar.

Instant drink: basic storage nuances

How to store instant coffee at home? This drink, despite the preliminary heat treatment, is not intended for long-term storage. It is enough to leave the package of raw materials open for several hours and not a trace will remain of the piquant aroma. But its “life” can be extended by following a few recommendations.

To store instant coffee, you should choose glass containers with lids; metal cans should be abandoned;
You should not buy bulk powder in large quantities - the best option would be small-volume packaging;
how to store instant coffee at home - if it was packaged in polyethylene or vacuum, it must be immediately poured into a glass jar.

The shelf life of coffee depends on the conditions created, the utensils used, temperature conditions, and humidity levels. In most cases, the shelf life of instant coffee in factory packaging reaches 3 years.

How to store coffee grounds and pulp

The grounds and cake are often used for various purposes:

As a scrub for body and face skin;
As a fertilizer for the garden;
As a vitamin supplement for indoor flowers.

In this regard, the question arises, how to store coffee cake? It is advisable not to store it, but to immediately use it for its intended purpose. If there is a large amount of cake left, it should be placed in a tightly closed glass or plastic jar in the refrigerator. To prevent the formation of mold, the cake must first be thoroughly dried by spreading it on paper towels or a napkin. The process may take several days, the main thing is to constantly stir the cake.

The shelf life of brewed coffee is a very short period - only 3-5 days.

Where to store?

Storage of coffee has a different period depending not only on the packaging, but also on the location. The product can be stored in the closet, refrigerator and freezer. Each place has both advantages and disadvantages.

This place is perfect for storing coffee that you grind and brew once a day. The best temperature, absence of water and haze are the necessary conditions for the preservation of the product. You should not place a bag or jar of grains in a cabinet located near the oven or stove, or opposite a window that does not face the sun.

Despite the popular belief that coffee can and even should be stored in the refrigerator, do not try this at home. The temperature in the refrigerator compartment ranges from +2°C to +6°C. It is not low enough and will not provide freshness to the product. In addition, when the package is repeatedly removed from the refrigerator, the grains become covered with condensation, which turns into water and leads to rapid deterioration of even the freshest product.

This is the best place to preserve the freshest coffee for a long time. But you need to immediately pour out the required amount of grains, which you will use for everyday grinding. If you freeze the beans immediately after roasting, they will remain fresh for up to 2 months.

If you choose the right container and storage location, the smell of freshly ground coffee will fill your home even months after purchase.

Shelf life of coffee beans. Storage nuances.

Many people love coffee. For some it is just a daily boost of energy, but for others it is a whole ritual, including choosing types and making coffee drinks using various methods.

But not everyone knows that coffee has an expiration date and storage nuances that can extend the shelf life of coffee beans.