Coffee is at its best soon after roasting. Air, moisture, heat and light are what make it go flat. Good storage will not make old coffee fresh, but it will keep fresh coffee tasting right for longer.
The four things to avoid
- Air: oxygen dulls the aroma. Keep the pack sealed and squeeze out extra air before closing it.
- Moisture: damp coffee goes stale fast. Always use a dry spoon.
- Heat: keep coffee away from the stove, oven and sunny windowsills.
- Light: store it in an opaque pack or container, not a clear glass jar on the counter.
Where to keep it
A cool, dark kitchen cupboard is the best place. Our coffee ships in a resealable zip-lock pack, so you can keep it in the original bag. If you move it to a container, choose one that is airtight and opaque.
What about the fridge?
In a humid climate like Chennai’s, some people refrigerate their coffee. If you do, keep it tightly sealed so it does not pick up moisture or food smells, and let the pack come to room temperature before opening it, so condensation does not form on the coffee.
Beans or powder?
Whole beans stay fresh longer than powder because less of the coffee is exposed to air. If you have a grinder, buy whole roasted beans and grind just before brewing. If you buy filter coffee powder, choose a pack size you will finish within a few weeks.
Buy fresh, buy less, buy often
The simplest rule is to start with fresh coffee. At Sundar Coffee we roast only after your order is placed and ship within a day of roasting, so your coffee starts its life in your kitchen, not on a shelf.