Whole Bean Coffee Storage Techniques
Coffee has four enemies: moisture, air, aromas/odors and heat. It is important to keep coffee in an airtight glass/plastic/metal container out of direct sunlight or incandescent light. Avoid aluminum because it will transfer a metallic flavor to your coffee.
It is very important that the container you choose is washed thoroughly on a regular basis (with a light detergent and water). The oils from the beans will transfer onto any surface and will go rancid over time. We recommend washing the container each time you go to refill it with new product.
You can store coffee in the refrigerator or freezer, although there is no proof that it will keep the product fresher than at room temperature. If you choose the freezer, guard against taking it in and out often. Allowing condensation to form on the coffee increases the staling process.
As a rule you should only purchase enough gourmet coffee beans to last a month. I recommend purchasing beans and grinding them fresh, just before you brew, to ensure that you are getting the best possible cup of coffee. However, if you choose to grind your gourmet coffee in larger quatities, you should only grind enough to be used within 1 week of being ground.
If you buy both regular and flavored coffees, be sure to keep your containers clearly marked. Placing a regular coffee in a container that previously contained a flavored coffee could result in the transferring of the flavor and contamination of the regular coffee.
Always keep coffee out of direct sunlight. Exposing the beans to heat will allow the natural oils in the coffee to go rancid (especially if they are dark roasts which have a considerable amount of oil on the surface). Choose a cool place to store your coffee.