If you are from those coffee lovers who use pre-ground coffee for your favorite cup of joe, then you would probably have a question in mind that how to store ground coffee long term?
Many of folks have been using ground coffee for a long time and they just don’t know the right way to store it. If you don’t store coffee in a precise way, it will lose its flavor or can ruin your coffee ground.
So, here I am revealing best ways to store ground coffee that helps you to keep your ground coffee fresh for a long time.
If you ask me how I stored my ground coffee? Then Storing ground coffee in a glass container is my favorite way to store my coffee. It doesn’t hurt my coffee for a long term.
But what are the other ways and what to avoid when storing coffee for a long term? Let’s get to know.
How to Store Ground Coffee Long Term?
Keep away from these biggest enemies- moisture and heat
Do you know the biggest enemies of coffee? It’s moisture and heat.
But How? Let me explain.
No moisture-
Coffee should store in a dry environment. If coffee comes into contact of excess moisture it will badly affect the taste and flavor of coffee. It is not a good idea to store coffee in the freezer due to condensation. The condensation leads to excess moisture and ruin the coffee.
No heat until brewing-
The heat also leads to deteriorating the ground coffee. So, when you store coffee in the kitchen cabinet, make sure it is away from gas or oven which causes heat. Keep away your ground coffee from heat until brewing.
Check Out For Best Coffee Grinder For Cold Brew
Store in freezer? No
Is it good to store coffee in the freezer for a long term?
Probably yes? No?
There are different opinions for storing the coffee in the freezer. But according to my opinion, you should avoid freezer to store coffee. It’s only because of moisture.
As I said above moisture is the biggest enemy of coffee. When you take out ground coffee from the freezer, the moisture of freezer melt and it is absorbed by your precious coffee. Due to the condensation, it will come into contact with water and it will destroy the freshness and flavor of ground coffee.
The freezer storage is a good option if there is no moisture comes in contact of ground coffee. When you remove the coffee from freezer, you should not keep back again it in the freezer.
Store in airtight containers
Once you open the package of ground coffee, it should not leave in that package. You should dispense it in an airtight container. Because, when you open the package air will deteriorate the freshness of coffee ground.
So, the best method to store ground coffee is keeping the coffee on the pantry shelf in an airtight container. It should keep away from air, moisture, direct sunlight and heat.
a. The best material for a container
The airtight container should be constructed of glass(Mason) or ceramic. If you use metal or plastic container, it adversely affects the flavor of ground coffee. Plastic and metal both are reactive material. So, it is always good to store coffee in a glass or ceramic airtight container.
b. container should be lightproof
The container should be lightproof as coffee should be stored away from light. Light can spoil your coffee. So if you are going to store in a translucent container, store it in dark places like pantry or kitchen cabinet.
Storing in the fridge? Never
If you are thinking to store your ground coffee in the fridge because it is a cool and dark place. Then, of course, it is not a good idea at all!
You should not store coffee in the fridge because coffee is porous and it can easily absorb the high moisture level present in the fridge. The coffee making procedure starts from this point.
When you use that ground coffee have been in the fridge, that means you are using stale or used coffee. This used coffee will not able to make fresh and perfect joe. So, you should not store coffee in the fridge.
Vacuum sealing
When you open coffee container, it releases a pleasant aroma. Because all types of ground coffee come in vacuum sealed containers.
In vacuum sealing process, oxygen takes out that helps for keeping intact the aroma and freshness of the coffee.
If you don’t want to lose the freshness of coffee ground, you should vacuum seal it. Nowadays vacuum sealing is not much expensive. So, you can vacuum seal each bag easily.
Needs constant temperature
It is essential to keep the temperature constant where you store your coffee ground. Don’t change the place of your coffee frequently around the home.
If you kept your coffee in a warm place, don’t move it in a cool place. The storage temperature condition affects the coffee adversely. So, constant temperature condition is important.
Best Temperature to Store Ground Coffee?
When you bought ground coffee, then it is an essential factor at what temperature it should be stored?
Because proper storage will not ruin your favorite coffee. Otherwise, there is higher chances of spoiling your coffee.
You should store your coffee to room temperature as possible. The best way to store your coffee in ceramic or glass airtight container at room temperature. It should be away from direct sunlight and moisture.
How Long Does Ground Coffee Stay Fresh?
The Shelf life of ground coffee rest upon preparation method, best before the date and the most important factor how it is stored. If it is stored precisely, it can last for months or even years.
Generally, the unopened or sealed ground coffee lasts for 3 to 5 months in a pantry and 1 to 2 years on freezer from past printed date.
Whereas opened ground coffee lasts for 3 to 5 months in a pantry as well as in a freezer once it is opened.
The shelf life of coffee gets shorter if it is not stored in the right way.
Check Out For Best Coffee Grinder For French Press
How to Tell If Ground Coffee is Bad or Spoiled?
The aroma is the strong indication of that your ground coffee is gone bad. When coffee gets spoiled, it loses its incredible aroma.
You can still use your ground coffee. But there is not much flavor remains, if coffee loses its aroma.
The coffee also changes its color when it goes bad. Generally, it has a dark color which turns into light brown color if it gets spoiled.
You also get to notice the change in its real taste. The coffee develops stale taste if it gets worse.
If you notice visible mold or smell of mildew in your ground coffee, do not use that coffee.
Tips to Store Your Coffee
In Short …
So, you got to know how to store ground coffee long term. If you store your ground coffee in the right way you will not lose its flavor, taste, and aroma.
Storing ground coffee in a glass container is my favorite choice to store my precious coffee. Because I think it is more beneficial than other methods. Storing coffee in a glass container is an inexpensive way which makes coffee easy to access and looks organized too!
How you store your ground coffee? Let me know in comments!
