How to Store Coffee, from Coffee Expert Jerry Baldwin
To freeze, or not to freeze? Use an airtight container, or leave in the roaster’s bag? When it comes to storing coffee, there’s all sort of conflicting advice out there. But this article from The Atlantic's food channel is a great resource. Jerry Baldwin, former owner of Peet’s Coffee and co-founder of Starbucks (some twenty years ago), weighs in on the best way to store your beans at home.
The takeaway points: bring espresso to room temperature before brewing; refrigerate beans that you’ll grind within a few weeks; freeze beans that you won’t drink for longer; and don’t bother with airtight containers. For the rest of Baldwin’s advice—and the coffee-geek explanation behind each tip—read the full article here.
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment.
5 Comments:
Very interesting advice thanks.
SimeyC at 3:59PM on 05/04/09
The timing of this article couldn't have been much better--how did you know I bought 3 pounds of espresso beans on Saturday?
littlestcapy at 4:04PM on 05/04/09
I keep hearing different views on this. Some say freeze... some say never freeze. Some say refrigerate... some say that's no good.
I dunno. Until I read hard, scientific evidence one way or the other I'm just keeping my beans in a cool, dark place in an airtight container.
jpolk at 4:43PM on 05/04/09
@jpolk, agreed. i've heard the same. who to believe?!
subinai at 5:05PM on 05/04/09
Odd that he should say those things, but at Starbucks school during barista training, we were told to never refrigerate beans (because taking them in and out of the fridge promotes condensation, and moisture is bad for the unbrewed coffee) and to always store beans in airtight containers. The only things Starbucks and the co-founder of Starbucks seem to agree on is that the freezer is best for long-term storage. Huh.
ChristineB at 5:17PM on 05/04/09