Whatever coffee
you drink, it is important to purchase and use it as fresh as possible.
Unroasted beans, if kept from dampness, can be stored up to six months before
they deteriorate. However, after roasting, the beans’ quality will
deteriorate rapidly. When the beans’ fragrance is gone, the coffee has lost
its freshness. For this reason, many merchant recommend buying coffee in small
quantities.
For the best results, store beans in
half-pound quantities in airtight plastic bags in the freezer; use exactly
what you need and grind just before brewing.
Ground coffee deteriorates even more
quickly than beans. Ideally it should be purchased in very small quantities.
It will stay fresh for about a week in an airtight canister at a room
temperature.
Keeping around coffee in the freezer and
removing it daily is not recommended. This will cause condensation, and
moisture is an enemy of coffee.
