How To Keep Ground Coffee Fresh

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Coffee is the most popular drink in the United States. It even beats water, which is pretty impressive when you think about it. With so many Americans drinking so much coffee, knowing how to keep it fresh is valuable information. Since most of people drink a cup or two a day, there's no sense putting time, effort, and money into coffee if we are not going to make the most of it. Fortunately, keeping your ground coffee beans fresh at home does not take much effort. 

Tasting Table spoke to Claire Chan, founder and owner of The Elk, a specialty coffee shop in New York City, about how to store coffee grounds to keep them as fresh as possible. "Store ground coffee in an airtight container to protect it from air and oxidation," she told us. "For extended freshness, you can store it in the refrigerator, but always allow the coffee to return to room temperature before brewing."

Ideally, you should use your coffee right away after grinding, as ground coffee starts to go stale faster than you'd think. "If using pre-ground coffee, it should be consumed within two to three days for the best flavor. After that, much of the flavor complexity and compounds will fade," Chan explained. While you might be able to extend that an another week or two, don't forget: the refrigerator isn't a good long term option for storing coffee.

Storing coffee in an airtight container is one thing, but what does that mean? Lots of containers can be airtight, and some are better than others. Look for one with a rubber or silicone seal that locks tightly and avoid anything made of clear glass, unless you plan on strictly storing your ground coffee in the fridge, so as to protect the grinds from light. That kind of container is affordable and efficient, like the Veken Coffee Container, and it should keep your coffee fresh until you need it with its built-in rotating date tracker. 

If you want to go all out, you could also buy something like the Coffee Gator coffee canister. These canisters are airtight and made from opaque stainless steel to prevent exposure to light. However, they also feature a date tracker so you know when the container was filled, and include a vent that releases CO2 from the coffee to help keep it fresher then a typical coffee canister. It's a premium product and the price reflects that — but if you're serious about your coffee, it is one of the best options on the market.

As for the worst way to store your coffee, Claire Chan shared some thoughts on that as well. "Leaving coffee exposed to open air is the worst method. Oxygen rapidly degrades the oils and aromatic compounds that give coffee its aroma and flavor." If you've ever had coffee that's been sitting loose in an open container before, you know exactly what she means. Save yourself from a cup of brown, bitter water and take the time to store it the right way — including storing the beans properly before grinding. You'll be glad you did.