What’s the Best Way to Store Coffee Beans? Starbucks Settles the Debate

If you peek inside any American’s kitchen, there’s a good chance you’ll find some coffee. According to the most recent study from the National Coffee Association, 81% of coffee drinkers have their coffee at home. But if you’ve felt like the cup of coffee from your local café is always better than the one you make in your kitchen, it may be because of how you’re storing your beans. “Coffee is like fresh produce, and the coffee flavors are fragile,” Leslie Wolford, coffee development principal at Starbucks, says. “Exposure to elements can strip away the flavors and lead to unpleasant tastes. Proper storage will keep your coffee beans fresh so you can brew that optimal cup.” 

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But should you be keeping coffee beans in the pantry, freezer or fridge? And how long does a bag of coffee beans last? We had Wolford put the debate to rest. Her advice? The best place to store your beans is at room temperature, not in the fridge of the freezer.   

Store Coffee Beans at Room Temperature 

Four factors can impact the way your coffee tastes: oxygen, heat, light and moisture, Wolford says. The ideal storage setup will protect from all those factors. “Coffee beans should be stored in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature,” she says. “If you’re going to keep the beans in their original package, press out as much air as possible and seal the package tightly.” Oxygen, she adds, is the enemy of coffee. Also, be sure to avoid any spots in the kitchen that are exposed to sunlight or heat, like near the oven or close to a sunny window. 

Once your package is opened, Wolford says, you should plan to consume it within a week for optimal freshness and flavors. So rather than buying a large bulk bag of beans and storing it for an extended time, she recommends buying smaller bags more frequently. 

Alysse Wishart, coffee quality specialist at Peet’s Coffee, agrees that home baristas should buy their beans in smaller bags, more frequently. However, she notes that a well-sealed bag of coffee beans can last for several months, and that you likely have about 30 days after your bag is opened to finish your beans before they start to go stale. 

Avoid the Fridge 

While coffee may be like fresh produce, storing it in the fridge isn’t likely to extend its shelf life. First, coffee beans can absorb the odors of other food in the fridge, which will make for a tainted cup of morning joe. In addition, Wolford says taking the coffee out of the fridge frequently to use it will introduce condensation, which can make it go stale faster. Wolford doesn’t recommend the freezer for the same reason, but she says it is possible to use the freezer if you need to store your beans for a long time—with a couple caveats. The first? An airtight, sealed container (think a vacuum-sealed, freezer-safe bag) will be paramount. She also says that once you take it out of the freezer and thaw it, the coffee needs to be used immediately. “It should not go back into the freezer,” she adds. 

Keep the Beans Out of the Hopper 

Also, don’t store coffee beans in the hopper of your grinder, Wishart says. These hoppers are usually clear and not airtight, making your beans go stale faster. “But the biggest downside to this is the oils that accumulate,” she adds. “The oils can become rancid and impart unpleasant flavor not only onto your cup of coffee, but to your next round of beans poured in the hopper.” 

What About Ground Coffee? 

Ground coffee also needs to be stored in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature. However, it’s likely to go stale faster than whole-bean coffee—even when stored correctly. “When coffee is ground, more surface area of the bean is exposed to air, which causes the coffee to oxidize more quickly than whole beans and lose its aromatic compounds,” Wolford says. For that reason, she recommends buying whole-bean coffee whenever possible and grinding coffee just before brewing, as the grinding process releases aromatic compounds into your coffee, making for a more flavorful cup. 

How to Tell If Your Coffee Has Gone Bad 

Coffee beans that are past their prime will slowly give off clues that it’s time for a new bag. The first is when the flavor and aroma begins to dissipate, which is because oils in the beans break down, muting these elements. From there, the beans will lose their luster, looking a bit duller than when you first purchased them. The biggest tell, however, will be in your cup of coffee: Wolford says that if your morning cup tastes like cardboard, it’s time to replace your beans. 

The Bottom Line 

Store coffee beans in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature. Purchase smaller amounts at a time, ideally using up a bag of beans in about seven days. If you need to store coffee for longer, you can do so in the freezer—just make sure it’s in an airtight container (like a vacuum-sealed bag) and don’t refreeze the beans after they thaw.