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How to store your coffee for maximum freshness and flavour

Storing coffee correctly is vital for preserving the flavour of the beans and for ensuring that every cup is as delicious as the last.

Storing coffee correctly is vital for preserving the flavour of the beans and for ensuring that every cup is as delicious as the last. Whether ground or whole bean, coffee survives best when stored in a cool, dry, airtight container and away from direct sunlight.

 

You deserve ultimate taste and delicious results day after day which is why Artisan uses cutting-edge science and technology to ensure your coffee stays fresher for longer. Our individually packed ground coffee single-serve portions mean our coffees’ incredible flavour and mouth-watering aroma remain consistent over time.

 

Our beans last much, much longer than the coffee you’re probably used to drinking at home. Every time you open up a serving of The Big Shot, you’ll be hit by the same aroma of chocolate fudge brownie and fresh vanilla pod. And every serving of The Genius will be as reminiscent of malty chocolate, pecan and raisin as the last.

 

Read on to find out how we keep our beans bursting with flavour for longer than anyone else, and for our top tips on optimal bean storage and keeping your coffee at its absolute best.

 

Coffee Storage basics

 

When it comes to coffee storage, there are a few fundamentals to get right. Most importantly: excess air, moisture, heat and light will all cause your coffee to perish. 

 

Ensure your coffee is sealed and protected in an airtight container and avoid leaving your coffee in an open packet on the side. Once your beans come into contact with air, they will begin to deteriorate, losing valuable aroma molecules. You will notice that the aroma will decrease and the taste will deteriorate day by day.

 

Unfortunately, along with moisture, your beans will also absorb and take on other odours present in the air which will further distort their flavour.

 

The best place for your airtight container is in a cool and dark corner of the kitchen and you should endeavour to keep your coffee in an opaque container. While a glass jar may be easy-on-the-eye and look great on the kitchen counter, sunlight poses a serious risk to the integrity of the beans. Direct sunlight can cause the beans’ oils to break down, compromising their taste. Clear coffee containers are best avoided.

 

To extend the life of whole beans, unopened sealed bags can be stored in the freezer to extend their freshness, however once the bag has been opened, we would recommend you transfer your beans to an airtight container and store them in a cool dark place as above. If you decide to do this, you should aim to consume the beans within two weeks of opening. However, you can return them to the freezer provided they are vacuum sealed and all the air is removed.

 

 

Whole bean vs ground coffee

  

Ground coffee tends to go stale more quickly than whole bean coffee due to its larger surface area, the aroma molecules are protected once ground and oxygen starts to deteriorate coffee quickly. Even when stored correctly, whole beans will hold their flavour for about a month before they begin to turn, whereas ground coffee will deteriorate very quickly.

 

Whilst freshly grinding whole beans - whilst still in optimum condition and just before you brew - is preferable, a good quality grinder is usually required. However, with Artisan ground coffee we have done the hard work for you so that your coffee is in optimum condition and ready for you to brew every time.

 

 

Artisan coffee stays fresher for longer

 

Once you tear open a bag of whole bean or ground coffee, flavour deterioration is inevitable. This is why Artisan coffee arrives packed in single serve portions to keep the freshness sealed inside.

 

Each of our six coffee characters are available in various formats, including pods, ground filter, ground moka and coffee bags, all sealed in nitro-flushed packaging to keep the flavour locked in. Our ground coffee is uniquely sealed for freshness in a 30g single serving sachet; the perfect amount for a four-cup cafetiere as we know most people will prepare ground coffee this way at home. With whole bean also available in every character, there really is something for everybody, and for every mood.

 

Whether you’re more inclined towards flavours of roasted nuts and caramel – The Heroine could be your new favourite brew - or whether nibbed cocoa, honey and buttery biscuit flavours are more your jam – in which case you’ll love The Smart Cookie -, all of our coffees have been painstakingly optimised for you to enjoy at home. We take a fresh approach to coffee, championing blends and elevating flavours, this is coffee as you’ve never experienced or tasted it before.

 

 

How to test the freshness of your coffee

 

Thankfully testing the freshness of coffee isn’t just a guessing game. There are a series of simple tests you can do at home to check whether your coffee storage is up to scratch and that your grounds are retaining their freshness.

 

First of all, you need to determine whether your coffee is releasing carbon dioxide. Fresh coffee will release a considerable amount of CO2, but the process slows as the beans reach peak flavour and freshness, and then stops all together once the beans become stale. Fortunately, there is a simple test you can do to discern whether your beans are still at their best. First, place a couple of tablespoons of either beans or ground coffee into a sealable bag. Next, squeeze out all the air, seal the bag, and leave them overnight. Come morning, if the bag has puffed up with gas, your coffee is still fresh and you’re good to go. If not, it’s probably time to cast your beans out and buy a new batch of coffee (and perhaps reconsider your storage methods).

 

Fresh coffee beans are packed with oils which, over time, steadily seep out - taking the beans’ flavour with it. As your beans lose their oil, they lose their aroma and begin to go stale. Have a peek inside your coffee bag to confirm that oil residue is present. If not, your coffee is likely past its best and needs replacing.

 

As a general rule, if your coffee beans are lacking in aroma, the coffee itself will be lacking in flavour. Ideally, the aroma coming from the packet will be punchy and powerful and leave you craving a cup of joe. Anything less and you’re likely dealing with sub-par beans that are past their best.

 

By combining single serve packaging with an industry-leading aroma optimization process, Aromax50, Artisan has perfected the art of delivering pure, characterful, fresh and flavourful coffee in its most delicious form, cup after cup. This ground-breaking aroma optimisation process applies to all Artisan’s ground coffee formats - be it pod coffee, ground coffee or coffee bags - and is the reason that all our coffee, no matter how you drink yours, is guaranteed to taste amazing time after time.