Coffee is the world’s favourite beverage, with an estimated two billion cups consumed every day. The trend for speciality coffees and coffee shops has surged in recent years, not just in the UK and USA, but globally.
Millions of people subscribe to coffee delivery services to enjoy top-quality brews at home, with many investing in their own coffee machines or aeropresses in pursuit of that perfect cup. Now, leading coffee manufacturer Folgers has shared its advice on the best way to store coffee to maintain peak flavour for as long as possible, reports the Express.
And contrary to popular belief, it’s not the freezer. Given the significance of coffee in our daily routines – from providing a much-needed energy boost in the morning and early afternoon, to promoting gut health, and offering a myriad of flavours, textures and combinations – it’s crucial to get it right and avoid any storage methods that could compromise your coffee’s taste.
Is coffee actually good for you?
Is your daily coffee fix actually good for your health? The short answer is a resounding yes.
Consuming coffee has several benefits, such as increasing the diversity of your gut microbiome—the vast community of microbes living in your gut, which plays a crucial role in your general well-being. Research from Zoe, a science and nutrition firm co-founded by Professor Tim Spector, suggests that those who drink coffee tend to enjoy a more varied gut microbiota.
The beverage also boasts polyphenols, beneficial plant-derived chemicals. Some studies indicate that coffee might lower cancer risks, decelerate cognitive decline, cut down the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease, and provide some protection against type 2 diabetes.
However, these potential perks require further investigation for full validation.
The best way to store coffee
When it comes to keeping your beans at their peak, there’s an art to storage. Coffee giant Folgers recommends to allrecipes.com storing coffee – in whichever form, be it beans, ground, or instant – somewhere cool and dry.
Make sure the lid is firmly sealed. Kyle Hess, JM Smucker Co’s corporate communications spokesperson, which is the parent company of Folgers, said: “Properly storing coffee is one of the best ways to preserve its flavour and ensure that you’re getting a high-quality cup of coffee with each and every brew.”
He clarified that when stored correctly, coffee grounds should maintain their ideal flavour for somewhere around “about three weeks” once opened. But then arises the question: should coffee be kept in the fridge or freezer?
You might have heard the common belief that the fridge or freezer is the best spot to keep your coffee fresh for an extended period. However, Folgers disagrees with this storage method. He said: “We do not recommend refrigerating or freezing coffee as this can result in flavour loss.”
Coffee is prone to absorbing moisture, and in the chilly confines of a fridge or freezer, it may prematurely soak up dampness, leading to a blunted flavour profile. It’s also at risk of picking up odours and tastes from other stored items. Echoing this sentiment, Scott McMartin, director at Nomi Brew and ex-director at Starbucks, shared his insights with Real Simple.
He pointed out that the daily freezing of coffee leads to fluctuating temperatures inside the packet, which introduces moisture and can mute the taste.
“The cell structure changes, which causes a loss of the oils that give coffee its aroma and flavour,” McMartin noted. Nevertheless, he mentioned that freezing coffee is feasible if it remains in its unopened original packaging.
When stored like this, ground coffee could last up to about a year, but ideally, it should be consumed within a month or two for optimal freshness.