Where Should You Store Coffee? We Finally Settle the Pantry vs. Freezer Debate

Talk about precious cargo. Coffee is a non-negotiable grocery item in nearly every home in America. It's what brings us back to life in the morning, and it's the only path to productivity for sleepyheads everywhere (myself included). But caffeine content isn't everything. Coffee is a delicious drink meant to be prepared, stored, and served properly. There's a lot of confusion when it comes to keeping your coffee beans or grounds as fresh as possible. Is the pantry the right place, or should we be storing them in the freezer? At long last, we have the answer.

Keep It Shelved

The best way to keep ground coffee or whole beans fresh is to store the coffee on a pantry shelf in an opaque, airtight container. It should be away from light, heat, and moisture, says Scott McMartin, who has tasted more than half a million cups of coffee as a member of the Starbucks Green Coffee Quality group. (If you don't have a canister, close the top of the bag with a rubber band, then put the bag in a resealable plastic bag.) When you freeze the coffee you use every day, the fluctuating temperatures create moisture in the packet, which can leave your morning cup tasting like cardboard. "The cell structure changes, which causes a loss of the oils that give coffee its aroma and flavor," says McMartin. So why do so many coffee connoisseurs keep their stashes in the freezer? They probably stock up and store the coffee there for a longer time.

When You Can Freeze

It's fine to freeze whole beans for up to a month, provided you're not taking them out during that period. "For a large amount of coffee, first divide it into smaller portions, then freeze the portions in airtight bags," recommends Robert Nelson, president and chief executive officer of the National Coffee Association. When you do remove the frozen beans, put them on a shelf to thaw, and grind and brew within two weeks, so the coffee is truly good to the last drop.

• By Sharon Tanenbaum
• By Betty Gold