STORAGE 101

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You have a freshly roasted bag of specialty coffee. Smells amazing! Tastes delicious! And you’ve got about two weeks from the day it was roasted before the fragrance and flavor that make it so damn good break down and start to flatten out. It’ll still be enjoyable but true coffee nirvana is found during that peak period. We’re going to show you how to prolong freshly roasted coffee’s fountain of youth.

3 ENEMIES OF
FRESHLY ROASTED COFFEE

icon_sunlightSunlight accelerates aging. Use a light-proof container or keep your coffee in an area hidden from light like a closed cabinet. icon_airAir oxidizes coffee beans which leads to staling. We recommend a container with a rubber gasket for an airtight seal and a clamp to keep it sealed shut. icon_heatHeat, like sunlight, accelerates aging. Store your beans somewhere with relatively moderate temperatures like a kitchen cabinet.

LONG TERM STORAGE
HINT: IT’S OK TO FREEZE YOUR COFFEE

Can you store coffee in the freezer? The short answer to this controversial question is YES! But we only recommend this if you’re going to use the coffee more than 2 weeks past the roast date. And don’t store coffee in the fridge – just don’t. Follow these steps:

  1. Store the beans in a sealed plastic bag, squeezing out as much air as possible.

  2. Remove the beans only when ready for use. Do NOT defrost and re-freeze. TIP: Store the beans in individual cup-sized bags to remove only what you need for brewing at that time without disturbing beans meant for longer storage.

  3. Defrost the beans while in the bags to allow condensation to form on the outside of the bag (this reveals ENEMY #4: MOISTURE).

RECOMMENDATIONS IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE

image_coffeetinAirtight container. Bonus points for containers with degassing valves which let gasses out while preventing outside air from getting in. image_coffeebagThe Fat Rabbit Coffee bag that comes with your coffee. It’s light-proof, internally lined to keep air out, and includes a fancy degassing valve! image_icecubesFreezer. Only to be used if necessary to store your coffee beyond two weeks. See instructions above.