Storing Coffee Beans: Here’s How

Laatst bijgewerkt op: 13/10/2026

Three things are important for good coffee: good beans, good roasting, and fresh coffee. What does the term “freshness” actually mean when it comes to coffee? And how can you store coffee beans so they retain their best flavor?

No matter what coffee beans you buy, the flavor of the coffee changes over time. To bring out the best flavors of a great coffee in your cup, freshness is key—along with grind size, brewing method, and water. In 2018, the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) published an entire handbook on the subject. What did they find? Over time, various chemical and physical processes affect the quality—and thus the freshness—of coffee beans. This happens both inside the coffee bean (the loss of aromas and gases) and outside the bean (due to the effects of oxygen, temperature, and light). With a few practical tips, you can slow down the aging process of coffee to some extent.

When are coffee beans at their best?

Surprisingly, the internal physical processes also cause freshly roasted coffee beans to be “too” fresh. This is because coffee must first degas. During the roasting process—in which green beans are heated to a temperature of around 200°C over a specific period of time—the moisture in the bean evaporates, releasing gases such as carbon dioxide. This gas plays an important role: it not only influences the extraction but also the development of the crema and the coffee’s flavor profile.

Immediately after roasting, coffee contains too many gases for proper extraction, resulting in bubbles and inconsistency. It is therefore a good idea to let the coffee rest for between five and seven days (opinions vary on this) after roasting. At the same time, you don’t want the coffee to lose too much carbon dioxide. The process of degassing, which continues naturally, and the loss of aromas will eventually have a negative impact on the flavor. After a month, so many gases and aromas have escaped that the coffee loses flavor by the day. Therefore, stick to this rule of thumb: between one week and four weeks after roasting, coffee is at its peak and tastes best.

Coffee beans stay fresh the longest without oxygen

The internal process of gas and aroma loss is inevitable. External factors also influence how quickly coffee loses its freshness. The biggest enemy of roasted coffee is oxygen. By storing coffee beans in an airtight container, you can therefore slow down the aging process to some extent.

Oxygen breaks down the aromas in coffee and also causes undesirable off-flavors. That’s why it’s best to grind coffee just before you brew it. Ground coffee has a much larger total surface area, which speeds up the oxidation process from a few weeks to a few minutes.

Storing Coffee Beans

Ideally, buy whole coffee beans, which you weigh out per cup and grind as needed. It’s also a good idea to store coffee beans in an airtight container. This keeps out not only oxygen but also moisture and odors. Other factors that affect the freshness of coffee are light and temperature. To prevent the loss of flavor and complexity, it’s best to store coffee in a cool, dark place.

Tips for at Home
Freshness is extremely important for the taste of coffee, but how do you keep coffee fresh the longest? Here are a few practical tips:

1. Drink it at the right time
Coffee is at its freshest and tastiest between one and four weeks after roasting. So always check the roast date on the package. Can’t find the roast date? Then the “best by” date is often a good indicator. It’s usually set at one year after roasting.

2. Weigh your coffee
Don’t dump all the coffee into the hopper at once; instead, weigh out the required amount for each brew. For a double shot of espresso, use an average of 16–20 grams of coffee beans.

3. Grind on demand
Don’t grind the coffee until you’re ready to brew.

4. Store your coffee in the right place
Coffee stays freshest in a dark, cool place. Also, make sure to seal the coffee bag tightly after use.

5. Freezing
Worried you won’t be able to drink all your coffee within one to four weeks after roasting? Freeze some of the coffee beans to slow down the aging process. Be sure to let the coffee come back to room temperature before using it.