Coffee Freshness Guide: Storage Tips, Roast Dates & More

by Antonia Morrison

Freshness Matters: How to Keep Your Coffee at Its Best

There’s nothing quite like that first cup of coffee in the morning, especially when it’s fresh. At Noni’s, we’re a bit obsessed with freshness. It’s one of the biggest factors that affects flavour in the cup, and a few simple habits can make a big difference.

Here’s what you need to know to keep your coffee tasting great for as long as possible.

What Affects Coffee Freshness?

Once coffee is roasted, it starts to slowly lose flavour. The biggest culprits? Oxygen, light, heat and moisture. These elements accelerate the staling process and dull the nuanced flavours you find in fresh roasted coffee.

To get the best out of your beans, aim to store them in a way that protects them from all four. Educate your family, educate your colleagues - do not leave your coffee open and exposed to the elements (!)

Whole Beans vs. Ground Coffee

Coffee begins to degrade more quickly once it's ground. Grinding increases the surface area exposed to oxygen and speeds up the loss of volatile aromatics and oils, the stuff that makes coffee taste and smell amazing.

Top tip: always grind just what you need, just before brewing. Whole beans stay fresh much longer than pre-ground coffee, and investing in a grinder is one of the best things you can do to improve your daily brew.

Should You Store Coffee in the Fridge or Freezer?

You might’ve heard that storing coffee in the fridge or freezer helps it stay fresh, but that’s mostly a myth. Coffee is porous, meaning it absorbs moisture and odours - so if you pop it in next to last night’s curry, it could taste a little strange by morning.

Fridges can also introduce condensation when the coffee is brought back to room temperature, which accelerates staling. Freezing can be useful if it’s done right (more on that in another post), but for everyday use, room temperature storage is best.

Understanding Roast Dates

We roast in small batches to keep things fresh. You'll find a roast date on every bag of Noni’s coffee. 

Coffee is generally at its best within 3 months of roasting, though it’s often at peak flavour between days 7 and 30. After that, the flavours will slowly flatten out. It’s still perfectly safe to drink, but you might notice a loss in sweetness, complexity or balance. You might even need to tweak your grind size to compensate.

If you want to read more about 'resting your coffee' as coffee can be too fresh, yes you heard us right, then check out this BLOG POST

How to Store Coffee at Home

Here’s the golden rule: keep it in an airtight container, away from light, heat and moisture. That means not on the windowsill or next to the oven, and definitely not in the fridge.

We’re big fans of Airscape® containers, which we now stock. They go one better than standard airtight tubs by actively pushing air out with a one-way valve, keeping your beans as fresh as possible for longer.

SHOP AIRSCAPE STORAGE

In Summary:

  • Buy whole beans and grind only what you need

  • Store in an airtight container away from heat and light

  • Skip the fridge/freezer - just keep your beans cool, dry and dark

  • Check the roast date and enjoy your coffee within 3 months

 

Fresh coffee really is better coffee and the little things you do at home can make a big difference in the cup. If you have any questions about brewing or storage, drop us a message or pop into the roastery, we’re always happy to chat beans.

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