Should you keep coffee in the fridge or freezer?

Skip the fridge. Keep your coffee sealed in a cupboard, and use the freezer only for small portions you will open once. The fridge is damp and full of food smells, and coffee takes up both. We have not run our own storage tests, so this is common practice and not a lab result.

Why is the fridge bad for coffee?

Two reasons, both public knowledge. First, coffee soaks up odors. A fridge holds onions, leftovers and cheese, and an opened bag or loose container sits in the middle of all that. Second, a fridge is humid. Every time you take cold coffee into warm kitchen air, water can condense on it, and moisture is the thing you are trying to keep away from roasted coffee.

Ground coffee suffers faster than whole bean, because grinding exposes far more surface. If you buy ground, the argument for a cupboard over a fridge is stronger, not weaker.

Is the freezer different?

A little. A freezer is colder and drier than a fridge, and many coffee drinkers use it for long storage. It only works if you handle it right.

• Divide the coffee into small airtight portions before it goes in, each one a few days of brewing.
• Take out one portion at a time and let it come to room temperature before you open it, so water does not condense on the beans.
• Never return a thawed portion to the freezer.

That is a lot of handling for a bag this size. A 12 oz bag is about 340 g, and at 60 g per litre (the ratio on our Common Sense label) it makes roughly 5.6 litres, about 24 cups of 8 oz. At two cups a day that is a bit under two weeks. Most people finish it before freezing makes sense. If you buy several bags at once, freezing portions is reasonable. If you buy one at a time, it is extra work.

How do I know my coffee picked up a smell?

It tastes flat, stale or like whatever was next to it. If a bag has been open for a long time next to strong food, the cup will not taste like the notes on the label. Once that happens, brewing it stronger will not fix it. Store it right from the first day.

How should I portion coffee for the freezer?

Split a 12 oz bag (about 340 g) into four portions of roughly 85 g each, about 17 level tablespoons. Each portion makes around 5 to 6 cups at 1:16 and 8 oz per cup. Use airtight bags or small jars, press out the air, and label the date on the container. Keep the portion you are using in the cupboard, and the rest in the freezer.

What do we recommend instead?

Keep the bag or an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard, away from the stove and the dishwasher. Close it after every use. Grind just before brewing if you have a grinder, which is why we sell whole bean and ground side by side. If you are choosing between the two, see whole bean vs ground coffee.

We also sell on demand and ship free in the US, so you do not need a stockpile. The FAQ explains how roasting on demand works. If you want a regular delivery instead of a big batch, the subscription is 11% off, and you can skip or cancel in one click.

Which coffee suits an everyday cupboard?

If you want one bag that you finish at a normal pace, No. 1 Common Sense is the one we point to for the cup you make every morning.

You can see all of them on the all ten coffees page. If your grinder needs a clean before the next bag, read how to clean a coffee grinder.

Does the container matter?

Yes, more than the shelf. Pick something that closes airtight, keeps light out, and is only slightly larger than what you put in, so there is little air in it. Keep it away from heat. A glass jar on a sunny windowsill is the worst spot in the kitchen.

Seal it, shelve it, and leave the fridge for milk.