How can I extend the freshness of my coffee?

Making coffee at home is a difficult process if you want to do it right. Many times, the cup prepared at home does not come out as we wish because of the wrong storage of coffee.

Coffee's freshness is a key factor for an enjoyable cup of coffee , whatever brewing method we use, but especially for espresso, freshness plays one of the most important roles. Proper storage of coffee, which can be achieved by following some basic, simple tips, can prolong its freshness for a long time.

Coffee has some basic "enemies" that need to be dealt with when stored. The main enemies of coffee, which slowly make it lose its taste and aroma as time passes, are not other than atmospheric air, high temperature, light and humidity. At this point, it is worth noting that coffee is a product that is not easily altered in the sense that it is unlikely that someone will get poisoned or feel disturbed by coffee - but time has a catalytic effect on the mitigation of its desired properties, such as flavor, aroma, and crema when talking about espresso blends.  

Proper storage of coffee at home is not a difficult matter, it just requires some basic rules and a little taste for coffee - but the result will be fresh coffee with flavor and aroma that best compensates for each cup!

What can I do to store my coffee properly?

• Prefer coffee in beans instead of ground coffee. Ground coffee is more easily altered when in contact with air than coffee beans due to the significant difference in the area that comes into contact with the air of oxygen.
• Grind a little amount of coffee beans every time, ideally just as much as you want to consume. This way, you will have freshly ground coffee each time, minimizing the scent of flavor and taste. If this is not possible due to time, plan the milling according to your habits, f.e. grind your coffee for the next two days.
• Choose an airtight, dry and clean container to store both beans and ground coffee. Special coffee storage containers are being marketed, creating even vacuum conditions for even better storage.
• Many coffee companies have their coffee in special airtight, aluminum containers. If multiple different coffee blends are used at the same time, a collection of such containers will solve your hands. With little imagination, you can decorate the containers to make them unique!
• Whatever container you have selected, you must store it in a dry, cool, shady and odorless place. Avoid points such as the shelf with spices or shelves near the sink or kitchen hood, as they gather intense odors and moisture.
• Avoid storing in the fridge! Despite the popular view that encourages the storage of coffee in the refrigerator, the fact is that the refrigerator environment not only offers nothing to store coffee, but makes it vulnerable to both food odors and moisture.
• Do not buy too much coffee, adjust your purchases to your habits so you always have fresh coffee available.
• Select coffee shops for your purchases to make sure the proper storage procedures are in place before the coffee reaches your own hands.
• If you have a coffee that has gone stale, there is a solution: coffee experts report that cold extraction (the well-known Cold Brew) can give due to its nature satisfactory results even though coffee is not very fresh. If you have not tried Cold Brew again, the "stale" coffee that has gone out of you may be an opportunity for experimentation!

The above tips, though simple, are an important step for a more enjoyable coffee - after all, coffee is not just a simple everyday habit but a delight that one deserves to take it seriously!