5 THINGS EVERY COFFEE DRINKER SHOULD KNOW
1. Never Store Coffee Beans In the Fridge or Freezer
The best place to store coffee is inside an airtight container located in a cool, dry place like your kitchen cabinet. Never store coffee beans in the fridge or freezer.
Once coffee beans are roasted, the "freshness clock" starts ticking and you must guard against the four enemies of freshness: light, heat, moisture, and air. Storing coffee in the fridge or freezer exposes it to the potential of moisture forming on your beans and can cause it to absorb any odors present in the air (like fish or that container of Chinese food you forgot about).
Preserve freshness and the bean's natural flavors and oils by storing it in a cool, dry place like the pantry or kitchen cabinet. Better yet, invest in an airtight container specially designed for storing coffee beans and you can enjoy fresh coffee weeks after it's roasted.
2. Buy Whole Beans
Whole bean coffee can stay fresh in its original heat sealed, 1-way degassing bag for 60-90 days. But ground coffee starts going stale and loses its natural flavors and oils in as little as 15 minutes post-grind.
Although it might seem more convenient to buy pre-ground coffee, it doesn't stay fresh very long. Spending 20 seconds to grind your coffee just before brewing is a small price to pay to significantly increase the longevity of your high quality coffee.
Which brings us to the issue of grinders…
3. Use a Burr Grinder
You have two options when it comes to grinders: Blade or Burr. Get a burr grinder. Seriously. Get one right now.
Blade grinders chop up your beans into all shapes and sizes (some small enough to pass through the filter and into your cup). A clean, consistent grind is nearly impossible. Thus, some of the coffee will get over-extracted, leaving a bitter and unsavory taste. Also, some blade grinders produce excessive heat which can alter the coffee's flavor.
Burr grinders (preferably milled burr grinders) are the only real option in our book. A burr grinder produces a clean, uniform grind. This is mandatory when using brew methods that call for a specific grind size or when you're trying to dial in your own particular taste preference.
If you're not grinding your coffee (or you're using a blade grinder), upgrade to a quality burr grinder. It will be one of the best coffee-related investments that you will make.
4. Use Filtered Water At The Proper Temperature
Your cup of coffee is 98% water. That's why it is imperative to use only purified water, not tap water. Tap water can contain numerous pollutants and additives like chlorine from water treatment plants. This can negatively affect the taste of your coffee. Instead, use spring or charcoal-filtered water whenever you brew at home.
When it's time to brew, make sure the water is heated between 195F and 205F. If the water isn't hot enough, your coffee won't be fully extracted during brewing. If the water is too hot (remember, boiling is 212F), you will burn the coffee grounds. If you don't have a thermometer handy, bring your kettle to a boil then remove it from the heat and let sit for 30 seconds. Your water should be in the ideal range for the best brew.
5. Buy Fresh Roasted Beans
The best tasting cup of coffee requires fresh roasted beans. You generally can't them at your local grocery store. In fact, next time you're there, you might see a "use by" date on the bag that is several months old! That means some coffee sitting on the shelf could have been roasted a year ago.
Coffee is a perishable product. It will go bad. Always buy fresh roasted coffee. Then you don't have to worry when it was roasted and bagged. For example, all coffee sold on eKoffee.com is delivered to you within 24-48 hours after roasting. And every bag is marked with a "Roasted On" date so you know exactly how fresh it is.
Buy fresh-roasted beans and taste the difference yourself. You'll never buy from your grocery store coffee aisle again.
Have fun. Brew often.
- Jason
Share This Article
