How to store coffee so as not to waste it

Containers must be airtight and kept out of direct sunlight. Coffee is highly sensitive to cold and humidity.

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how to store coffee

To preserve coffee properly, avoid wasting it, and maintain its aroma and freshness, it should be stored in an airtight container, away from light, heat, and humidity . Avoid the refrigerator, where coffee can only absorb unpleasant odors. It's certainly easier to store coffee in the winter, when it needs to be protected from humidity and temperature fluctuations, than in the summer, when it needs to be kept away from the sun, stovetops, and hot furniture.

In summary, the things to keep in mind to store coffee well and avoid wasting it are these:

  • Containers. They must be airtight and protect the coffee from light and heat sources, keeping it at a temperature between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. Therefore, clear plastic or glass containers should be avoided.
  • Cold and humid. Coffee is affected by these two variables. If we think that the cold of the refrigerator can prolong its shelf life, we're very wrong. The sudden change in temperature and the variation in humidity can create condensation when we remove the container from the refrigerator. fridge.
  • Contact with airWhen we transfer ground coffee or whole beans from the packaging to the container, we must minimize contact with air. This preserves its freshness.

How not to lose the aroma

Once we have opened the coffee bag, it is advisable to transfer it to a container, which must have certain characteristics.
  • Airtight container. Steel, aluminum, glass, ceramic: regardless of the material, the key is that the coffee container's seal is airtight. This protects it from any external influences.
  • In a cool, dry place. A kitchen cupboard is also fine. The important thing is that the temperature is between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is below 50 percent.
  • Not in the refrigerator. The refrigerator solution, except in very specific cases, is not recommended: it's a humid, odorous, cold place, and where the more volatile substances in the coffee risk evaporating very quickly.
  • Small packages. When purchasing, it's always best to choose small packages: they guarantee better aroma preservation and help avoid coffee waste.

Ground and whole coffee beans

There is an important difference between ground coffee and whole beans also in terms of storageBoth must be protected from the four risk factors (heat, humidity, light, air), but while 50 percent of the aromas of coffee beans degrade within two days, the same percentage of ground coffee degrades within two hours. And in the case of espresso coffee (to be clear: the one we usually drink at the bar), the aroma deteriorates rapidly: it's consumed within two minutes.

How to make coffee

We can fully enjoy the aromatic properties of coffee by following a few basic rules when preparing it. Here are some:

  • Clean the filter. Without thorough cleaning, a delicious, aromatic coffee can be lost. Sometimes we forget or completely neglect to clean the top edge of the filter before inserting it. This causes a poor seal between the filter and the gasket, which, in addition to damaging the moka pot, ruins the flavor of the coffee.
  • Choosing the right dose. You can't be too cautious with the amount of coffee you put into the machine. Adding too much or too little can affect the final result. To get the optimal dose, you can use an electronic scale.
  • Respect the cooking times. It may seem obvious, but coffee often loses its aroma because it's left on the stovetop too long. By removing the moka pot from the heat before the coffee begins to bubble—that is, before it's completely brewed—we preserve its aromatic properties.

When it expires

Coffee, like any other food, has an expiration date, which must be printed on the packaging. However, the expiration date refers to the aroma, and if the container is tightly closed, the aroma lasts for months. Conversely, coffee is perfectly edible even after the expiration date.

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