Around here, we think about freshness *a lot*.

Don’t get us started about the hoops we jump through to get green coffee from the farthest reaches of the earth shipped to our roasteries by planes, trucks and *boats*, even. The tracking system when shipping coffee from the depths of the jungle is a horse of a different color. 

We’re not the only ones thinking about how to keep things fresh, either – the most frequently asked question we get from you, our customers, revolves around this, too. So here you have it: follow this here advice to keep your coffee so fresh and so clean.

Life Expectancy

First things first, coffee usually tastes best within two weeks of its roast date. Think of coffee as a perishable item like bread or produce, rather than a pantry staple like flour or sugar. 

We’ve done extensive experimenting and testing in our labs and found that quality really starts drop off after the 30-day mark. 

Your best bet? Buy only as much coffee as you and your household can drink within a fortnight and then restock with fresh provisions. 

Storage Solutions

Coffee, like olive oil, can degrade when exposed to sunlight. It's best to keep whole bean coffee in a well-sealed, dark glass or ceramic jar away from heat and moisture.

Otherwise, keep it sealed up in its protective bag. Whatever you do, don't grind and freeze it. The freezer may be a great preserver of many things, but your coffee shouldn’t be one of them. The fluctuating temperature and added moisture affects the oils and cell structure of the coffee and it ends up tasting like your freezer smells, which is not what we’re going for here.

Grind Before You Brew

Freshly ground coffee is unparalleled. The minute you grind your coffee it starts to oxidize and accelerate the aging process. Grind within 15 minutes before you brew for best results. If you’re camping or traveling and must pre-grind, try to drink the pre-ground coffee within a couple of days.