Beans uphold their optimal flavor characteristics when brewed as fresh as possible. Optimal characteristics in whole bean coffee last for about two weeks after purchase and ground coffee’s ideal characteristics last one week after ground.

50% of the coffee flavor deteriorates about eight minutes after grinding. Make sure to accurately grind for your particular brewing method. Example: a grind for a french press is much more coarse than a grind for a cone filter or an espresso machine.  Check out our section on Brewing Methods to learn more about grind and amount of coffee to use.

Beans should be stored in an airtight or vacuum sealed container. Keep the beans out of direct sunlight and in an area that maintains the room’s temperature, such as a cabinet. Kitchen moisture, heat, and light should be avoided to prevent stale beans. Do not store in a refrigerator. The beans will pick up other flavors and odors which will cause the coffee to go stale.

Using filtered water prevents unwanted flavors and minerals from polluting the coffee flavor. Cold, fresh, filtered water gives the coffee a cleaner taste.

Be sure to wipe out your grinder regularly and wash your brewing equipment after each use. Dirty equipment can cause taste taints that will negatively impact the coffee’s ideal characteristics.