What’s the best way to keep your coffee fresh? It all depends on the kind of coffee you like to drink: soluble, green beans, roasted beans or ground roasted beans.
Soluble coffee has the longest shelf-life and comes with a best-before date. To retain the freshness of the coffee you should avoid exposing it to moisture and air. Once you’ve opened the pack, the coffee will stay fresh for weeks or even months if you keep it in an airtight jar.
Green coffee beans keep well, like most plant seeds. This is the way coffee is stored by the producers before roasting. In your home, green beans will last for well over a year if stored in a dry, cool, airtight container. However, you do have to roast and grind them before you can turn them into coffee.
If you buy roasted coffee beans straight from the roaster you should keep them in a dark, dry and airtight container and use them within a few weeks.
Ground roasted coffee is convenient but cannot be stored for longer than a few days. You should keep it in a dark, airtight and dry location.
Refrigeration is not recommended for coffee in any form because it easily picks up flavors from other items. You can freeze green coffee beans and roasted beans, but you have to pack them very tightly.