Van Houtte

Coffee oxidizes when it touches oxygen, humidity and heat. With that being said, the cardinal rule is to always make sure you protect your coffee from those three elements.

A sealed bag of coffee can last a few months, but once open, it starts losing its freshness.  The best way to ensure you’re always working with fresh coffee is to only purchase the coffee as you need it. Only buy how much you use each week, this way, every cup will be as fresh.

If you do buy coffee in bulk, just make sure that you do not keep it in a humid or freezing area. The best place is actually just in your fridge. If you happen to buy coffee in large quantities, just put unused coffee in a container. But make sure to remove the air, and then store it in a cool and dry place.

How to detect if my coffee is still fresh?

The aromas of your coffee is the best indication of how fresh your coffee is.

Fresh coffee offers:   

•A rich aroma, moist texture and full flavours

•An oily grind

•An intense and agreeable aroma

•A strong flavour, round and pleasant
 

Stale coffee presents:

•A dry grind

•An unpleasant aroma of tobacco, straw or peanuts

•A lack of taste, no flavour, uninteresting aroma

•Increased bitterness and harshness

 How long does coffee last?

Coffee packaged with a freshness valve = 12 months

Coffee in K-Cup® portion packs = 9 months (note that a « best before » date is printed or engraved on the cup)

Whole-bean coffee once the bag is opened = 4 weeks

Ground coffee once the bag is opened = 2 weeks