Storing Beans Right

I've tossed more stale beans than I'd like to admit. Coffee goes bad from four things — oxygen, heat, light, moisture — and whole beans outlast ground by a mile. Here's the routine I actually use.

Simple rules

Store whole beans airtight, cool, and dark; grind just before brewing. Freeze in small batches for long storage.

What I actually do

I'm no scientist about storage — I just keep beans in a sealed jar, out of the sun, and grind right before brewing. That's the whole routine. Freeze a portion if you buy in bulk; it's the one tip I'd actually fight for.