When you spend good money on one of the best kettles or best coffee machines, you want every cup to taste as good as possible. That means staying on top of cleaning and descaling, but it also means storing your coffee beans properly when they're not in the machine – something many of us are getting wrong without even realising.
According to Luke Dalton, coffee expert at Contact Coffee Co, one of the biggest mistakes coffee drinkers make is storing their beans next to the kettle, toaster or even the coffee machine itself.
It might seem like the most convenient place, but the heat and steam from these appliances can cause your coffee to lose its freshness much more quickly.
Luke explains: "The space beside the kettle is probably one of the most convenient places to keep coffee, but it can also be one of the worst. Every time the kettle boils, or the toaster heats up, the coffee may be exposed to changes in temperature and moisture. Over time, that can affect the oils and aromatic compounds responsible for much of its flavour."
As a result, even a premium bag of speciality coffee can start tasting flat, stale or unexpectedly bitter long before you've finished it.
Instead, Luke recommends storing your coffee in a cool, dry and dark cupboard that's away from appliances that regularly produce heat. Avoid cupboards directly above the oven, hob or dishwasher too, as these areas are also exposed to changing temperatures and humidity.
"The goal isn't to make the coffee cold," Luke adds. "It's to protect it from repeated changes in heat, light and moisture."
It's also worth paying attention to how you store the bag itself. If your coffee comes in a resealable bag with a one-way valve, keep using it. Before sealing it back up, gently press out any excess air without crushing the beans, then make sure the seal is fully closed. These small steps can make a surprising difference to how long your coffee stays fresh.
