How long does whole bean coffee keep?

**Christa** · 02-19-2008, 10:05 PM

I'm addicted to "good" coffee and usually go the lazy route of buying a little at a time and grinding it at the store...but I did the math at Costco last week and realized that I could buy their 3-lb bag and a grinder and still end up ahead on the price. But now I'm wondering if I'm going to lose my savings when the coffee goes stale before I use it up--I only go through about 1/2 a pot a day.

So, how long does it keep, and what should I do to maximize that? The bag I bought just says to keep it tightly closed in a cool, dark place, but not to freeze it. Right now I have it closed up tightly on my pantry shelf in the garage.

**Ceashels** · 02-19-2008, 10:32 PM

We buy whole bean as well so we can grind our own each morning. We drink about 2-3 pots per week and keep ours in the foil bag it comes in. We have had some beans as long as 3 months and I don't notice a discernable loss of quality DH says he notices a difference after 1-2 months though. All of our coffee choices are flavored though. So it is difficult to tell whether it is the coffee bean that is going stale or simply the loss of "flavoring" that is added.

Congratulations on your purchase and enjoy every cup!

**Christa** · 02-19-2008, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by Ceashels

Congratulations on your purchase and enjoy every cup!

Oh, I will!

It's the grinding for each pot that irritates my lazy bone...I grind a couple of days worth and keep it in Tupperware in the freezer.

**Stella** · 02-19-2008, 11:02 PM

I keep ours for 3 months, sometimes 4 months wrapped tight. I grind the beans when I use them also. I do notice the coffee is not as great tasting, but I am too cheap to throw the beans out. Sigh...I am asking for a kruig coffee maker on our wedding registry so that the coffee is always fresh.

**Christa** · 02-19-2008, 11:04 PM

I'm going to write the date on the bag and see how long it lasts...

**guest002** · 02-20-2008, 09:26 AM

I was told not to freeze whole beans. Mine have lasted for months in my Tupperware.

Store in a cool dark place.

**leezza** · 02-20-2008, 01:58 PM

My parents buy there coffee whole beans:

*Put whole bean package in freezer.

*Each evening before bedtime they grind their coffee and put it into the filter part of the coffee pot, (good model). so that it is ready to push the on button in the morning.

*My parents have the best coffee, a mix of good coffee and a good coffee pot.

JMHO,
leezza

**guest002** · 02-20-2008, 02:03 PM

http://www.wholelattelove.com/articl...ffee_fresh.cfm

**Christa** · 02-20-2008, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by PaulaPAFW

http://www.wholelattelove.com/articl...ffee_fresh.cfm

Good info--they say that 3-4 weeks is the absolute longest you should keep beans after opening them. :-/

**M55FF** · 02-23-2008, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by Christa

I'm addicted to "good" coffee and usually go the lazy route of buying a little at a time and grinding it at the store...but I did the math at Costco last week and realized that I could buy their 3-lb bag and a grinder and still end up ahead on the price. But now I'm wondering if I'm going to lose my savings when the coffee goes stale before I use it up--I only go through about 1/2 a pot a day.

So, how long does it keep, and what should I do to maximize that? The bag I bought just says to keep it tightly closed in a cool, dark place, but not to freeze it. Right now I have it closed up tightly on my pantry shelf in the garage.

I too love the costco coffee... I keep it in the freezer until ready to use... let come to room temp then grind. The key here is to buy only some reserve stock... only what you can store easily.
If you buy too much and it goes to waste your not saving anything. If you look on the bag most of the coffee has an expiration date already on it. On the hazelnut I love, the exp date is on the small label on the top ( sticky part)