I’m so grateful for the advice about storing beans in the freezer/containers. I’ve been storing a giant bag of Starbucks beans in my freezer for almost a year. I didn’t even notice the flavor deterioration until I started ordering coffee-shop coffee again and it was like a smack in the face. Wow!

Another thing is that I’m trying to cut back on plastic as much as possible, so I hesitate wrapping beans in so much wasteful material. Instead I’ll now go with tightly-sealed metal or ceramic containers. What do you think about sealing them in mason jars with dark cloth taped around them to block out the sun?

I’m now trying to find the best beans around for my little French Press and not have to cram 37 pounds into storage, but now at least I know how to make the best of the excess. Thank you!!

I don’t like brewed coffee. I’ve gone back time and again to give it another go, and each time I’m left with the same heavy, unpleasant aftertaste. Those who enjoy it, that’s all well and good, but try to keep your elitism down to a dull roar.

There are definitely inferior instant coffees out there that I would only use as a last resort. But my Mt. Hagan’s and Nescafe Classico are quality products. Different than brewed, yes. But in a good way.

Some of the comments on this chain are the same sort of elitist comments I hear from wine buffs. The sad thing is if more people enjoyed good wine / good coffee, then the bad products wouldn’t have a market and it would overall improve the quality for everyone. So to the Coffee snobs; try to be inclusive as it will benefit you in the long run….to those put off by the elitist attitude; grow a thicker skin and don’t let the minority ruin the enjoyment of exploring something great.

Amen

I buy huge quantities of Melitta coffee once a year when they have their North American warehouse sale (near me). I get both whole bean and ground, place each sealed container into a zip-lock bag, squeeze out the air, write the date on it, and store in the freezer. I take out some each day to brew, and quickly put the sealed bag back into the freezer. I let the coffee thaw for 5 minutes while the water boils.

You wouldn’t normally freeze coffee at all, but you have to when you buy it once a year. If I purchased it every 2-4 weeks, I would store in the fridge.
I ocassionally use other coffees, such as Seattle’s Best, but in general, brewed coffee is SO much better than instant that the subtleties and nuances of various storage techniques are superfluous.