Coffee Secrets

Do you ever wonder why people who are particular about their coffee use freshly ground coffee? I know several such people and am even related to a few!

It was explained to me like this. The natural enemies of coffee are:

• oxygen,
• light,
• heat, and
• moisture.

To keep coffee fresh, you should store it in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature. Contrary to what my former boss would insist, storing coffee in the refrigerator or freezer for daily use can damage the coffee. This is because warm, moist air will condense on the coffee beans whenever the container is opened.

The whole bean coffee will stay fresh longer because there is less surface area exposed to oxygen, so you should buy whole bean coffee if you can find it. Grind the coffee you intend to use each morning right before you make it, and if you grind too much for immediate use, you can store it overnight in an airtight canister on the counter. I bought a great little grinder at Target for under $20 and I use it every day. It sits on the counter right next to my coffee maker and together they have the place of honor in my kitchen.

Posted in Around Here, Eating In, House and Home

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