Living in Southwest Florida means summer days at 92°F and 80% humidity. Great for mangoes, terrible for coffee. Roasted beans are full of delicate aromatic oils, and four things destroy them: oxygen, moisture, heat and light. Here's how we recommend storing your Befona coffee.
Keep it in the bag (seriously)
Our bags are lined, resealable and fitted with a one-way degassing valve. Fresh coffee releases CO₂ for days after roasting; the valve lets that gas out without letting air in. Squeeze out the extra air, close the zipper and you've got one of the best containers available.
If you prefer a canister, choose an opaque, airtight one — not a clear glass jar on the counter, however nice it looks.
Where to keep it
Find the coolest, darkest cabinet in your kitchen, away from the stove, dishwasher and any wall that gets afternoon sun. In most Florida homes that's a pantry or a lower cabinet on an interior wall.
The fridge is the worst place for coffee you open every day.
What about the fridge?
Avoid it. Every time you take a cold bag out into a warm, humid Florida kitchen, condensation forms on the beans. Moisture speeds up staling, and coffee also absorbs fridge smells remarkably well.
The freezer — the right way
Freezing is fine for coffee you won't open for a few weeks, as long as you do it properly:
- Divide coffee into small airtight portions (one week's worth each).
- Squeeze out as much air as possible, or vacuum seal.
- Take out one portion at a time and let it come to room temperature before opening the bag.
- Never re-freeze a portion once it has been thawed.
How long does coffee stay fresh?
| Coffee | Peak flavor | Still good |
|---|---|---|
| Whole bean, sealed bag | 5–30 days after roast | up to 2 months |
| Whole bean, frozen | — | up to 3 months |
| Ground coffee | first week | 2–3 weeks |
That's exactly why we roast to order and print the roast date on every bag. If you go through coffee slowly, buy 12 oz bags more often rather than 2 lb bags — or set up a subscription every 3 or 4 weeks so you always have fresh beans.
