Why coffee should NEVER be kept in the fridge: Experts warn grounds will be spoilt and lose their flavour by absorbing the aroma of other stored foods
- British experts have said coffee should be kept in a cupboard rather than a fridge
- If stored along with other foods that give off an odour, it will easily absorb these
- It should be in an airtight container in a cupboard to prevent it from going stale
It may seem as though the best way to ensure your food lasts longer is to throw it all into the fridge – but experts have warned coffee should be firmly kept in a cupboard.
Coffee, whether ground or whole beans, should never be stored in the fridge as doing so can ruin the flavour.
The reason is that coffee naturally functions as a deodoriser – so if it’s stored along with other groceries that give off an odour, such as fish, meat and cheese, it will easily absorb these smells.
Instead, British experts have recommended it is stored in an airtight container in a cupboard to prevent it from going stale, according to The Telegraph.
It may seem as though the best way to ensure your food lasts longer is to throw it all into the fridge – but experts have warned coffee should be firmly kept in a cupboard (stock photo)
Martin Isark, a food and drink taster who founded the Can I Eat It website, said: ‘So much coffee is spoilt by poor storage which makes the coffee producers want to weep.
‘A coffee bean is a natural product and like wine it will deteriorate if stored wrongly,’ he added.
The food guru said that to ensure drinkers were tasting their coffee at its best, the beverage should be enjoyed within a few hours of the beans being roasted and ground.
Despite many experts explaining that storing coffee in a fridge will taint its aroma, several supermarkets – including Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Ocado – still suggest customers should keep fresh ground coffee in a fridge or freezer once opened.
Tesco, Waitrose and Harrods say ground coffee and beans should be stored in a cool, dry place, such as a cupboard.
Paul Rooke, of the British Coffee Association, told the publication: ‘Coffee, like many food and drink products when exposed to air, will bring about a deterioration process. Cool and dry are the key words: the ideal storage is an inert, airtight container stored in a cool place.’
The UK website Barista Del Caffe added that the most effective way of storing ground coffee is in an airtight container or vacuum sealed bags.
However, it said ‘particular coffee profiles’ could be stored in the fridge if done correctly.
For instance, some coffee experts use it during the extraction process to create a richer and thicker espresso body.