Keep your coffee tasting its best

A good coffee routine starts before the kettle goes on. Buy an amount you can enjoy at a steady pace, protect it between brews and make small recipe adjustments as the coffee changes.

Fresh coffee changes after roasting

Roasting creates aromas and gases that continue to change after the beans leave the roaster. Carbon dioxide gradually escapes, while exposure to oxygen contributes to the loss and change of aromas. Freshness is a progression, rather than a single date that makes every coffee taste the same.

Very recently roasted coffee is not automatically at its most balanced. The amount of rest that works well depends on the coffee, roast, packaging and brew method. Espresso can be particularly sensitive to gas release. Taste the coffee over several brews instead of treating one resting period as a universal rule.

For the science behind these changes, see the Specialty Coffee Association's introduction to freshly roasted coffee.

Keep it cool, dry and closed

• Choose a cupboard. Keep your bag away from direct sunlight, the oven, a warm espresso machine and steam.
• Close the bag after each use. Press the zipper shut carefully. An airtight, opaque coffee container is another option.
• Use a clean, dry scoop. Keep water out of the bag and avoid storing coffee beside strongly scented foods.
• Keep only the coffee you need in the grinder hopper. Store the rest closed until you are ready to brew.

Heat, oxygen and moisture influence how quickly coffee changes. The SCA's review of coffee staling explains why storage conditions matter.

Whole bean or ground?

Choose whole bean if you have a grinder and can grind before brewing. Grinding exposes more of the coffee to air, so we recommend grinding the amount you plan to brew rather than preparing several days of doses at once.

If convenience matters more, our filter/drip grind is ready for your brewer. Keep the bag well closed and buy an amount that fits your routine. Coffee should be enjoyable to make as well as to drink.

Buy for the cups you actually make

One 300 g bag makes about 15 brews at a 20 g dose, or 20 brews at a 15 g dose. Your actual total will vary with your recipe and any coffee used while adjusting the grinder.

For example, one 20 g brew each day uses about two bags in four weeks. A household brewing two separate 20 g coffees daily use about four bags over the same period. Use your own dose and habits to decide how much to order.

Adjust as the bag changes

Keep a note of a recipe you enjoy. If the flow or flavour changes as you work through the bag, revisit the grind setting before changing several variables at once. Our brew guide gives you repeatable starting recipes for pour-over, drip and espresso.

Choose your next bag, or build a subscription with a delivery interval that matches your routine. Start with the amount you will use, then adjust as you learn your pace.