Did you know that coffee starts to go stale not long after roasting? Proper storage of your coffee can help you protect your coffee from the coffee villains and help your cup of java reach its full potential. 

Air – Exposing coffee to air (whether whole bean or ground) greatly increases coffee deterioration that can affect the flavor of your coffee. Buying coffee in vacuum sealed bags or cans will minimize damage while sitting on the store shelf.  Once you open the original container, transfer your coffee to an air-tight container or roll up the top of the bag (forcing out as much air as possible) and seal the bag with tape or a rubber band.    

Heat & Cold – Extreme temperatures can damage your coffee. Therefore, avoid storing your beans or grounds above hot appliances or in the refrigerator. 

Light – Harsh light will reduce freshness. If you keep your coffee in a glass canister, store it in a cabinet or dark location.

Are you ready to take your coffee to the next level? The Coffee Superheroes are here to help.

Beans – Have you ever bought freshly roasted coffee beans? If not, you’ve really not experienced a truly fresh cup of coffee. Coffee is at its best a day or two after roasting.

Many urban areas have local roasters and even small coffee shops that roast fresh beans in small batches. Why not buy ½ a pound and see if you can taste and smell the difference? 

Grinding – Do you really want to bring out the flavor of great coffee beans? Try freshly grinding your beans just before brewing. 

Grinding is a very important step in the coffee process. It creates lots of surfaces for hot water exposure - extracting the flavor of your beans. Getting the grind size for your brewer and flavor preference may take a little bit of practice. Beans that are too finely ground will expose too much surface area which will result in over-extraction and a harsh taste. On the other hand, overly coarse grind will produce weak coffee. For BUNN home brewers, we recommend a drip or fine grind, about the consistency of the grind circled in the below picture. We recommend using a burr grinder because they produce more uniform grounds than blade grinders.

Measuring – How much coffee do you use?  It’s easy to use the “dump some coffee in the filter method.” However, using the right amount of grounds is an important part of making consistently great coffee. 

The Specialty Coffee Association of America recommends using two tablespoons of coffee per 6 ounce cup. This is a good place to start but we recommend that you experiment to find your ideal brew strength. Is the coffee too strong or too weak? Record all the important details of the batch (beans, grind size, amountused,etc.) and adjust the next batch. Soon, you’ll have your perfect brew.

Now that you’ve learned about the Coffee Villains and Superheroes, you’re getting closer to brewing the perfect cup. By building your Coffee Utility Belt, you will be armed with the tools to save coffee one cup at a time.

Hydrator (aka The Right Water) – Coffee is over 98% water so good-tasting water is an important tool for a great cup. Any odors or tastes in your water will carry over to your coffee. If you use city or well water, you may want to try using a water filtration system or bottled water. Can you taste a difference?  

In addition, extremely hard or soft water can really make a difference in your coffee.  Water with a high mineral content can quickly build up in your brewer – requiring more cleaning. If your water is too soft, it may delay the extraction process or cause overflow issues in your funnel. If this should happen, you can contact Customer Service (link to Customer Service page) for a flow restrictor sprayhead. 

Microblaster (aka Proper Cleaning & Maintenance) – When was the last time you cleaned your brewer? Making sure that your brewer is clean and free from lime and hard water deposits will extend the life of your brewer and help it brew at its best. We highly recommend washing your decanter and funnel after each use as well as periodic cleaning at least every three months. 

Find more information about proper cleaning and maintenance here.

Extractor (aka Filters) – Using a high quality filter will help you extract the best taste from your coffee beans. BUNN filters are designed to handle the water flow from your brewer and properly float the grounds for good extraction. Some filters may impart flavor into your coffee or cause overflow issues with BUNN brewers – ruining a potentially perfect cup of coffee. 

Remember that “with great power comes great responsibility.” You’ve defeated the Coffee Villains, learned from the Coffee Superheroes and built a strong Coffee Utility Belt. However, your mission of saving coffee one cup at a time has only just begun.  Spread the word and help your friends and family brew great coffee!