How to store coffee pods and beans

Coffee is at its best when it is fresh. Four things damage it: air, light, heat and moisture. Here is how to keep them away.

Pods

• Keep them in their box or bag, closed, until you use them.
• Store them in a cool, dry place, away from the stove and from sunlight.
• Do not keep them near strong smells: coffee absorbs them.

Whole beans

• Use an airtight container, away from light.
• Keep it in a cool cupboard.
• Buy the quantity you will drink in a few weeks.
• Grind just before brewing.

A common mistake

Avoid the refrigerator and the freezer for coffee you use every day. Moving it from cold to warm creates condensation, and moisture is the enemy of flavor.