Unroasted Coffee Beans

• Coffee beans can last for years as long as they are kept dry and not roasted. During the roasting, oils from the bean are brought to the surface and can quickly become rancid. Once the beans are roasted they are only as fresh as your abilities to store them.
  
  

Whole Roasted Beans

• Once the beans have been roasted and the oils are being released, the coffee should be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature. The area should be very dry and dark. In this condition, whole beans can last for up to a month.
  
  

Vacuum Packed Coffee

• Coffee is most often bought ground and vacuum packed in a plastic container. The vacuum process removes oxygen and carbon dioxide from the container, which keeps the grounds at their ultimate freshness. Once the container is open, the coffee will be good for about seven to 10 days.
  
  

Ground Coffee Beans

• If you buy whole beans and grind them yourself, the grounds can last for up to two weeks. They must be stored the same way as the whole beans: in an air-tight container and a dry, dark place at room temperature.
  
  

Refrigerating Beans

• Many people mistakenly believe that coffee keeps best in the fridge. This is very far from the truth. Coffee cannot stand moisture, air and extreme temperatures. When coffee is pulled out of the fridge, the extreme temperature change adversely affects the freshness. Also, condensation forms moistening the beans or grounds and making them prematurely stale.