Mastering Your Beans: Storage, Grinding, and Freshness

You’ve chosen your Kenyan single-origin beans. Now what?

Your journey as a barista continues with mastering how you store, grind, and preserve freshness, ensuring your beans deliver their vibrant Kenyan flavors in every cup you brew.

Why Freshness Matters

Coffee is highly perishable. Once roasted, it begins to lose aromatic compounds that give it distinct notes of citrus, florals, and blackcurrant.

• Whole beans retain freshness longer than ground coffee.
• Exposure to air, moisture, heat, and light accelerates staling.
• Brewing stale coffee results in flat, bitter, or papery flavors, no matter how perfect your brewing technique is.

Ready to taste the difference fresh beans make? Explore our freshly roasted Kenyan coffees.

How to Store Your Beans for Peak Freshness

• Use airtight containers (ceramic, stainless steel, or specialized vacuum canisters).
• Keep away from direct sunlight and heat (store in a cupboard, not next to your stove).
• Avoid moisture (never store in the fridge or freezer unless you understand deep freezing protocols).
• Buy in small quantities (enough for 2–4 weeks) to ensure you’re always brewing fresh coffee.

Why Grinding Fresh is Essential

Grinding increases the surface area of your coffee, which accelerates oxidation and CO₂ loss. Pre-ground coffee loses most of its volatile aromatics within minutes.

• Always grind your beans just before brewing.
• Use a burr grinder, not a blade grinder, for consistent particle size.
• Adjust your grind size based on your brewing method:
  • Pour-Over: Medium-fine
  • French Press: Coarse
  • Espresso: Fine
  • AeroPress: Medium

For brewing guides, explore:

• PT’s Pour Over Brew Guide
• Guide to the AeroPress – Counter Culture Coffee

How to Know Your Grind Size is Right

• Under-extracted coffee (sour, watery) → Grind finer.
• Over-extracted coffee (bitter, dry) → Grind coarser.
• Adjust in small increments and taste your brews to learn your coffee’s sweet spot.

Pro Tip: Calibrate Your Grinder

Your grinder may need recalibration depending on bean density (often linked to origin and roast level). Denser beans like Kenyan high-altitude coffees often require a slightly finer grind to extract their bright acidity and complex sweetness.

Your Action Steps This Week:

• Store your beans properly in an airtight, cool, dark space.
• Grind just before brewing.
• Adjust grind size according to your brewing method.
• Brew and taste, taking notes on how freshness impacts your cup.

Ready to practice? Shop our freshly roasted Kenyan coffees and taste the difference.

What’s Next?

🎬 Chapter 3: Brewing Methods Demystified – Learn how different brewing methods affect taste and how to choose the right one for your goals.