Buying coffee in bulk makes sense financially, but only if you're storing it correctly. Beans that go stale before you use them are money wasted, so here's what actually matters.
The four enemies of fresh coffee
Oxygen, moisture, heat, and light — in roughly that order of damage. Once a bag of beans is open and exposed to air, oxidation starts immediately. That's why our beans are packed in sealed 2kg bags with one-way valves, which let CO2 out without letting oxygen in. The one-way valve is doing real work here, not just looking good on the bag.
Keep them sealed until you need them
The simplest thing you can do with a bulk order is leave bags sealed until you're ready to open them. Each 2kg bag is a fresh unit. Open one, use it, then move to the next. Don't decant your entire order into a single container — that exposes more beans to air than necessary.
Where to store them
A cool, dry, dark place is the standard advice and it's correct. A cupboard away from the oven or any heat source works well. Don't store in the fridge — the temperature fluctuation as bags go in and out causes condensation, which is worse for the beans than ambient temperature.
Freezing is a more complicated topic. If you're genuinely storing beans for longer than six weeks, freezing in a fully sealed bag can work, but only if you let the bag come to room temperature before opening it. For most cafés turning through stock regularly, freezing isn't necessary.
How long will they last?
We recommend using our beans within 6–12 weeks of the roast date, which is stamped on every bag. At the outer edge of that window you'll notice the flavour softening — the sweetness and brightness flatten out first. The coffee is still drinkable, but it's not at its best.
For most cafés ordering correctly for their volume, freshness shouldn't be an issue. If you're consistently getting to the end of a bag and it's been sitting for weeks, you're probably ordering too much at once.
Need help working out the right order size?
Read our guide on how much coffee a café uses per week, or order a 250g sample first if you haven't tried our blend yet.