# A question concerning coffee... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 20, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332 "2003-11-20T17:37:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/1 "2003-11-20T17:37:47Z")
I like inviting people over to my house for dinner and such. I like to be a good host, so I have a fully stocked liquor cabinet, a selection of beer and wine, and a lot of mix. The problem comes at dessert, I don’t drink coffee. So I want to buy some nice Starbucks coffee to have on hand to make for guests. But there will be quite a bit of time in between coffee making. Soooo, my question is, how should I store the coffee? In the freezer? Sealed container? In “bean” format than grind when necessary? Please help! MtM ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/2 "2003-11-20T18:14:45Z")
Just grind it and ready it a few hours before they arrive and store it in a tupperware or baggie, or otherwise sealed container. No sweat, no prob. Unless, you _want_ to go through the ceremonies of grinding etc. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/3 "2003-11-20T18:20:12Z")
Buy whole bean coffee and store it in the refrigerator in airtight container. Do not store it in the freezer - it dries out the beans. It should last six months to a year, depending on the bean. Oilier beans (espresso, french roast, most dark blends) will not last as long. You can buy very good coffee at some grocery stores in bulk. That way you can buy no more than you will serve. Starbucks sells theirs in pounds, and at a premium price. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/4 "2003-11-20T18:22:10Z")
Grr… I hate when I do that… “oilier beans will not last as long” as less oily ones. “no more than you will serve” over the refrigerator life of the coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/5 "2003-11-24T09:11:36Z")
Just use that generic freeze-dried decaf. Your guests won’t be able to tell, the commercial on TV said so. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/6 "2003-11-24T10:45:04Z")
Everyone knows that in order to impress your guests, you must buy expensive ass coffee [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=224500](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=224500) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/7 "2003-11-24T14:05:45Z")
Ex-coffee roasting apprentice here. I’ll have to disagree with **bughunter**. Coffee should be stored in the freezer in a tightly sealed container. But since you’re not going to be making it often: Many excellent coffees are available in pre-measured vacuum sealed packages that make one pot. I see them in the “gourmet coffee” section of the supermarket. Then you don’t have to worry about storage. You can also easily get a couple of different types (you should have regular and decaf on hand). You can always buy fresh beans for a special occasion, but if you just want to have some to keep on hand, don’t trouble yourself. And step away from the Starbucks. Yuk. This is very thoughtful of you! Do you keep tea on hand, too? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/8 "2003-11-24T14:42:19Z")
A similar Q got asked a couple days ago ref [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=224858](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=224858) ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/9 "2003-11-29T04:39:19Z")
Wow, who would have thought a username like **McDeath the Mad** would be such a delightful host? So when do you invite all of the SDMB over? 🙂 **McD** - as your friends will _know_ that you do not drink coffee, they will be very pleasantly surprised that you take SO much care. Some people I have known who don’t drink coffee quite simply do not have it in the house and won’t go near it! ---
**Author:** ![Ficer67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Ficer67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ficer67)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/10 "2003-11-30T07:04:14Z")
Get a bag of Community Coffee, and store it in the freezer until it is needed. Get a small bag, depending on the size of your party. I believe the bags are reasonably inexpensive. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/11 "2003-11-30T12:05:54Z")
Don’t forget to serve some rich dark expensive chocolates alongside the coffee 😃 ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/12 "2003-11-30T12:46:01Z")
Just grind the beans very fine just before making the coffee and then make expresso or cappuccino. Your guests will be delighted I am sure. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-concerning-coffee/214332/13 "2003-11-30T13:46:15Z")
I’ll second a vote for the vacuum-sealed pouches that make one pot of coffee. Because they are vacuum-sealed, no need to worry about refrigeration, etc. Also, no need to measure (something which seems to perplex non-coffee-drinkers). These little pouches are especially easy to find this time of year, as they are being sold as stockin stuffers and such.