To keep coffee at its most aromatic, proper storage is key. Nespresso coffee ambassador Christian Bonk shares expert tips for brewing the perfect barista-style cup.
Few moments delight coffee lovers more than opening a fresh pack and inhaling the rich aroma of newly roasted beans. But anyone who has savored that experience knows just how quickly it fades.
"Coffee aromas are highly volatile," explains expert Christian Bonk. "They’re eager to escape—but you want them in your cup." The secret to keeping that aroma intact? Proper storage.
Bonk recommends keeping beans dry, cool, and protected from light—and ideally airtight to prevent those precious aromas from escaping. You don’t need a special coffee tin; if the packaging has an aroma seal that closes with light pressure, it’s perfectly fine to store the beans in it.
Christian Bonk stresses one more key point: “Once a pack is freshly opened, it should be used within two weeks.” Larger packs, he notes, tend to lose flavor faster simply because it takes longer to finish them—one reason he prefers 250g packs.
Beyond storage, several small adjustments can make a big difference in your cup. Water quality is crucial: Soft water with few minerals is ideal, and tap water should be filtered if possible. Temperature is another decisive factor—the perfect range is 94–96 °C, just below boiling. Even the finest beans won’t release their full aroma if the water is too hot.
If you want to sidestep freshness worries entirely, capsule coffee offers a simple solution. Each capsule is individually sealed, protecting the coffee from air, light, and moisture—the very elements that cause aromas to fade. The result: coffee that stays stable, consistent, and flavorful until you brew it, as if every cup comes from a freshly opened pack.
