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How to keep coffee beans fresh in large quantities?

Enjoyed at a bistro counter, sipped on the go with colleagues, or shared with family during Sunday lunch: in France, coffee is a way of life. This energizing drink is so popular that it has given its name to the establishments that have been serving it since the 17th century. With or without a fresh croissant, it can also be enjoyed at home, especially with good coffee beans bought in bulk. Let's take a closer look at the advantages of this way of consuming coffee, which combines refinement and conviviality.

Why buy coffee beans in bulk?

This type of purchase has several advantages:
  • Economic: large packages reduce the cost per pound while guaranteeing consistent quality. 
  • Taste: coffee beans retain their flavor much longer. 
  • Ecological: reduced carbon footprint and unnecessary packaging.

By choosing 1 kg bags of coffee beans, you can also enjoy your product with a clear conscience, especially if you buy from local roasters.

In short: buying beans in bulk is both responsible and enjoyable. 

And to get the most out of this way of consuming coffee, here are a few tips.

Store away from light and moisture

Fans of Balzac's favorite drink (the famous writer drank around fifty cups a day!) know that to make coffee tasting a rich sensory experience, it is best to:

Avoid oxidation
Protecting coffee beans from light, moisture, and air preserves the coffee's aroma. In France, where people like to take care of fine products, they are often stored as one would store a fine wine: in a cool, dry place away from light. And, if you don't have a dedicated coffee cellar, a cupboard protected from temperature fluctuations can allow your beans to age gently, much like a good mature cheese.

Choose the right containers
An airtight metal or ceramic container (with a silicone seal to ensure it is properly sealed) is much more suitable than a transparent container that lets in light. Most Parisian coffee shops use stainless steel coffee containers.

Divide your coffee into small containers

To avoid frequently opening and closing your large bag of beans, you can take a leaf out of the grocers' book and divide them into several small airtight containers. This way, only a small amount is exposed to the air, while the overall freshness of the stock is protected.

In addition to being practical, this small-batch method can add a touch of elegance to your home with attractive collections of medium-sized containers that can be lined up on a shelf or in a drawer. You can even label them with the name of the coffee and the date it was opened, just as you would with homemade jams.

Finally, by dividing your coffee into smaller portions, you turn each preparation into a moment of pleasure. Choosing your container, grinding the beans, smelling the aromas escape... It's a whole ritual, like preparing Japanese tea, but with that French touch that makes all the difference.

Adapt the grind to your brewing method

Just as in cooking, where cutting an ingredient changes its texture and how it cooks, the fineness of the grind influences the final flavor of the beverage. 

Depending on the desired aroma, the brewing of coffee beans must therefore be precise:
  • Espresso: a fairly fine grind, almost powdery, allowing the water to pass slowly through the coffee and extract all its intensity.
  • Filter coffee maker: a medium grind, similar to the texture of sand, is preferable.
  • A French press: to prevent the grounds from passing through the filter, the grind should be a little coarser and the brewing slower.

As you can see, investing in a good coffee grinder is essential to ensure that every cup is a true moment of enjoyment. 

Whether for their precision or durability, the burr grinders used by French roasters are particularly recommended for achieving the perfect grind every time. What's more, you'll rediscover the pleasure of grinding your own coffee, an artisanal and ancestral gesture that invites you to take a welcome break.

Find out about the origin of the coffee beans before you buy

A coffee from Ethiopia, with its floral notes, is not enjoyed in the same way as a coffee from Brazil, which is more chocolatey. And in France, where people love quality products, they are interested in the origin of their coffee in the same way as they would be for cheese or wine. 

In terms of origin, the most popular of beverages (more than 2 billion cups of coffee consumed every day worldwide!) comes mainly from:
  • Latin and Central America (Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica) with mild, balanced aromas and sweet notes (aromas of nuts, citrus, caramel).
  • Africa, where production mainly comes from Ethiopia, producing more fruity, acidic coffees with berry and floral scents.
  • Asia: this origin is preferable if you prefer strong coffee and if slightly spicy notes (cocoa, tobacco) suit your palate.

To enrich your taste culture, roasters who work directly with different producers are valuable allies. With their constant quest for quality, attention to detail, and respect for their products, they are a bit like sommeliers, keeping alive one of France's finest gastronomic traditions. And by buying coffee beans from them in bulk, you are also perpetuating this art of living based on refinement, taste, and sharing.

Enjoy your coffee.

Valérie from Comme des Français


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