How Long Does Your Coffee Stay "Fresh"?

Good question. There are 3 answers depending upon the type of coffee you purchase.

1. For our All Day Gourmet Coffee – pillow packs & filter packs – the shelf life for maximum freshness is significantly longer than whole beans or ground coffee. Typically, you'll enjoy a shelf life of 6 to 12 months.

2. For our gourmet whole beans – "freshness" depends upon how you store them. Opinions vary widely on this issue. Some say store only in the refrigerator, while others claim freezer storage is better.

Consider this: coffee beans are pourous and act like a sponge to absorb odors. They are also a "food item" and naturally lose their qualities of aroma and flavor over time.

So, here's what we say: buy an amount of coffee beans that you plan to consume within 30 to 60 days. That time frame maximizes the aroma and flavor you get from your gourmet beans.

Store your beans (a) in the original one-way valve bags we ship to you, or (b) in an air-tight opaque container. Either way, be sure you store your beans in a cool, dark, dry place – like a kitchen cabinet.

 We suggest NOT storing your beans in the refrigerator or freezer. Why? Because air and moisture are primary enemies of coffee. When you open that cold container of coffee beans the cold air mixes with the warm room-temperature air and produces moisture. Now you may not be able to see it, but smaller amounts of moisture do form – and can do so very rapidly. Your coffee beans absorb the moisture every time you open the container. Not good.

 For all coffees, and especially for darker roasted coffees like our Cafe Bordeaux French Roast and Organic French Roast Riviera, storing in the freezer is not a good thing to do. See, the oils in the beans congeal when frozen (kinda like bacon grease does) and the oils may never return to their original consistency – harming the overall qualities of your brew.

3. When you buy ground coffee (like a pound or two at a time) the shelf life for maximum freshness is about two weeks. That's it. Keep in mind, that's two weeks from the day the coffee is originally ground.

Our recommendation to you is to buy whole bean coffee. Then, grind the beans yourself immediately prior to brewing.

A consumer report segment ai"#ff0000" on the CNBC cable channel – Monday, October 6, 1997 – supports our viewpoint here.

A nationally-recognized consumer expert also mentioned the two week time frame as the maximum for ground coffee freshness after it is ground, or after it is opened from a sealed (vacuum) container.

Coffee: Surprising Benefits from Caffeine

Why Does Some Iced Tea Turn Cloudy?

First, iced tea turns cloudy when you use a tea, or tea blend, that's made for brewing hot tea, not iced tea.

Second, even tea specifically blended for iced tea can turn a little cloudy when you use hard water for brewing. It's all the "hard water minerals" suspended in the iced tea that gives it that slightly cloudy look. However, the taste of the iced tea is rarely affected. You can help restore the clarity of iced tea by adding a small amount of boiling water.

Third, a stronger brewed tea (if that's your taste preference) tends to cloud more readily than does a weaker one.

To enjoy our All Day Gourmet Iced Tea at its peak flavor and maximum clarity, we recommend brewing in small amounts (for instance, one gallon at time) & keeping it refrigerated for not more than a day or so.

Do You Have Parts for My Bunn Home Coffee Maker?

"Where can I find replacement parts for my Bunn home coffee maker?"

We have a separate section devoted to Q&A about your Bunn home coffee maker. There you will find more information about available replacement parts, supplies, and accessories.

Click here for Bunn FAQs.

Do You Sell Used Coffee & Tea Equipment?

We only sell top-of-the-line, brand name, NEW coffee and tea equipment and appliances. Our customers know from experience that they get far-better overall value buying brand new equipment at our low everyday prices.

Look at it this way: for just about the same price you're likely to pay the "other guys" for used equipment, you can own brand new, brand name equipment.

And, you never have to worry about your "great deal" used equipment breaking down just after your "parking lot warranty" expires.