If you’re buying bags of pre-ground coffee, consider starting with fresh, whole beans. Coffee begins to lose freshness almost immediately after roasting! Coffee beans will usually have a roast date on it - this will tell you how fresh it is. Coffee beans, like most foods, will oxidize over time which changes the flavor profile of the bean. In fact, it reaches its peak flavor a few days after it’s been roasted. So it’s ideal to buy freshly roasted coffee from local coffee shops in smaller batches more often - enough for 1-2 weeks at a time. The more fresh your coffee, the better the aroma and flavor!

Bonus tip: local coffee shops often offer unique beans sourced from different countries. If you’re feeling adventurous, try experimenting with beans from a new place!

Get whole beans and grind before you brew. Coffee is at its freshest when you grind it. Experts suggest brewing your coffee within 30 minutes of being ground to maximize the flavor extraction.  Ideally, you should only grind it when you’re ready to brew. Keep in mind that oxidation happens even faster once the beans are ground. So it’s best to only grind as much as you need for your brew.

Bonus tip: if you have extra grounds, you can freeze the extra brew to make coffee ice cubes for your cold brew.

We’re often busy and feel rushed when it comes to our coffee routines. Set aside some time (can be as little as 5-10 mins) to brew your coffee!  Regardless of how you like to make your coffee, give yourself some time to slow down and be involved in the brewing process! Treat it as “you” time or a ritual that you can enjoy. This will not only allow you to enjoy the process but it will make you appreciate your final creation even more!

Every coffee routine has one thing in common - drinking from your favorite cup! Believe it or not, your cup plays as much importance in enhancing your coffee experience as every step of the process. After you’ve crafted your perfect brew, you want to preserve the flavor you’ve created, so you should avoid cups made from materials (like non-stainless steel metals, unglazed clay or ceramic, single-use plastic, paper or styrofoam) that can contaminate your coffee. Choose a cup made from material like glass, or stainless steel that isn’t porous so that it retains the flavor. Secondly choose a cup that insulates well and preserves the temperature of your coffee so that you enjoy your coffee down to the last drop.

Bonus tip: If you haven't heard of our Thermal glass mugs, they feature a naturally insulating double wall that keeps your coffee hot for longer!

After you’ve brewed your coffee - make sure to store your beans correctly so they stay fresh! When storing coffee, the goal is to avoid the 2 coffee killers - oxygen and moisture. These two things will kill your coffee’s aroma and flavor. Ideally, it’s best to store it in an airtight jar or vacuum container with a one way valve to keep the oxygen out.