A few words about the National Coffee Association

The National Coffee Association Is dedicated to coffee in all its forms, uses and manifestations. Its web site offers sections devoted to market research, government affairs, a knowledge bank, events, education and scientific affairs – all of which revolve around coffee.  The organizations holds a convention every year, the most recent one – the 103^rd – was held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. One of the keynote presentations was about sustainability, Here is the conference’s introduction to the talk given on this topic:

A 360° Look at Sustainability

Diverse Routes to a Common Destination

Sustainability is a core principle that puts business acumen into the service of social responsibility. It’s a concept that companies in many industries are eager to embrace and deploy. Yet, in many ways, sustainability has become a catchphrase divorced from its underlying intent and principles

Why? Aside from sloppy definitions and overuse, the term also carries a cachet that makes it a “must” for companies to adopt. It’s also a vague and overly broad term that is, at best, a catch-all and, at worst, a buzzword.

But, it’s also a multi-faceted concept with complex social, economic and environmental components. And, as more and more attention is devoted to sustainability by industry, NGOs, charities and governments, the term is being further muddied by the sheer variety of approaches being taken to achieve its intent.

As a prequel to its 103rd annual Convention, the NCA is presenting a comprehensive program to peel back the layers and take a 360-degree look at the elements and approaches behind the buzzword.

The attendees at the conference included a diverse array of coffee and coffee-related groups, ranging from such corporate powerhouses as Nestle S.A and Starbucks – on the one hand – to such  socially conscious organizations as FairTrade USA and The Rainforest Alliance.on the other.

The National Coffee Association, however, is not only a serious industry organization for corporate-sized coffee business. It is also for the average, everyday consumer of coffee, as shown by the list of coffee tutorials given below and the following tutorial on how to store coffee.

Visit the National Coffee Association website at http://www.ncausa.org/

• WHAT IS COFFEE?
• THE HISTORY OF COFFEE
• TEN STEPS TO COFFEE
• HOW TO BREW COFFEE
• THE VALUE OF COFFEE
• COFFEE RECIPES
• ROASTING TYPES
• COFFEE FROM THE WORLD

e > Knowledge Bank > All About Coffee > How To Store Coffee

HOW TO STORE COFFEE

ALL ABOUT COFFEE:

 Airtight and Cool

Storage is integral to maintaining your coffee’s freshness and flavor. It is important to keep it away from excessive air, moisture, heat, and light — in that order — in order to preserve its fresh-roast flavor as long as possible.  Coffee beans are decorative and beautiful to look at but you will compromise the taste of your coffee if you store your beans in ornamental, glass canisters on your kitchen countertop.  Doing so will cause them to become stale and your coffee will quickly lose its fresh flavor.

Storing Your Daily Coffee

It is important not to refrigerate or freeze your daily supply of coffee because contact with moisture will cause it to deteriorate.  Instead, store coffee in air-tight glass or ceramic containers and keep it in a convenient, but dark and cool, location. Remember that a cabinet near the oven is often too warm, as is a cabinet on an outside wall of your kitchen if it receives heat from a strong afternoon or summer sun.

The commercial coffee containers that you purchased your coffee in are generally not appropriate for long-term storage. Appropriate coffee storage canisters with an airtight seal are a worthwhile investment.

Buy Right

It is wise to purchase coffee in amounts proportionate to how quickly it will used. Coffee begins to lose its freshness almost immediately after roasting so it is far better to purchase it in smaller quantities. Purchase freshly roasted coffee frequently and buy only what you will use in the next 1 or 2 weeks. And because exposure to air is your coffee’s worst enemy, it is a good idea to divide your coffee supply into several smaller portions, keeping the larger, unused portion in an air-tight container.

Storing Larger Quantities of Coffee

If you’ve purchased a large quantity of coffee that you will not use immediately, small portions, wrapped in airtight bags, can be stored for up to a month in the freezer.  Once you have removed them from the freezer, however, do not return them. Instead, move them to an air-tight container and store in a cool, dry place.