Starbucks coffee educator Major Cohen says there are four things that destroy coffee: oxygen, light, heat and moisture. So, if cool air isn't on the list, why is it so bad to store a bag of beans in the fridge? Because every morning, when you open it up to scoop out the amount you need for that day's pot, you're letting in warm, moist air, which affects the beans, causing a decrease in the oils that make the drink taste and smell so good. To keep coffee beans fresh, Cohen says to keep them in an opaque, airtight container, at room temperature.
