It takes about 70 beans to make one espresso – and why that number matters for how you buy and store coffee.

It takes roughly 70 roasted beans to fill one cup of espresso. That's a useful number to keep in mind, because it explains why the beans matter more than almost anything else you do.

A 250 g bag holds somewhere around 3,500 beans, which is about 50 espressos. If you drink two a day, a bag lasts a little over three weeks – and that is roughly how long roasted coffee stays at its best once the bag is open.

What this means in practice

• Buy smaller, more often. Coffee doesn't spoil, but the aromatics fade. An open bag is past its best after about a month.
• Fill the bean container with what you'll use. Topping it to the brim looks tidy, but the beans at the bottom sit there for weeks.
• Keep the lid on and the bag closed. Air and light do more damage than time does.
• Don't freeze or refrigerate. Condensation is worse for the beans than room temperature.

Grinding fresh is the single biggest difference between a good cup and an ordinary one. That is why every JURA machine grinds per cup rather than in advance.

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Coffee Know-How

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