The three most important rules for preserving coffee are to protect it from light, keep it dry, and store it in a cool environment. When coffee beans are roasted, chemical changes occur that make them more porous and vulnerable to the effects of oxidation and moisture penetration. Carbon dioxide also forms inside them, and this will gradually leach out of the beans. This degassing can initially improve flavour, and coffee may be at its best a few days after roasting, but gradually oxygen will replace the carbon dioxide in the beans, resulting in a decrease in aroma, loss of character, and possible creation of undesirable flavours. Although it may be safe to drink coffee that has been in storage for quite some time, the sooner it is consumed after roasting, the more enjoyable an experience it will be.

The best place to store coffee is in a pantry or cupboard that is cool, dark and dry. Ideally, coffee should be used as early as possible from the date it was roasted, and beans should be ground just before brewing. Once a pack of coffee is opened, unless it has come in a resealable bag with a one-way valve, it should be tied with an elastic band and placed in a resealable plastic bag, or poured into an airtight canister or opaque, plastic container. If stored well, whole beans will generally be good for around 6 months, but ground coffee for less, as the increased surface area of ground coffee makes it more prone to the effects of oxidation. Darker roasted coffees will usually go stale quicker than lighter roasts.

Some people like to freeze their coffee, but this isn’t ideal as freezing changes the cell structure of foodstuffs, and this can compromise flavour and aroma; fluctuating temperatures can also create moisture that may permeate the coffee. Freezing is an option though if you have a lot of coffee that needs to be kept for a while, but if you do, it’s best to divide it into smaller amounts and store them in separate bags or airtight containers. Whole beans kept in the freezer could last for many months, especially if placed in a vacuum-sealed bag, but ground coffee more like just a few months. Both ground coffee and whole beans should be defrosted at room temperature before brewing. Coffee should never be kept in the refrigerator as it can take on flavours and odours from other foods being stored there.

When buying coffee, it’s worth considering that coffee bought from supermarkets and stores may have been roasted a long time before being sold, and although safe to drink, its flavour may well be compromised. The advantage of buying coffee online is that beans can be dispatched soon after roasting, with the date they were roasted and best before date printed on the label. At Coffee-Direct we roast to order, so your coffee will always arrive in the freshest condition possible, and to ensure it stays fresh for as long as possible, our coffee is packed in foil-fresh bags with resealable zips and one-way valves that are designed to let carbon dioxide out, but nothing in. Also, unless your coffee will be consumed fairly quickly, it’s probably best to buy in smaller amounts, although unopened bags should last well for up to nine months. A Coffee-Direct personal subscription is a great way to receive a regular supply of freshly roasted coffee as often as you require, and also benefit from a permanent 15% discount on our entire range of over 100 incredible coffees, with the freedom to amend, skip or cancel your subscription at any time.

The worst offenders on the list included Starbucks’ Hot mulled fruit – grape with chai, orange and cinnamon – venti with a staggering 99g of sugar – that’s 25 whole teaspoons! Costa’s Chai latte clocked in with almost 80g and Caffe Nero’s Caramelatte tipped the scales at over 50g of the sweet stuff.

The coffee chains have pledged to reduce the amount of sugar in their beverages, but even the 25% Starbucks has been quoted as planning to remove from their “indulgent drinks” leaves a huge amount of sugar in a single serving.

Of course, there is a simple way to enjoy your favourite coffee drink without consuming vast amounts of hidden sugar. By preparing your own coffee from our freshly roasted beans, you can take control of what goes into your cup, not to mention experience the wonderful tastes and aromas of our expertly roasted varieties. And, when you consider that you can produce an espresso shot from as little as 12p with our range, it’s easy to see how you can save pounds in more ways than one!

As a nation, we've embraced coffee shop culture as a major part of our lives over the last few years. The extortionate costs of that daily macchiato on the commute, or the lunchtime latte soon add up however. The great news is that you don't have to stop one of life's little pleasure; simply become your own barista with the help of summitmedicalphysics! Not only will you save a small fortune, but you'll also be able to choose from over 100 varieties from around the globe, and experience freshly roasted coffee beans in either whole bean form to be ground at home, or pre-ground to your requirements.

We've put together this handy guide to help you brew your favourite coffee like a pro. By following a few simple tips and techniques, you can put those Starbrews and Costly Coffee baristas to shame!

General Tips for a Good Espresso Shot

• Firstly make sure your machine is up to the correct pressure of 1 bar and that the pump pressure is at 9 bar.
• Always leave the portafilter in the grouphead so that it is hot.
• Make sure all equipment is clean and that the grouphead is regularly backwashed with cleaner.
• Having the correct grind for your machine is absolutely critical. If the grind is wrong you will never make a great cup of coffee.
• If possible, always use freshly ground coffee.
• Make sure that you are using the correct weight of coffee for the size of portafilter you are using - approx. 7 gm for a single and 14 gm for a double (this can vary with different sized baskets).
• Always remember to tamp the coffee in the portafilter.
• Check that when you make an espresso it takes between 18-23 seconds to brew the shot. Then check that you have a good crema and that it is neither too pale or too dark in colour. A single shot of espresso is about 1 1/2 fluid ounces. If the coffee brews too quickly then the grind needs to be slightly finer, too slow and the grind is too fine. Adjust the grinder accordingly then brew another shot of espresso to check how it pours. Ultimately the flavour of the espresso is more important than having an exact brew time. If it looks right and tastes right then it is right!
• If you can make a good shot of espresso then you are half way to making a great cup of coffee.

Cappuccino

This is 1/3 espresso, 1/3 hot milk, 1/3 foam.

Having the correct amount of milk in the frothing jug is very important. Too much and it will spill over the top when frothing, too little and it will get too hot too fast and you will not be able to control what is happening to the milk. Use a good quality stainless steel jug which is smaller at the top than the bottom. only add enough milk to fill about 1/4 of the jug.

Froth the milk first and then make the shot of espresso. To froth the milk first purge any water from the steam arm. Tilt the jug at a 45 degree angle and then introduce the steam arm into the milk keeping the holes just under the surface of the milk, now open the steam arm so that the steam enters the milk. The milk will start to get hot and swirl around in the jug. As the milk rises up in the jug the jug should be lowered to ensure the holes of the steam arm are always only just under the surface of the milk. Keep one hand on the side of the jug whilst heating the milk to check how hot the milk is getting. Once you have at least doubled the volume of milk and the jug is too hot to keep your hand on it, move the end of the steam arm into the base of the jug and swirl the jug around a few times then turn off the steam. You should now have equal quantities of foam on top and hot milk underneath. Now brew your espresso shot(s) and carefully add hot milk and foam in the proportions previously mentioned to make the drink.

Chocolate sprinkles may be added if required. You can use a thermometer to measure the milk temperature if you like.

Latte

Use the same quantity of coffee as in a cappuccino but then add lots of hot milk and a little bit of foam. You start with the same amount of milk in the jug and tilt at 45 degrees but this time start with the holes of the steam arm at the bottom of the milk. Open the steam arm and keep the holes at the bottom of the milk until the jug is too hot to hold then at the last minute bring the holes to the surface of the milk to create some foam. With the holes at the bottom of, the milk you will not create any foam instead you will just be heating the milk.

Now make your shot of espresso and put into a tall latte glass, add the hot milk almost to the top of the glass then finish with a small layer of foam.

Americano

This is a black coffee usually made with a double shot of espresso and hot water. Always add the hot water to the cup first and then brew the espresso shots into the water, this way you will retain some of the crema from the espresso.

Macchiato

This is a shot of espresso "marked" with a small amount of foamed milk and served in an espresso cup.

Flat White

The same amount of milk in the jug as for Cappuccino and Latte but the frothing is different. The steam arm needs to be constantly moved from top to bottom whilst you are heating the milk, this will ensure that you get no separation between hot milk and foam instead you should end up with textured milk which has the pouring consistency of thick cream. This milk can then be added to the espresso shot(s).

We believe if you want to add sugar to your coffee then it should always be white sugar as brown sugar has too much "flavour" of its own. Milk should always be as cold as possible prior to frothing.

So what are you waiting for? Browse through our extensive range and begin your journey to becoming a brilliant barista!

There are two popular methods for making decaffeinated coffees: direct decaffeination using steam and chemical treatment, and the Swiss Water method. With the direct method, coffee beans are first steamed for a period of time, usually around half an hour, before being repeatedly rinsed with either dichloromethane or ethyl acetate; a chemical derived from various fruits and vegetables. This method, while popular, does run the risk of removing some of the desired oils and flavours from the beans. For this reason, the Swiss Water method is becoming increasingly popular. The Swiss Water method involves the use of water that has been saturated with those desirable oils and flavours, creating what is known as green coffee extract (GCE). The GCE is then used to rinse the beans several times in a process that removes 99.9% of the caffeine, while retaining the beans' natural flavours.

A new interest in the world of decaffeinated coffees is that of 'uncaffeinated coffee'; a coffee created from a naturally caffeine-free bean that requires no decaffeinating treatments. Known as decaffito, this naturally caffeine-free coffee is sourced from coffea charrieriana, a species of flowering plant found in Cameroon. As this is the only known caffeine-free coffee plant from Central Africa, progress on an 'uncaffeinated coffee' is still in the early stages, but as developments continue we may someday be able to enjoy a naturally caffeine-free coffee.

It's important to remember that there are no reasons to entirely avoid caffeinated coffees; in fact, numerous studies continue to attest to the positive effects of caffeine consumption, including an increase in alertness and a decrease in fatigue, but also an increase in metabolic rates and the reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Therefore, the best way to treat your caffeine consumption is with moderation - enjoy your favourite caffeinated coffees and the benefits of caffeine intake, but be open to decaffeinated alternatives that you can enjoy throughout the day and into the evening. These alternatives shouldn't be looked upon as an inferior coffee; methods such as the Swiss Water method have proved that complex, rich flavours need not be sacrificed during the decaffeination process, and there is a growing and increasingly diverse choice of decaffeinated coffees available on the market.

Our own decaffeinated range includes a Swiss Water coffee and a delicious Colombian coffee, both of which are available as Subscribe & Save products, so you can regularly enjoy strong flavours, rich flavours of decaffeinated coffee, and get up to 15% off when you subscribe to periodic deliveries.

It's generally agreed that the best way to enjoy fresh coffee and experience the fullest flavours is to buy whole beans and grind them yourself. By doing this you can grind a new portion of your favourite beans every time you prepare a drink, which not only ensures freshness, but means you won't be left with an excess of unused ground beans that will quickly lose their flavours and aromas. This is the key difference between buying whole beans and buying ready-ground coffee from supermarkets; whereas your freshly ground coffee can be prepared to order, ready-made coffee grinds are left for days, if not weeks, after being ground, during which time they will become bland and insipid. It's therefore important to grind your coffee yourself if you want to enjoy the freshest and most complex flavours.

Once you've bought your coffee beans you'll want to keep them fresh for as long as possible, although it's best to enjoy them within 7 to 10 days after they have been roasted. There are several methods to prolong the freshness of beans, including freezing, but the general consensus among coffee lovers is that the sooner you prepare beans after they have been roasted, the better your coffee will taste. In fact, coffee beans tend to be at their peak within 24 to 72 hours after being roasted, but given the inevitable delay it takes roasted beans to reach you at home, the 7-10 day span is a great time period in which to aim.

Our coffee from Coffee-Direct comes sealed in one-way valve, foil fresh bags, which are ideal for locking in the freshly roasted flavours of the beans during their short journey from us to you, and can maximise the amount of time you have to enjoy your favourite coffees before the beans being to lose their flavour and intensity.

The simplest, yet most effective way to store your roasted coffee beans at home is to keep them sealed in an airtight container. By keeping your beans sealed tight they will avoid exposure to the four main compromisers of freshness and flavour: air, moisture, heat and light. An airtight container ensures that the beans aren't in constant contact with air and moisture, and stops the aromas from escaping. It's best to store your beans at room temperature, unless, of course, you are freezing them. By placing the airtight container in a suitable location, out of direct sunlight and far away from warm areas of your home such as the oven area or on a windowsill, you can help to maintain freshness for a longer period of time. As coffee beans are porous they will rapidly adsorb any moisture if left out in the open, so it's best to place them away from sinks, windows and other damp areas, and, to avoid exposure to light, it's recommended that beans are kept in opaque containers, preferably ceramic.

As a method of preserving beans, freezing should ideally be done only as a last resort; for example, if you need to store them, unused, for a longer period of time and an airtight container isn't available. If you do choose to freeze your beans, there are a few rules to to go: be sure you wrap them up as thoroughly as possible; if frozen beans are not completely covered and sealed there will be a risk of exposure to moisture, and potentially to light from the constant opening and closing of the freezer door. We suggest that your beans, if unopened, can be frozen for up to 9 months before they begin to lose their freshness. You'll also want to make sure the sealed beans don't come in contact with other produce being stored in your freezer; this will not only avoid flavour contaminations, but will lessen the risk that moisture will reach the beans from other foods. As for placing your beans in the fridge instead of the freezer, the answer is simple; don't do it. The temperatures within a fridge are not low enough to preserve the beans' flavours and aromas, and there is an even greater risk of exposure to moisture and air.

You'll want to enjoy your coffee beans as soon as possible after they have been roasted, which is why it's a good idea to purchase your coffee in smaller quantities; you won't have to worry about larger portions losing their roasted flavours, and you won't have to throw away unused coffee beans that have become bland during storage. At Coffee-Direct we produce our coffees in three sizes: Sample 227g, Regular 454g and Large 908g. This allows customers to buy smaller sizes and enjoy the strong, complex flavours of their favourite coffees without having to rush through larger packs.

It's no secret that beans purchased from supermarkets are, on average, several months old already. These beans are left to sit on shelves for extended periods of time, which compromises flavours and aromas, and leaves customers with an inferior product. At Coffee-Direct we roast our beans to order, which means that when you're coffee arrives at your door, you can be sure that it has gone from being roasted, to being packaged and delivered in a short amount of time. Not only does this mean that your coffee will arrive incredibly fresh and flavourful, but it means that you can tailor your order size to your needs and avoid any wasted beans. What's more, you can set up a subscription service with Coffee-Direct once you've found your ideal size and coffee variety, so you'll never run out of your favourite beans.

Because we roast to order, we avoid excess produce, which means we're able to offer a wonderful selection of almost 100 coffee varieties, all of which will be freshly prepared for your order. Our range spans delicious origin coffees, exciting blended coffees and unique flavoured coffees, and includes a great selection of decaffeinated favourites. We also offer a collection of carefully picked coffee hampers, which would make the perfect gift for all coffee lovers.

While supermarkets have come to offer a growing selection of coffee beans and blends, they will never be able to compete with the range, diversity of products and the guarantee of freshness that dedicated coffee businesses, such as Coffee-Direct, are able to offer their customers. There are many reasons why coffee lovers favour the kind of service that Coffee-Direct provides, over that of supermarkets: we pride ourselves on a dedicated service that roasts beans to order, rather than mass-producing our products; we stock a vast choice of coffees and blends that includes speciality beans and rare coffees; we employ an innovative method of packaging that locks in flavours and guarantees freshness.

With more than 25 years' experience in the coffee business, we're able to offer a passionate and professional service. All of our batches are roasted by our team of expert roasters, who keep a close eye on our coffee at every stage of preparation to ensure sustained high standards and a quality product. This dedicated attention to the preparation of our coffee differs greatly from the machine-prepared coffees stocked by supermarkets, and means we can ensure a quality finished product that contains no imperfections.

Unlike mass-produced supermarket coffees, which are produced by automated methods in large quantities, our coffees are roasted and prepared in small batches. Not only does this allow us to roast to order, but means our coffees maintain maximum freshness and perfect results at every stage of production – from roasting, to packaging and delivery. No matter what bean or blend you order, you can be sure that it will be roasted and prepared strictly for your order, which means no waste or surplus coffee beans, and allows roasted beans to be delivered to you as soon as they are ready. This process differs markedly from supermarket production, where large scale roasts and mass packing means that previously fresh beans are left to await store delivery and purchase, and subsequently lose their flavours and aromas.

Freshness is a priority at Coffee-Direct, so we ensure that all of our coffee bags are prepared in a way that guarantees wonderfully aromatic and full flavoured coffee. Unlike supermarkets, where bags of coffee can sit on shelves, untouched, for a number of months, Coffee-Direct roast all our coffees to order, thus avoiding any dated and inferior coffee beans. We also generally deliver our coffee orders within 24-72 hours after being roasted, so customers can enjoy a burst of aromas and flavours as soon as they open their bags of beans – something that is not always possible with supermarket coffees, which are left on shelves at the expense of their freshness.

Another of our priorities is choice, and we aim to provide our customers with a broad selection of delicious origin coffees and exciting blends. We sell almost 100 varieties of coffee, including much-loved favourites, flavoured coffees and rare speciality coffees, and you'll also find a selection of Coffee-Direct's very own secret blends, lovingly created by our experts to bring you a flavour that you won't find anywhere else.

Our origin coffees are sourced from some of the most popular coffee producing countries in the world, and from the best regions for the growing of beans. You can browse the range by coffee strength, with a wide choice of strong, medium and mild coffees, and you can choose your beans based on brewing method, with categories for bean-to-cup, cafetiere, espresso and filter brewing methods. As your beans are roasted and packaged to order, you can change your preferred brewing methods and experiment with new ways to prepare your favourite coffees, a choice that is again absent from much supermarket coffee.

What's more, our knowledgeable team provide detailed information on all our products, so you'll not only know where you coffee is sourced from and how it is prepared, but also what the best ways are to prepare it, a full rundown of its flavours and aromas, and even the times of day at which it is best enjoyed.

Along with origin coffees, speciality blends and flavoured coffees, you'll also find a wonderful selection of decaffeinated coffees, teas and coffee hampers . We can offer a diverse range of products that supermarkets just aren't able to offer, and you can always be sure that our teas and coffees have been personally selected for their superior flavours and aromas by our knowledgeable and experienced team.

We supply coffee in every form of preparation generally used, including whole coffee beans, cafetiere grind and percolator grind, filter grind and espresso grind, Turkish grind, and even unroasted green beans in our origin lines. This choice of preparation puts you fully in control of how your coffee is served, and gives you the opportunity to try something new and switch between cafetiere and percolator prepared coffees.

Another method employed to guarantee freshness is the use of our one-way valve, foil fresh bags. These innovative bags are designed in such as way that air cannot get inside and reach the coffee, but air can escape via the valve, meaning the coffee aromas can be appreciated before the bag is opened. These bag designs are favoured by coffee lovers who desire the freshest beans available, and they are superior to many of the bags and containers used by supermarkets to store their coffee beans. Be sure to check out our advise on how to store coffee.

At Coffee-Direct we feel that customers should only be paying for our quality, fresh coffee and tea products and nothing more, which is why we offer free standard UK delivery. Customers can get their favourite coffees delivered to them wherever they desire, whether that's at home, at the office or anywhere else, and a fast, efficient delivery means the beans will arrive bursting with freshly roasted flavours.

We offer a choice of convenient delivery options to suit your schedule, including options such as Saturday delivery, pre-10am delivery and pre-12pm delivery. This choice of delivery slots not only ensures that you'll be there to receive your freshly roasted coffee, but also means that as little time as possible goes by between us roasting your coffee to order, and you enjoying your first cup.

We also offer subscriptions on all of our coffees, allowing you set up regular deliveries and avoid running out of your favourite blends. The subscription service is quick and easy to set up: simply place your order and select the subscription, and we'll deliver weekly, every two weeks, monthly or every two months depending on your preference.

You can rest assured that when you shop with Coffee-Direct your order will be sent out by fully tracked courier delivery, provided by DPD. As well as enjoying a fast, safe and secure delivery, you can benefit from an email and text message notification of the one hour time slot during which your coffee will be delivered, meaning that you won't need to wait for your delivery and you'll know just how fast your beans have been roasted, packaged and delivered.

There's no doubting that when it comes to quality coffee, buying from a dedicated coffee business like Coffee-Direct is always preferable over buying from a supermarket. Not only will you find an excellent choice of coffees and teas that you won't find in any supermarket, but you can be sure to get the highest quality product possible. Thanks to our dedicated and passionate team, our packaging methods and our roasted to order coffee deliveries, we can ensure that you'll experience a full flavoured, wonderfully fresh coffee every time your order.