Coffee bags? You mean you don’t keep coffee in an airtight container? What are you? A coffee barbarian?

btw, coatpocket coffee sounds better than the machine coffee they serve here at my work.

First on storing coffee, I researched (naturally), and this is what I found for all of you coffeeholics:

"Some people store their coffee in the freezer thinking it is going to keep the coffee fresh. Here are a couple of reasons why storing coffee in your freezer is a bad idea:
•Coffee is porous. This is a good thing for fans of flavored coffee as the beans absorb the coffee flavoring syrups and oils that are used to make flavored coffee. However, if given the chance, coffee can also absorb other things like the flavor of seafood or the moisture that your freezer produces. This moisture will in turn deteriorate the coffee and even make it taste like, well… like a freezer.
•When coffee is roasted, the beans release their oils and essences to give the coffee its distinct flavor. You'll notice these oils are more prominent on dark-roasted coffee and espresso. When you break down these oils by freezing, you are removing the flavor.
Think about it…if coffee tasted better and fresher from the freezer, then you would buy it in the frozen food section, your local coffee shop might look more like an ice cream parlor, and our power bills would be through the roof trying to maintain a meat-locker the size of a warehouse.

Coffee Container Types
•Once coffee’s original packaging is opened, coffee loses its freshness quickly.
•Glass, ceramic or non-reactive metal containers with airtight gaskets are ideal for storing coffee.
•Coffee can be stored fresh in clear, glass canisters or clear plastic ware only if the canisters are kept in a cool, dark place.
•For counter top storage, opaque, airtight containers are best.
No matter what you do, do not return bags of coffee to the freezer once you’ve opened them, or your coffee will lose coffee flavor from repeated freezes/thaws and gain the flavor of your freezer.

Coffee Storage Locations
•Cool, dark, dry places (such as pantries and cabinets) are best for coffee storage.
•Fridges and freezers should be avoided because they are moist.
•Warm spots, like above/next to the oven or in cabinets that get hot from exposure to sunlight or cooking equipment.
•Countertops that are away from direct sunlight and other sources of heat can be appropriate if you use opaque, airtight storage vessels."

Now for a little history of twist ties (which are basically what the "wire thingy" is:

In 1923 at the age of 20 George Hinson came up with the idea for the twist tie after he twisted his ankle in a game of bouncy bouncy wall ball, a popular Philadelphia-area street game. In a 1989 interview Hinson noted,"We needed something to keep those darn bread bags closed so the air wouldn't get in and the bread wouldn't get out." On that warm summer day just after he had twisted his ankle the idea hit him that "a wire coated in a smooth material could be twisted around the opening of a bread bag and then untwisted and then twisted again." Before the twist tie vines and cattails had been used to keep bags closed."

I could give you a myriad list of uses, but I'll just mention a few:
Repair eyeglasses where the corner screw has fallen out. Feed the twist tie through the bracket where the screw was lost. Make a loop and twist the ends together. Trim off excess or fold back.
Repair or replace lost zipper pulls.
Reset buttons on electronics or watches. Some devices require you to reset a tiny button by inserting a pencil nib. Use a twist tie.
Loosen jammed drawers by using the twist tie to wedge the jammed part.

And, a use I'm sure all of you will find interesting: Pick locks: Twist ties make the perfect lock picking tools because they are small easy to use for tripping the lock spring or mechanism. (Wasn't sure if I should mention this one, but since you are Systemics, I'm not at all worried.)

btw, I like coffee! (The smell, warmth, and the taste w/the addition of ice cream, chocolate syrup or Creme de Cacoa.)