Are Coffee Beans Freezable? How to Keep Them.

You've just roasted a batch of coffee beans, and they smell divine. You've brewed an insanely delicious cup of coffee by getting the grind, timing, and ratio just right. Now that you've got some freshly roasted coffee, you want to preserve it for as long as possible so you can continue to enjoy it.

But what can be done to make the joy last? When stored improperly, these priceless items can oxidize and become rancid.

I assure you, fellow coffee lover, there is nothing to worry about. In this post, I'll share some advice on how to keep your coffee beans fresh for as long as possible.

Caffeine Is Not a Perishable Good

Coffee beans, like fresh-picked fruit or baked loaves of bread, are an all-natural food item. To add insult to injury, coffee beans expire just like any other natural food product (no, we're not talking about plastic cheese or those mystery-meat sandwiches in the vending machine).

Sadly, that shelf life is only about a month. (Because of this, you should only buy as much coffee as you can consume in about a month. However, the sadder truth is that, without proper care, you can cut that shelf life in half, if not more.

So, let's take a look at the foes you're up against, and then we'll offer some advice on how to preserve the freshness of your beans.

Here Come the Four Coffee Cannibals

O2, heat, light, and moisture are often referred to as "the four horsemen of the coffee apocalypse."

The chemical reactions that spoil coffee due to heat are accelerated by the heat. Rapidity of chemical reactions like oxidation increases by a factor of two for every increase of 10 degrees C. Therefore, if you keep your beans near a heat source (like the stove or the coffee maker), they won't last as long.

Coffee's delicate flavor and aroma compounds degrade when exposed to light. Hence, that gorgeous glass jar with the polished copper lid that you have displayed prominently in your kitchen - oh, wait, that's my kitchen - is mine. This is not the best spot for long-term archiving.

The last risk is that mold and mildew can grow in damp places (trust me, you don't want to think about mildewed coffee beans), and that moisture can cause unpleasant odors to spread throughout the kitchen.

So, in the face of these existential dangers, how do you safeguard your precious coffee beans? To avoid these risks, it is necessary to store them correctly. Here are three approaches for dealing with whole beans, plus an additional option for exceptional cases:

Savings: Coffee in a Bag

Opaque coffee bags with a one-way valve are a simple and accessible option. It's possible to buy coffee that's already been stored in them at some grocery stores and on Amazon. com The carbon dioxide in this system is preserved as much as possible to prevent oxidation in freshly roasted coffee, which can be easily packaged using this system. Additionally, the bag does not get inflated with carbon dioxide as the coffee degases naturally thanks to the one-way valve.

Instead of simply closing the bag to keep it airtight until the next brew, roll it tightly to remove as much air as possible from inside, and then secure the roll with an elastic band. Then, put the bag in a cool, dry place; the refrigerator, where condensation will form on the grounds and unpleasant odors will permeate the coffee, is not an ideal storage location.

No one wants to buy a Caturra from Colombia that has the odor of wilted lettuce. This is not as effective as a vacuum-sealed ceramic coffee canister, but it will delay the inevitable for a few weeks.

A coffee canister is ideal for storing

Coffee should be stored in an airtight, opaque container, as recommended by the National Coffee Association of the United States. (1)

Some of the canisters designed specifically for storing specialty coffee are very high quality. Although even the worst of these methods is preferable to grinding a week's worth of coffee and storing it in plastic bags, the best of these methods is truly remarkable, and can keep a month's worth of coffee in as close to freshly roasted condition as you can expect (given that you take all other precautions). as avoiding hot and humid conditions)

If you're interested in purchasing one of these, have a look at our analysis of various coffee storage options. Specifically, it delves into seven different coffee storage options, and while we all have our favorites, this one takes the cake.

This Coffee Gator stainless steel coffee canister is your best bet if you're dead set on preserving the maximum possible quality of your beans. It helps keep your beans fresh by releasing carbon dioxide and preventing them from oxidizing.

Can Coffee Beans Be Frozen?

Beans can also be kept in the freezer, but be warned: if the container has been opened, they will spill all over the freezer. Water intrusion is a real concern, so keep that in mind. If you open a bag of frozen coffee beans, condensation will form. Condensation causes that awful freezer-burn smell, so avoid putting them back in the freezer after opening.

However, the freezer can be useful if you buy beans in bulk — for example, a five-pound bag of something on sale. Put them away in airtight containers (or those vacuum-sealed freezer bags) so that they can last for at least a month. Put them in the freezer until you need more coffee, marking the container with the date so you don't forget when you put them in. (2)

Keep in mind that you should wait until they have reached room temperature before opening the bag after removing them from the freezer. This will keep the beans dry and eliminate the associated odors and mold and mildew growth.

Maintaining Coffee Beans in Their Ground Form

There are better ways to store coffee, but sometimes you just don't have a choice and have to resort to this. Visiting a foreign land where the coffee is subpar For your espresso machine, the beans need to be ground to a finer consistency than your grinder can provide. That's okay, because it happens to the best of us

Protecting ground coffee from air, light, heat, and moisture is even more crucial than with whole beans. The most effective strategy is to stock up on only a week's worth of ground coffee at a time and store it in a container specifically designed for coffee. Just before you leave, grind the amount of coffee you'll need, put it in a Ziploc bag, and press out all the air. Then tuck it away in a bag where it will be shielded from the elements. If you're going to be gone for longer than a weekend, fresh coffee should be purchased locally.

The Final Say: How Should Coffee Beans Be Kept?

When it comes down to it, the best way to preserve coffee beans is in an airtight container made for the purpose. You'll be shielded from air, heat, light, and moisture better than ever before.

Once again, here is our coffee storage container selection guide.