When contemplating how long coffee stays fresh, you might wonder, can you freeze coffee beans to make them last longer? The short answer is yes, you can freeze coffee beans, so long as you do so properly. However, if you fail to follow certain steps like using an airtight container, it will make your beans go bad even faster and ruin the taste.
So let’s explore how freezing coffee beans can keep them fresh and the proper ways to do it!
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The Best Way To Store Coffee Beans
Before you read too much about how to freeze coffee, let’s review a few basic principles of how to make coffee last as long as possible. First and foremost, store your coffee as whole beans—you should have a grinder at home and grind your coffee right before brewing. Whole beans maintain their freshness and flavor for 2-4 weeks when stored properly.
Otherwise, the primary idea is to keep oxygen and other elements away that would otherwise age the beans (aka steal your precious flavor!) Most people opt for a specialized container that protects coffee from these elements.
Features:
- Premium stainless steel container
- Airtight seal
- CO2 release valve
- Freshness date-tracker
- Measuring scoop included
- Affordable
My current top recommendation for coffee storage is the Coffee Gator Coffee Canister as it does a fantastic job and is affordable. Alternatively, you can opt for the fancier option with the Fellow Atmos container. Whatever you choose, make sure the container blocks light and forms an airtight seal.
When Does Coffee Go Bad?
Coffee expiration can get complicated since it loses its delicious flavor long before it goes bad in any kind of food safety sense. Generally, you can expect fresh beans to have a fantastic flavor for the first two weeks and a really good flavor for two more weeks after that (assuming you follow the storage principles above).
After a month, the flavors will begin to mute. You can still brew with those beans for many months, however, the complex flavors will disappear. And given enough time, rancid flavors will begin to develop.
When Should You Freeze Coffee Beans?
Can putting coffee beans in the freezer make them last longer? In my experience, the answer is yes, however, there are some exceptions. Most crucial is using an airtight container because without one you will ruin your beans.
My advice is to only freeze coffee beans when you want to preserve coffee for more than a month. It is not worth the hassle to freeze the beans that you are currently drinking every day. But if you want to preserve a special roast that you can defrost in small batches, freezing can be a fantastic solution.
**Note: If you are a coffee lover who roasts beans at home, there is no need to freeze unroasted coffee, otherwise known as green coffee beans. A green coffee bean will maintain quality for well over a year when you store it in an airtight container in a cool and dry environment.**
How Long Does Coffee Stay Good in the Freezer?
Like any other perishable food, a coffee bean succumbs to aging by losing its flavor over time. And even though it takes many months for roasted coffee to go bad, oxygen will eventually deteriorate the flavors inside of a coffee bean. Ground coffee, with its extra surface area, goes bad even faster.
However, similar to how a freezer slows down the aging process of other perishable foods, freezing coffee beans can in theory maintain freshness for years. The key is knowing exactly how to do it to avoid problems such as freezer burn, moisture, and other factors that can ruin a coffee bean. This method of freezing beans tends to work better with whole-bean coffee, although it can theoretically work with ground coffee.
3 Steps To Properly Freeze Coffee Beans
Many coffee aficionados and professionals in the specialty coffee world do not recommend putting coffee beans in the freezer. To their credit, I agree that it is better to use coffee beans in smaller batches and use them within two weeks.
However, even the National Coffee Association admits that when you do it correctly, coffee storage in a freezer can preserve the flavors of freshly roasted coffee. So, let’s explore the right way to store coffee beans in the freezer so you do not accidentally ruin their flavor.
1. Use an Airtight Container
Even though roasted coffee beans have almost no moisture content in them—a coffee roaster hits temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit—the environment of a fridge or freezer is filled with moisture.
So throwing a coffee bag into the freezer is a huge mistake—the beans will absorb moisture and odors and eventually taste awful. You have to use an airtight container, preferably one dedicated to coffee storage, to vacuum seal coffee beans. This protects the beans not only from air but also from moisture.
Also, an opaque container is ideal because it will block the damaging effects of light.
2. Freeze in Small Batches
Assuming you have the proper storage containers and vacuum sealing ability, you should also freeze coffee in small batches. The whole point of freezing coffee beans is to extend their shelf life, and you only want to defrost enough beans for 1 or 2 weeks maximum. If you think you can avoid the damaging effects of moisture by quickly resealing the container, think again!
Even a few moments of warmer air contacting the frozen beans will expose them to the damaging effects of moisture.
3. Defrost Before Opening
We’ve all seen what happens when you take something from the fridge or freezer and leave it at room temperature. Especially during the humid summer, condensation develops on the outside. You might not care about that on your orange juice container in the morning or your cold beer at night, but condensation on your frozen beans will negate all of the hard work you put into preserving your beans.
So let your frozen coffee beans defrost to room temperature before you break the vacuum seal. Once the container and the beans completely thaw, you can open it and use the beans.
Final Thoughts on Freezing Coffee Beans for Freshness
I hope this guide was helpful and left you confident that freezing coffee grounds or beans can work if you follow the right steps. I can’t say that I do this often, but it’s a good trick to know if you are traveling and won’t be able to use fresh beans for the next few weeks.
If you follow the steps above, the delicious flavor of your fresh beans will be waiting for you when you’re ready!
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FAQs
Does freezing coffee beans make them last longer?
Yes, you can make coffee beans last longer by freezing them, as long as they are protected from air and moisture. Properly frozen coffee beans can last for years and maintain the delicious flavors of fresh beans.
Can you freeze coffee beans in their original packaging?
While you can theoretically freeze beans in their original bags, many of which are airtight, it is much better to further protect them with a dedicated airtight coffee storage container.
How can I protect my beans from moisture if I choose to store them in the freezer?
Coffee beans in the freezer need to stay in an airtight container for protection from moisture. Additionally, it would be best if you defrosted the beans to room temperature before opening the container and exposing them to air.
How long can you freeze coffee beans?
Coffee can theoretically last for years when you freeze it correctly and protect it from air, moisture, and light. However, this storage method is ideal for extending coffee for months rather than years.
Can you freeze ground coffee?
Freezing ground coffee will have similar effects to freezing whole beans, and you can extend the shelf life by months if it is in an airtight container. However, be aware that aging happens much faster with ground coffee due to the exposed surface area. After defrosting, frozen ground coffee will lose its flavor quickly.
