The world runs on coffee, and chances are your home does as well. Each morning, we grind beans and brew a large pot of hot coffee as we prepare for the day. It might lead you to wonder – can you freeze coffee?
Unless using coffee pods, brewing a pot of coffee takes several steps. The best coffee comes from freshly ground coffee beans, yet that’s an extra step each morning. Freezing coffee is an excellent way to brew the best cup of coffee while saving time.
That brings another question – will freezing coffee affect the flavor? Coffee experts differ in their opinions. Some strictly believe putting coffee in the freezer leads to a buildup of moisture, decreasing the grounds’ quality.
Other experts suggest that freezing coffee is acceptable for certain time frames or only in specific airtight containers. The only sure way to know is to try it for yourself. If you want to know how to freeze coffee, keep reading to learn all of the tricks.
Incredible Tips for Freezing Coffee
After finding coffee beans on sale, we wondered – can you freeze coffee beans? How long do whole coffee beans last? It turns out that many coffee lovers and coffee shops freeze their beans first.
While it’s not recommended to freeze pre-ground coffee, freshly ground coffee and whole beans freeze well.
What about leftover coffee in the coffee pot? How long is brewed coffee good for? Fill ice cube trays with brewed coffee in the freezer for later use.
Here is what you need to know about the best way to freeze coffee. You might discover you like frozen beans more than room temperature beans.
Can You Freeze Coffee? – Yes! Use Fresh Coffee Beans
How long are coffee beans good for? The first key to long term storage of frozen coffee is to start with fresh whole beans. Any coffee fanatic knows the difference between freshly ground coffee and coffee beans ground days ago.
A barista or member of the coffee community will tell you that freshly ground coffee tastes better. Even if you find a fantastic deal on canisters of pre-ground coffee, the flavor won’t be the same once frozen.
Use Airtight Containers when Freezing Coffee
Using an airtight canister is an essential step, whether using the freezer or refrigerator. According to the National Coffee Association, coffee is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs surrounding moisture.
Not only does coffee absorb moisture, but it also takes in the odors from the air around it. Most containers available at home still allow small amounts of oxygen inside.
That’s why food in the freezer still experiences freezer burn. Finding a truly airtight container is essential to store coffee, or the quality and taste of the coffee grounds decrease while in the freezer.
Plastic bags are an alternative for long-term storage but don’t open airtight bags frequently. If you open and shut the bag repeatedly, it introduces moisture to the grounds and changes the coffee beans’ cell structure.
Other coffee roasters prefer to use one-way valve bags. These opaque bags help the coffee stay cool and dark without any worry of additional moisture damaging the beans.
Know How Long to Store Coffee
It’s tempting to freeze a large amount of coffee, but coffee storage is best when done for a limited time. Do coffee grounds expire? The average shelf life is one to two weeks after using a grinder. While going over this time frame isn’t horrible, it decreases the flavor.
Don’t throw away those old coffee grounds, though. Coffee grounds good for plants so spread them throughout your garden for an added bit of natural fertilizer.
Coffee beans are ideal for long-term storage. Beans store in the freezer for two to three months. The best way to freeze coffee is by freezing whole beans.
Consider writing the roast date or the date you froze the coffee on the bags. Keep track of the bags and store them in order by age. Brewed coffee tastes better when used within the right dates.
The Best Way to Freeze Coffee is Whole Beans
Freshness is everything; it dramatically changes the quality of the coffee. If you cannot finish a bag of whole coffee beans within two weeks after opening the bag, consider freezing coffee beans.
Storing coffee beans follows the same advice as freezing pre-ground or freshly ground coffee. The best way to store coffee beans includes keeping them in airtight containers or storage containers designed for coffee.
If storing coffee beans, remove as much as you need for one week and return the container to the freezer.
If condensation forms on frozen coffee, it might cause cracks in the beans or affect the flavor. It’s essential to know how to freeze coffee beans; here are some things to know.
Don’t Refrigerate Coffee
It’s tempting to use the refrigerator to store fresh coffee, but coffee lovers shouldn’t keep coffee beans or coffee grounds in the fridge. The refrigerator has excessive moisture and odors that might damage the coffee flavor.
Learn How to Thaw Frozen Coffee
The most important question is how to thaw frozen coffee. Doing so the right way results in better coffee. Remember, moisture is not friends with your frozen coffee.
Take out the container holding the week’s worth of frozen beans or the coffee grinds daily. Coffee grinds unthaw faster and rarely need much time out of the freezer before brewing coffee.
Beans are different, and precautions must be taken to avoid extra moisture. Most people recommend that you remove the espresso beans from the freezer and leave the plastic bag closed.
Allow the beans to defrost in the sealed bag for one to four hours before opening.
The best way to freeze coffee is to freeze whole beans for up to three months. Be sure to learn how to unthaw frozen coffee properly., like you would know how to thaw frozen lemon juice.
Coffee lovers hotly debate can you freeze coffee, but the popular answer is that you can freeze it as long as you keep moisture out.
If you’ve always wondered can you freeze coffee, share with your friends on Pinterest or Facebook who might want to try freezing coffee.