Do This Before Storing Coffee Beans In The Freezer

If you're serious enough about your morning cup of joe to buy whole coffee beans and grind them yourself, you definitely want to make sure you're storing them correctly so your coffee tastes fresh every morning. You might've heard that the best way to keep coffee beans fresh is by keeping them in the freezer, but that might not actually be your best option. There's some disagreement online about how it should be done, and whether or not coffee should be stored in the freezer at all, so you might want to do a little experimenting to see what works best for you and your beans.

One thing most sources agree on — it's better to keep your coffee out of the freezer completely if you can. According to Bon Appétit, once you put coffee beans in the freezer, they won't taste as good once you take them out and thaw them. Plus, if you have anything smelly in your freezer, like garlic or onions, your coffee might absorb some of that flavor (and nothing sounds worse than garlicky coffee). The freezer is better than the fridge though, which should be avoided completely, since it can actually age your coffee faster by causing it to release moisture and push oils to the surface.

If you do decide to store your coffee in the freezer, there are ways to make it a little easier. Chowhound recommends grinding the beans first, portioning them out into individual servings, and then freezing the grounds within 30 minutes. They argue that the moisture that leaks out of the beans when they start to thaw can ruin your grinder, so it's best to take that step before freezing. Then, dividing the grounds into serving-sized portions makes it easier to grab exactly what you need to defrost rather than pulling out the whole bag.

Still, if you can, your coffee will stay fresher and taste better if you don't store it in the freezer at all. According to Bon Appétit, it's best to store your coffee at room temperature and away from direct light. If the beans came in a bag with a one-way valve (which lets gas out but doesn't let air in), you can leave them in there. Otherwise, transfer your coffee beans into an airtight container. Beans stored this way should last for at least one to two weeks before they start losing flavor. If you won't use up a whole bag of coffee beans before then, it might be time to consider your freezer as a back-up plan. It'll help hold off staleness a little longer so you can enjoy a fresh-tasting cup of coffee every morning.