Freezing Coffee beans?hmm...

Say, this may not be a complex question but seeing as which most of us partake of this nector of the gods I was just wondering. Growing up, my parent thought nothing of putting his expensive coffee beans in the freezer once bought. I unconsciously thought it's no different treatment than frozen vegies...for flavor preservation. But I have doubts as to whether this really makes any impact on flavor. Any coffee experts out there care to comment? Thanks again for you reponses everyone! Take care and God bless!

[Mezzaluna]

Hmmm... I always freeze my whole beans and grind them unthawed. I was told it helps preserve the oils in the coffee, making the flavor fresher. I do wrap it tightly. I'm also curious to know the answer to Marco's question.

I was also interested in the answer to this question. I keep my beans on the counter in an airtight container. Because we use them up so fast I guess, they never seem to go stale, but if they stay fresh frozen it seemed resonable that I could buy more less often......... However it seems that for every website that says freezing preserves the coffee there is one that says it is not good for the coffee..... perhaps we will never know!?!?!?

[foodnfoto]

I always freeze my premium beans and grind them unthawed too. I believe that it does help preserve the bean's volatile oils that empart the coffee flavor. Cheap beans I just leave in an airtight can on the counter. Does anyone else like Chock Full o' Nuts like I do? Maybe I'm a maniac, but I usually have about 7 different coffees laying around the kitchen.
Long ago, I worked as a floor manager for a large specialty food store. There, the floor managers had to do constant rotations among the different departments to stay informed about developments within each one. I loved working the coffee rotation--all the free Joe!; also because I was able to taste all the latest discoveries in the world of tea and coffee.
The coffee manager always suggested storing your beans in the freezer.
By the way, I'm interested in knowing what are CTers favorite coffees?
Sumatra is my current fave.

[ June 02, 2001: Message edited by: foodnfoto ]

[logose]

I got this info from a friend that works at a Gourmet Coffee shop.
Once you open a package, store in a air tight container and keep in a dark cool place. Do not freeze the beans. You will compromise the oil of the coffee bean which is what gives it that flavor and aroma.It congeals the oil. Coffee can pick up flavors from other foods as well. Also the coffee beans should generally last you about 1 month. Ground, it only lasts about a week to 10 days. I usually only grind what I need at the time. I have an air tight coffee can that I keep in a cupboard furthest from my stove and oven.
I use Millstone and grind my own. It 's pretty good. My hubby likes Starbucks.

Lorraine

[Kimmie]

Good question. I've been told that since coffee comes from warm places, it's absolute nonsense to freeze it!

That being said, I just purchase a week supply at a time and leave it in it's original bag. I buy it where it's roasted right on the premises.

My fav is a good strong espresso blend. I also like Columbian coffee.

BTW, this is a fantastic thread!




[ June 02, 2001: Message edited by: Kimmie ]

[SeattleDeb]

Yea, no more mail order...read Seattle is getting a Peet's Coffee soon...I used to freeze my beans then read somewhere it wasn't a good idea. We buy enough for a week here as well.

I like Peet's, but rarely buy it, because after shipping, it's like $16 a pound!

We frequently buy our coffee at Zabar's in NYC, and I usually go for the French or Espresso roast. (The darker the roast, the better.)I honestly can't tell the difference between coffee that's been made with frozen beans or unfrozen. But if you consume it within a couple of weeks, there really is no reason to freeze it.

[momoreg]

PS- Lemon is momoreg. I was playing around with my email account earlier today.

[W.DeBord]

I don't have a reason, but we've always kept our beans in the freezer also and grind frozen. I can't ever recall noticing a difference between a new bag and my older stuff in the freezer. Although I've never been somewhere where they roast them on site (where are these places?). Fresh roasted I can understand only buying small quanities and keeping them tightly sealed. I'd like to try that.

But if it's roasted by say Millstone (or any other manufactor) don't you think it's sat in a sack for awhile after roasting before you bought it?

I seems abit like spices. We all know fresh is best and the jars we buy in the grocery stores shouldn't sit on our shelfs for years....but don't we all have ones that you can't remember the last time you purchased it?

Ever get desperate and buy the stuff in the bulk "gourmet" section? I swear no matter which bean I buy they always taste like the hazelnut ones. Hubby is hooked on eight o'clock columbian, it's the cheapest in the store (less then $4.00 a lb)...with a shot of kaluha I can't tell the difference.

[kokopuffs]

I'll always be a Peet's customer despite the cost. I've been buying from them for 25 years, ever since my Berkeley days. My favorite is Arabian Mocha Sanani prepared middle eastern/Greek (hi Papa!) style. No comparison in the entire galaxy.

I freeze my beans and grind them at room temperature.

[ June 03, 2001: Message edited by: kokopuffs ]

[shel]

Don't freeze the beans. I've spoken with Mr Peet himself on this (some years ago, after he sold the business but while he was still consulting for the new owners), gotten feedback from a couple of coffee importers, and talked to the people at a couple of other quality coffee roasters here in the Bay area. Every one of them say "No" to freezing.

shel

[DMT]

I buy two 3# bags of (shudder) Starbums regular, and one 3# bag of Cinnamon Hazelnut for a little "foo foo" action, and mix them thoroughly in a large air tight container, which is used to replensish the smaller air tight coffee container on the counter.

No freezing or refrigerating.

We use a Cuisinart Grind and Brew for making the coffee every d@mn day.

Cuisinart - DGB-600BC

Bean count = 1/2 cup for each pot, (four scoops of 1/8 cup each) and brew using a paper filter as opposed to the metal mesh basket (less grit in the cup).

The beans last more than a few weeks, but I get the blend that satisfies both my wife and I, and there is no really noticeable deterioration of the flavor during that time.

The Grind and Brew really makes a difference with the thermal carafe (no continuous "boiling" of the coffee after the intial brewing)...

[Tarabel]

I make a blend of Columbia, Kenya, Costa Rica and Mocha Java beans. I grind them in a burr grinder and use a bodum french press. I don't freeze the beans. I keep some on the counter in an airtight container and the rest in the pantry in a dark corner in the original bags, Because I am mixing 4 kinds of coffee I get about a month's supply but it doesn't seem to go stale.

[Luc_H]

Freezing doesn't hurt whole roasted coffee beans.

What hurts roasted coffee beans (ground or whole) is humidity.

Coffee beans are roasted at high temps so they do not need any protection from storing at room temperature because whatever was unstable at room temperature is destroyed during the roasting process. The roasting process makes the distinctive taste of coffee. Green unroasted beans taste quite bland.

Roasted coffee is very porous (like activated carbon) so it will pick up humidity and smells very easily which can give off-flavours to a fine and delicate roasted coffee.

What is very important is storing in a well sealed jar. I have a 1 L mason jar with a wire attachment and rubber seal. I freeze whole beans and take out 1/2 cup at a time to fill my coffee mill (last almost a week). I freshly mill for every batch.

Luc H.