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Some mornings I want coffee that tastes like blueberries with a hint of caramel, and other mornings I want coffee that tastes like tropical fruits with honey. I only buy third-wave coffee roasters’ beans, as freshly roasted as possible, for my morning pour-over or cold brew because I’m that guy.
That’s why I was so upset the last time I stayed the night at a new boyfriend’s place and woke up to a mug of coffee that didn’t taste good. Think notes of frozen lasagna and freezer-burned dumplings. I was right; a sneaky peek into his freezer confirmed my suspicions—that’s where he kept his coffee beans, in their original, mostly open bag. I sipped and silently judged him for being guilty of poor coffee storage practices.
But the whole thing made me wonder: Should coffee ever go in the freezer? And what’s the best way to keep it fresh if you don’t drink a 12-ounce bag every week? To find out, I talked to some coffee roasters and other experts in the field.
As a coffee lover you want to keep your precious beans tasting fresh and flavorful for as long as possible. So you may be wondering – should I store my coffee beans in the refrigerator? Will the cold help them last longer?
While it may seem tempting, the fridge is actually not the ideal place for storing your coffee beans. Here’s a look at why refrigerating coffee beans is not recommended, along with the best storage methods to maximize freshness.
Why the Fridge Can Ruin Coffee Beans
Coffee beans are porous and tend to absorb surrounding aromas and flavors easily. If you’ve ever made the mistake of storing coffee in the fridge, you may have noticed your morning cup tasting oddly like garlic or blue cheese from other items stored nearby. Not exactly the flavor you want from your coffee!
The high humidity environment in the fridge can also cause moisture to accumulate on the beans, pushing coffee oils to the surface and causing the beans to stale quicker.
You may have heard the myth that the cold air preserves the beans but the opposite is true. The fluctuating warmer and colder temperatures of opening and closing the fridge door will degrade the beans faster than storing them in a stable environment.
According to coffee experts, the fridge is one of the worst places to keep coffee beans if you want to maintain freshness and flavor.
3 Reasons Not to Refrigerate Coffee Beans
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Absorption of smells and flavors: The porous beans will soak up odors from other pungent foods stored in the fridge.
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Moisture accumulation: Condensation forms on the beans from the humid environment, accelerating staling.
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Temperature fluctuations: Frequent temperature changes from opening the fridge degrade the beans.
Proper Storage Methods for Coffee Beans
So if the fridge is out, what’s the best way to store coffee beans? Here are some tips for maximizing shelf life and preserving flavor:
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Keep beans in an airtight container at room temperature. An airtight seal prevents oxygen exposure.
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Store beans in a cool, dark cupboard. Heat and light lead to quicker staling.
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Leave beans in original bag if it has a one-way valve to let gases out.
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Finish beans within 1-2 weeks for optimal freshness. Buy smaller amounts more frequently if needed.
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Keep away from strong odors like garlic that can impart flavors.
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Avoid temperature fluctuations – a stable environment is best.
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Don’t freeze beans unless absolutely necessary. Freezing can damage cell structure.
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Use older beans for cold brew rather than waste them. Cold brew mutes staleness.
Signs Your Beans Have Staled
Watch for these clues that your coffee beans are past their prime:
- Lack of aromatics – the smell is flat/dull
- Loss of brightness and acidity in the flavor
- Bitter, cardboard-like taste
- Oil spots on the surface of the beans
- Beans look dry and dried out
Storing Other Types of Coffee
Whole bean coffee: Follow the storage tips above. Buy in small batches and use within 1-2 weeks.
Pre-ground coffee: Will stale much faster – use within a week. Keep in a sealed, opaque container.
Frozen coffee: Thaw completely to room temperature before using. Flavor may be compromised.
Brewed coffee: Store in a sealed container in the fridge up to 1 week. Reheating is not recommended.
Coffee pods: Seal the package tightly or transfer pods to an airtight container. Use within a few weeks.
Instant coffee: Keeps 1-2 years sealed at room temperature. Spoon out portions rather than contaminating the jar.
Enjoying Coffee at Its Freshest
Proper storage plays a key role in enjoying coffee’s complex flavors at their peak. Keep your beans in a cool cupboard in an airtight container, and buy frequent small batches to reduce the chances of stale beans accumulating. With the right techniques, you can savor bright, aromatic coffee for weeks to come. Just keep the fridge out of the equation!
Should coffee ever go in the freezer?
Storing coffee in the freezer isn’t necessarily bad, but there’s a right way to do it. According to the National Coffee Association (NCA), coffee is hygroscopic—it absorbs ambient moisture from the air. That means storing beans in the refrigerator is definitely a no-no, since so many fridge staples give off moisture (think produce, the condensation on a milk or juice jug thats been sitting out, etc). Some coffee bags, particularly the paper ones, make poor barriers against moisture and smells. “If your freezer smells like that rotisserie chicken you froze last week, then that smell will make its way through that barrier and into your coffee,” says Dakota Graff, director of coffee for the Arkansas-based roastery, Onyx Coffee Lab. So how can we prevent chicken-flavored coffee?
In order to find the best way to freeze coffee, I talked to Aaron MacDougall, the founder of Broadsheet Coffee Roasters. “Cut a big bag into two-week chunks, vacuum seal each chunk in a FoodSaver or something similar, and freeze,” he says. When you’re ready to brew, MacDougall says to take the bag out of the freezer and let it warm up before opening it and starting the coffee. Do not put the bag back in the freezer. “This rigamarole is to prevent condensation,” he explains.
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As you might have guessed, this is a bit too much. Both MacDougall and Graff say that this method should only be used for very special coffee. Graff says, “I keep small vacuum-packed doses of my favorite coffees from years ago in my freezer that I’ll pull out when I want to enjoy them again.” To save money, MacDougall also says this works well if you buy in bulk, but you might want to compare the work to the money saved.
How long will coffee beans last at room temperature?
Putting your coffee in the freezer can make it last longer, but if you leave the beans out at room temperature, they stay fresh for a good while. How long that lasts depends on the level of roasting. MacDougall says, “We think that the ‘optimal freshness window’ for coffee is between two days and four weeks post-roast for filter brews and one week to six weeks for espresso.” You read that range correctly—there is such a thing as “too fresh” for coffee. After roasting, the coffee needs time to degas, otherwise you’ll end up with bad, overly bitter tasting coffee. The darker the roast, the longer it needs to degas. Luckily, your roaster won’t sell whole beans until they’ve had time to rest after being roasted, and most of them put the date “Roasted on” on the bags.
Should you store coffee in the fridge, freezer or shelf?
FAQ
What is the correct way to store coffee beans?
Do coffee beans need to be refrigerated?
Are coffee beans better kept in the fridge?
Why do people put coffee beans in the fridge?
Can you freeze refried beans?
Freezing refried beans is a simple and practical solution for dealing with leftovers. You can reheat them on the stove or in the microwave.
How do you store roasted coffee beans?
To preserve your beans’ fresh roasted flavor as long as possible, store them in an opaque, air-tight container at room temperature. Coffee beans can be beautiful, but avoid clear canisters which will allow light to compromise the taste of your coffee. Keep your beans in a dark and cool location.
How long do coffee beans last in the fridge?
The fridge is a high-moisture environment, which can lead to stale and flavorless coffee. How long can you store coffee beans? Whole coffee beans can last up to a year if they are in a sealed package. Once opened, it’s best to use them within one week to a month.