Storing coffee beans

Discuss flavors, brew temperatures, blending, and cupping notes.
jgood
Posts: 891
Joined: 6 years ago

#1: Post by jgood »

I know this has been covered but wanted to get the latest wisdom. My roaster had a shipping issue and sent a replacement 2 lb bag - of course the original shipment then arrived as well so I have 4 lbs. now -- I normally use up a 2 lb bag in about 9 days, so I'd like to keep the second bag fresh. Freeze, or refrigerate, or just put it the cabinet and stop obsessing -- thoughts?

User avatar
mkane
Supporter ♡
Posts: 1750
Joined: 6 years ago

#2: Post by mkane »

Vacuum seal and freeze.

User avatar
HB
Admin
Posts: 21981
Joined: 19 years ago

#3: Post by HB »

Split into Mason jars big enough to hold 2-3 days worth and then freeze. If you have a chest freezer, they'll hold for a long, long time. In a regular freezer, a couple months, maybe longer if it it doesn't automatically defrost.
Dan Kehn

User avatar
cafeIKE
Posts: 4704
Joined: 18 years ago

#4: Post by cafeIKE »

Frozen Coffee Storage Calculator from 2010 :shock:

Just finished an 8# order from Canada and only added 0.1g to the dose over the 65 days. Zero change on the Zero :wink:

emradguy
Supporter ♡
Posts: 914
Joined: 10 years ago

#5: Post by emradguy »

As already recommended, freeze it. The refrigerator is probably the worst place you can store it.
LMWDP #748

millmountain
Posts: 203
Joined: 4 years ago

#6: Post by millmountain »

We usually order about 3 kg to get free shipping, but our freezer is quite small---Mason jars would not cut it. I've had good experiences freezing 125 g portions in ziploc bags, which are cheap and pretty compact. Push the air out and roll up when sealing. Don't try to refreeze.

User avatar
cafeIKE
Posts: 4704
Joined: 18 years ago

#7: Post by cafeIKE »

Ziploc bags don't always maintain a hermetic seal.
I freeze in US quart mason jars. When I need more coffee, thaw one, fill a couple of 16oz jars and refreeze one. Been doing this for about 15 years and cannot detect a marked change in the 2nd jar.

jpender
Posts: 3861
Joined: 11 years ago

#8: Post by jpender »

The ziplock bags I've used most definitely are not 100% airtight. Not even close. They will inflate with air. But if you pack them into the freezer in a way that prevents inflation they actually do pretty well. I did some blind taste tests between ziplock bagged coffee and vacuum sealed coffee and I couldn't tell the difference, for those specific coffees. That's not proof that there isn't a difference but suggestive that the effect is minor.

Oxygen is hard to fully remove unless you have a proper vacuum chamber. In any case my guess is that the cold of the freezer is the main thing when it comes to preservation.

Brien
Posts: 98
Joined: 3 years ago

#9: Post by Brien »

I buy my bags on BOGO day at the local roaster and one goes straight to the freezer as I am a slow drinker. Works fine in the original bag so far.