Ladede Senior Member Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 117 Location: WA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Isomac Zaffiro Grinder: Mazzer Mini
Posted Tue Nov 30, 2004, 1:17am Subject: Freezing beans?
Hi,
I had been given the advice to freeze beans to conserve them. So I would usually buy 2 half pound bags of beans, and freeze one while I was going through the other one (which takes a week or sometimes a bit more).
A couple days ago, I drove by Zoka in Seattle and stopped to try their espresso. I liked it, and bought 2 half pounds bags. Because the beans had only been roasted the day before, they suggested that I wait a couple days before using them. I asked if I should wait before freezing my second bag. The manager (owner?) told me that freezing was a really bad idea considering I drink 1/2 lb in about a week, and that I should just keep the beans outside, in their bag. They said that one can put beans in a fridge but not for such a short period of time. Their explanation re: why not to freeze was that it altered the beans (or the process the beans go through).
So... I am confused (a bit). Is freezing bad? Should I drive 25 miles both ways in bad traffic every week for my fresh beans? If I don't want to (yet), what's the next best thing to conserve those beans?
MarkPascoe Senior Member Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 1 Location: Melbourne australia Expertise: Professional
Posted Tue Nov 30, 2004, 3:09am Subject: Re: Freezing beans?
There are those who say that coffee can be frozen, but once removed from the freezer moisture will condense on the beans. This alters the taste of the coffee and should really be avoided.
The best thing to do is keep the coffee beans in an airtight container in a cool (not refrigerated) dark place. The enemies of the coffee bean are air, heat, moisture and light.
Many roasters will store their beans for up to 2 weeks in hoppers after roasting. This allows the gasses released from the coffee beans after roasting to escape. It changes the flavour profile and effectively ages the beans (like wine).
short_black Senior Member Joined: 3 Aug 2004 Posts: 383 Location: Perth Australia Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Cim Jun S1 Grinder: Mazzer Mini, Iberital Roaster: 1/4 share broken(;-() Imex
Posted Tue Nov 30, 2004, 6:13am Subject: Re: Freezing beans?
MarkPascoe Said:
There are those who say that coffee can be frozen, but once removed from the freezer moisture will condense on the beans. This alters the taste of the coffee and should really be avoided.
The best thing to do is keep the coffee beans in an airtight container in a cool (not refrigerated) dark place. The enemies of the coffee bean are air, heat, moisture and light.
Many roasters will store their beans for up to 2 weeks in hoppers after roasting. This allows the gasses released from the coffee beans after roasting to escape. It changes the flavour profile and effectively ages the beans (like wine).
What is probably as important as airtightness is small headspace. It's not much use putting a small amount of beans inside a large container no matter how airtight it is. Roasted beans absorb oxygen very quickly and it is primarily this that turns them rancid and stale. A gastight container full of freshly roasted beans will release gases and absorb all the oxygen in the air surrounding the beans inside the container till there is no oxygen left. Next time you open the container most of the released gases are lost and some oxygen will get into the container. This oxygen will also be used up ,and so on, etc every time you open the container until the beans go stale.
I use a foil bag with a one way valve and a cliplock seal. After opening a bag I fold the bag end, add the cliplock seal and flatten and roll the end of the bag down and hold it in place with an elsatic band. BTW: You can NEVER get rid of all the oxygen around or on the beans because unless the beans are roasted and cooled in an oxygen free atmosphere they will start out loaded with oxygen and there is always a large gas volume in between the beans. Purging with nitrogen also does not get rid of the oxygen.
hje Senior Member Joined: 26 Nov 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Västerås, Sweden Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Espresso Plus... Grinder: Isomac prof inox
Posted Tue Nov 30, 2004, 8:49am Subject: Re: Freezing beans?
Well I have heard that another bad thing with storing the coffeebeans in the freezer is that, the frozen beans could more easily damage your grinder. But I dont know if this information is correct. Does anyone else know?
proton Senior Member Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 124 Location: Northeast Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Silvia Grinder: Rocky
Posted Tue Nov 30, 2004, 9:02am Subject: Re: Freezing beans?
my tastebuds haven't mastered the subtleties of bean storage, but i do know what's a good cup of cappuccino. with that said, i've frozen black cats before. i would only pour out as much as i need into the hopper and then put the bag back into the freezer. i've also done it w/o freezing the black cats and to be honest, either way works. my cappuccinos come out goooood to the last drop.
Posted Tue Nov 30, 2004, 7:06pm Subject: Re: Freezing beans?
hje Said:
Well I have heard that another bad thing with storing the coffeebeans in the freezer is that, the frozen beans could more easily damage your grinder. But I dont know if this information is correct. Does anyone else know?
Posted Fri Dec 10, 2004, 2:25pm Subject: Re: Freezing beans?
There has been quite a bit of experimentation and discussion of this topic over time, and differences of opinion persist.
Some knowledgeable folks claim freezing is bad. Others, just as knowledgeable claim that's bunk, and can definitely postpone staling if you do it right.
The highest standard of "doing it right" is to freeze the beans in a vacuum sealed container shortly after roasting, at very low temps. The observations have been that this can postpone degassing until the beans are thawed out, which can be weeks or even months later, thus perserving freshness. If you don't roast your own then it's difficult to get beans just out of the roaster, home freezers don't get as cold as -10F, and home vacuum equipment is ok but not great.
However, numerous people have done there own tests and concluded that relatively inexpensive home vacuum machines and home freezers used on beans close to fresh can indeed maintain very good quality for as long as 6 weeks or more. Results are typically found to be better than just sitting the valve bag in the cupboard, or putting the beans in an airtight container in the cupboard.
Whether putting a valve bag directly in the freezer, or using a non-vacuum airtight jar and freezing are as good is less certain, but some claim good results.
I believe most would say that thawing should be done in the airtight container or vacuum before opening. This would minimize or eliminate condensation. But as posted here some put frozen beans in the grinder, so your mileage and taste may vary.
That's pretty much what I've gleaned from various articles and postings.
I get beans from a local roaster within a day of roasting. I split the lb in half, one part going into a sealed container in the cupboard for the 1st week, and the other directly into a vacuum container that I freeze. I detect virtually no difference between the later used frozen beans and the fresh. I've kept beans frozen this way for about 5 weeks with excellent results.
I'd suggest doing your own tests and go with what tastes good to you, and fits your bean buying and usage habits, regardless of what someone else tells you is right or wrong.
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