Should You Freeze Ground Coffee? Does it Really Work?

crazy by Editorial Staff | Updated on July 9th, 2022

Coffee beans contain over 800 compounds responsible for the aroma and flavor that wake us up in the morning and keep us going all day. These compounds include lipids, simple sugars, amino acids, and antioxidants.


Heat, moisture, and air extract caffeine from the ground beans and into our cup of joe releasing it into the environment, which causes stale ground coffee.

Should You Freeze Ground Coffee?

Freezing would theoretically delay this process, but is it a good idea to store ground coffee in the freezer? Read on for more information.

Understanding how coffee and moisture works

refrigerator

Water accounts for about 45-55 percent of the weight of unprocessed coffee beans, and their moisture content must be reduced to 11 percent before they can be marketed to maintain optimum flavor and prevent bacteria from growing. Finally, the dried beans are roasted and ground, reducing their water content to only 3 or 4%.

The water molecules within it transition from a liquid to a solid when we put ground coffee in the freezer, but they continue to move very slowly. The water molecules gradually rise to the ground coffee surface, crystalizing or evaporating into the dry freezer air. As the coffee loses water in its environment, it also seeks to absorb other water molecules.

Over time, this water molecules exchange permanently improves the coffee taste. Coffee taste and aroma compounds dissipate into the freezer with the water molecules and take their place with the flavor and aroma of other foods. If there were no way to avoid this cycle, it would not be a smart idea to store ground coffee in the freezer.

Fortunately, there have been ways to freeze ground coffee and enjoy the great taste for over a year.

To Freeze or Not to Freeze?

Before we get into the freezing method, let’s battle this out. Nothing beats the beauty of freshly roasted beans. It just gives out a flavor like no other. But to maximize your fresh beans, you have to store them properly. 

One of the methods of storing roasted coffee beans is via freezing. But the coffee world is divided. Some enjoy the idea of freezing their beans, while others think otherwise. So to help you decide how to store your beans!

Freezing coffee beans

Let’s break down the reasons why freezing your coffee beans may be a great idea.

  1. Longer shelf life

Throwing your coffee beans into the freezer immediately after roasting lengthens their shelf life. This way, you can buy your favorite coffee beans in huge amounts. 

Freezing induces a lowering of the gas temperatures produced by the beans. Thus, the dissipation rate decreases. This extends the life of the coffee beans. Fun fact: for every 10 degrees celsius decrease in temperature, the coffee beans’ shelf life increases by 50%. Wow!

  1. Freshness and flavor preservation

Freezing easily is one of the best methods to store your coffee beans, given that it is done accurately.

This is simple: freezing eliminates the factors that stale your coffee, such as moisture, heat, and air.

Storing your beans in airtight containers will keep them fresh too!

  1. Easier to manage

It’s easy to fail in keeping track of your coffee beans stock. Waking up with not enough coffee beans to make you another cup is the worst. Having the option to freeze the beans in bulk quickly solves this problem. 

Arguments against freezing coffee beans.

Some coffee lovers advocate against freezing coffee beans, and here are some of the reasons why.

  1. Coffee beans cracking

Since the coffee beans contain water, freezing causes the water to expand, thus cracking its shelf. The tiny cracks may make the coffee go bad faster.

  1. Flavor oils breaking down

If not appropriately stored in an airtight container, freezing may induce moisture and air into your beans, and we know these factors are our coffee beans’ enemies. Additionally, these can cause the breaking down of flavor oils.

  1. Fast degrading after thawing

Before making your cup of coffee, of course, you have to defrost your coffee beans—the moment you take the beans out of the container, condensation forms instantly. Once thawing ensues, water and moisture will quickly creep in and degrade the beans.

  1. Attract odors 

Roasted coffee beans are porous. Thus, odors can easily invade them. If this happens, your coffee will have a different odor and less flavor and aroma. But again, this can be prevented by using an airtight container. 

  1. Freezer burns

Not all “airtight” containers are as airtight as we want them to be. Situations allow small amounts of oxygen that can lead to freezer burns if kept frozen for a long time. With freezer-burned coffee beans comes coffee with less richness and bold flavors.

Note: Take note that all these are not backed up by research. Until they are, they will remain as mere assumptions.

Experts’ verdict

The National Coffee Association does not recommend freezing the coffee beans if they are meant for short-term use only. This is primarily because taking the beans in and out of the freezer ultimately exposes them to moisture. However, if your coffee beans are meant for longer usage, freezing is recommended given the proper storage.

Preserving flavor by freezing your coffee beans

coffe seal bag

You can preserve its flavor by following these three rules:

Choose a container

Since coffee absorbs the flavors and aromas surrounding it, choosing the best storage container is of utmost importance. The best options include glass or ceramic containers. Not only do they not hold flavors, but no moisture or air enters or exits the container if they have well-sealed lids.

However, if you have limited freezer space, they may be impractical. Plastic is functional, but it is also permeable, unfortunately. Depending on the quality of the material, the degree of permeability varies, but they all allow some air and humidity to enter and escape.

Plastic also absorbs flavors, meaning plastic containers and bags used for other foods are unacceptable for coffee storage. New plastic containers or those intended for storing coffee only, as well as freezer bags, are alternatives that can be used. However, you may consider double-bagging your coffee and even wrapping plastic containers in plastic to reduce its natural permeability.

Remove as much air as possible.

Freshly roasted coffee beans are left open to “degas” or release carbon dioxide in the air for 2-12 days. Once the carbon dioxide is gone, oxygen enters and starts to destabilize the coffee’s flavor compounds.

If the oxidation continues unchecked, ground coffee loses most of its flavor in a few hours. To preserve the flavor, you need to remove the air that needs to be stored from around the coffee. Pack your ground coffee tightly into its container and, if possible, seal it with a vacuum if you use bags.

Divide your ground coffee into small quantities

Freezing large quantities of ground coffee, or even coffee beans, saves us time and effort, right? Yes, but the coffee’s flavor and aroma take a toll. Each time we open a frozen coffee container, air mixed with flavor compounds flees as new air and moisture enter.

This new oxygen and moisture increases oxidation in the coffee grounds and encourages the formation of ice crystals. Taking extra time and care to freeze coffee in smaller amounts, such as the amount you’ll use in 1-2 weeks, will reward you with optimal flavor whenever you grab a cup of coffee.

Coffee flavor changes with age

Some coffee lovers enjoy aged coffee and even experiment with aging it in wooden barrels to add a new dimension to the taste, but most of us enjoy our fresh coffee. Freezing decelerates but does not stop the process of aging. If you plan to freeze ground coffee for more than a year, take the time each month to taste your frozen coffee and record the flavor changes you notice.

You could even want to experiment with storing the coffee in various containers. The experience you gain from doing this will help you know how long you want to freeze it and the best way to pack it, in addition to ensuring that every cup of coffee you brew will be its best.

More coffee bean freezing tips

  • Store your coffee beans in small batches so as not to keep on refreezing leftovers.
  • Strategically place your coffee beans away from odorous foods in the freezer.
  • Thaw first before brewing.
  • Always freeze brand-new roasted coffee beans containers because they have higher chances of being completely airtight than the containers you have at home.

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Editorial Staff

The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.