| So you are finally fed up with that bland black liquid, | | | | week period you can, & I shutter to say, freeze |
| you once called coffee, brewed from the finest can | | | | your coffee but you should follow these steps: |
| of generic supermarket grinds. You are finally | | | | Apply the Freeze Once Rule. What this means is that |
| outraged at the price of a single cup of designer | | | | once you take the beans out of the freezer, they |
| coffee shop coffee. It's now time to take matters | | | | should never go back in. The constant changes in |
| into your own hands! | | | | temperature will wreak havoc on your coffee. The |
| You invest in the latest technologically advanced | | | | frozen moisture on your coffee will melt and be |
| coffee maker, including your very own coffee bean | | | | absorbed into the bean, destroying the coffee oils |
| grinder. Even the engineers at NASA would envy the | | | | and allowing absorption of unwanted flavors. When |
| bells and whistles on this baby. You splurge on | | | | you put it back into the freezer, you are repeating |
| several pounds of the finest fresh roasted Arabica | | | | the process and destroying your expensive gourmet |
| bean coffee the world has to offer. | | | | coffee. |
| You pop open the vacuum-sealed bag and release | | | | Keep moisture out! Remember, moisture is coffee's |
| that incredible fresh roasted coffee aroma. Your | | | | natural enemy. If you have a five-pound bag of |
| eyes widen at the site of all those shiny brown | | | | coffee to store, divide it up into weekly portions. |
| beans as you begin to grind your first pound of | | | | Wrap those portions up using sealable freezer bags |
| gourmet coffee. You feel like a mad scientist as you | | | | and plastic wrap. If possible, suck out the excess air |
| adjust every bell and whistle on your space age | | | | from the freezer bag using a straw or a vacuum |
| coffee maker and you revel in this accomplishment | | | | sealer. |
| as you finish your first cup of home brewed gourmet | | | | Remove the weekly portion when you need it, and |
| coffee. No more long lines and outrageous prices at | | | | store it in an air-tight container in a dry place like your |
| the neighborhood café for you! | | | | pantry. And remember, Do not put it back into the |
| Now it's time to store all those pounds of unopened | | | | freezer! |
| packages of fresh roasted coffee beans and the | | | | So when is it best Refrigerate Coffee? |
| unused portion of the black gold you have just | | | | Simply put, Never ever, unless you are conducting a |
| ground. Then you remember what your mother told | | | | science experiment on how long it takes to ruin |
| you; "Freeze the unopened beans & Refrigerate the | | | | perfectly good coffee. The fridge is one of the |
| freshly ground coffee". | | | | absolute worst places to put coffee. The reasons |
| At this point, it would be best if you just returned to | | | | why not to freeze fresh roasted coffee also apply |
| the supermarket and purchased a stock of those | | | | here. |
| generic grinds you had grown to loathe. Having the | | | | Other Popular Coffee Myths Exposed. |
| best coffee beans available and using the most | | | | Grind all beans before storing. |
| advanced coffee brewing equipment will do little to | | | | Absolutely not. Grinding the coffee breaks up the |
| provide you with the best cup of coffee you desire | | | | beans and their oils, exposes the beans to air, and |
| if the beans are not treated correctly. | | | | makes the coffee go stale a lot faster, no matter |
| Looking at the facts, we learn that the natural | | | | how you store it. This especially holds true for |
| enemies of fresh roasted coffee are light, heat and | | | | flavored coffees! For the best tasting coffee, you |
| moisture. Storing your coffee away from them will | | | | should buy your beans whole and store them in a |
| keep it fresher longer. Therefore, an airtight container | | | | sealed container in a dark place . Grind right before |
| stored in a cool, dry, dark place is the best | | | | serving! |
| environment for your coffee. | | | | Vacuum-sealed packaging equals fresh coffee. |
| But why not the freezer, It's cool & dark? | | | | Again, absolutely wrong. The coffee roasting process |
| This does make sense, but if it be the case, then | | | | causes the coffee beans to release a gas |
| why do we not find our supermarket coffee in the | | | | by-product, specifically carbon dioxide. This gas |
| frozen food section? | | | | release process continues for several days after |
| Here's why! | | | | roasting. In order to be vacuum sealed, the coffee |
| Coffee is Porous. It is exactly this feature that allows | | | | has to first release all its CO² or it will burst the |
| us to use oils and syrups to flavor coffee beans for | | | | bag, which means that it must sit around for several |
| those who enjoy gourmet flavored coffees. For this | | | | days before it can be packaged and shipped. This |
| same reason, coffee can also absorb flavors and | | | | sitting around begins to rob the coffee of its |
| moisture from your freezer. The absorbed moisture | | | | freshness. Vacuum sealing is best for pre-ground |
| will deteriorate the natural goodness of your coffee | | | | coffee, which we already know is not going to taste |
| and your expensive gourmet coffee beans will taste | | | | as good as fresh-ground coffee. |
| like your freezer. | | | | The best method for packaging and shipping is in |
| The coffee roasting process causes the beans to | | | | valve-sealed bags. The valve allows the carbon |
| release their oils and essences in order to give the | | | | dioxide gasses and moisture to escape but doesn't |
| coffee its distinct flavor. This is the reason why your | | | | allow oxygen or moisture in. Therefore, the fresh |
| beans are shiny. These oils are more prominent on | | | | roasted coffee beans can be packaged and shipped |
| dark-roasted coffee and espresso beans and the | | | | immediately after roasting, ensuring the coffee's |
| reason why these coffees are so distinct in flavor. | | | | freshness and taste. |
| The process of freezing will break down these oils | | | | A quick review for storing your gourmet coffee |
| and destroy the natural coffee flavor. | | | | Buy fresh roasted, whole bean coffee directly from a |
| So unless you don't mind frozen fish flavored coffee, | | | | coffee roaster if possible. |
| you should avoid using the freezer to store your | | | | Look for valve-sealed bags, not vacuum-sealed. |
| gourmet coffee beans at all costs. | | | | Store your coffee beans in a sealed container in a |
| There are some exceptions to freezer storing your | | | | dark place. |
| coffee, but you should proceed with caution! Fresh | | | | Grind your beans just before brewing. |
| roasted coffee will remain fresh for approximately 2 | | | | Enjoy! |
| weeks. If you have more than you can use in this 2 | | | | |