Freezing fresh ground coffee question

[Sue's Mum]

I only drink a small amount of coffee and want to buy some really special and expensive coffee, having it ground first. Would it taste as good after defrosting?

 

[Boo'sMom]

If it's a flavored coffee, freezing will cause the flavoring oils to separate from the coffee, thus diminishing the flavor. If you're buying regular coffee beans, you'll be fine freezing them

 

[Sue's Mum]

Thanks Stephanie - it's Jamaica Blue Mountain, which from what I have read seems to be just about one of the most expensive coffees in the world.

I'm going to send for it from the US where it is about a third cheaper, even taking into account shipping costs!

 

[Boo'sMom]

JBM is FABULOUS coffee....you'll be fine freezing it. It's so expensive because of the harvesting technique and the amount of time it is available. Now is the right time of year to be buying it though.
Enjoy...it's one of my most favorite coffees!!!

ETA--make sure you purchase true JBM coffee, not a blend. A blend will cost about $25/lb., and true JBM will be about $45/lb., IMHO, it's worth the extra for the REAL DEAL.

 

[sherry]

I keep all of my ground coffee in the freezer. It always taste good to me.

 

[phorsenuf]

I've heard that freezing coffee isn't good. I found this on a coffee site.
*************************

How to store coffee?
Submitted by Daniel on Tue, 2006-01-17 02:06.

One should always store coffee beans in a glass, air-tight container. Air and moisture are coffee's principle enemies. Glass is best because it doesn't retain the odors of the beans or the oils, which could contaminate future beans stored in the same container. A mason jar with a good lid works well. If you use glass, make sure the container is not exposed to light, as sunlight can also reduce freshness.

Buy only what coffee can be consumed in a week to a week and a half from the time it was roasted. This is the only way to have truly fresh coffee.

Do not freeze coffee for regular storage. There are two key problems here. One, the freezing will damage some of subtle tastes in the coffee and two, when the coffee is taken out the container will sweat, exposing your coffee to moisture. If you must store coffee for an extended period of time divide it into small portions that you can use in a week or less. Take out one week of coffee at a time. This will help to reduce the damage to the coffee. For long term storage freezing is better than storage at room temperature. One last item to be cognizant of when freezing coffee is to make sure that is stays dry in the freezer.

My advice to you would be try to buy the freshest beans you can find (preferably roasted within a day or two of your purchase date) in smaller quantities that can be used in a week or less. If you must store coffee, break your purchase into the amount you will use in one week or less. Keep one container out for immediate use and store the rest in individual one week allotments in sealed canning jars in the freezer. Remove beans from the freezer the day that your old stash runs out so that they will be completely thawed when you need them the next day. This will help to keep moisture problems caused by moving the beans in and out of the freezer to a minimum.

 

[Sue's Mum]

Thanks for the great really helpful replies. I am grateful.

 

[Nala56]

I always freeze coffee, sometimes whole beans sometimes already ground and I think it tastes the same. You don't have to defrost to use, just measure grounds in coffeemaker and use as usual. Love good coffee.

Too bad there is not good coffee at disneyworld

 

[JustHolly]

DH and I attended a coffee roasting seminar hosted by Joffrey's Coffee at last year's Epcot Food and Wine Festival. The guy, who travels all over the world choosing beans for his coffee said NEVER to freeze it, that it doesn't make a difference in freshness.

Can you buy or borrow an inexpensive coffee grinder? We buy expensive coffee too, but don't drink it regularly. We keep the whole beans in a vaccuum packed container (from our FoodSaver) and just grind enough for a pot. Whole beans stay fresh longer than ground coffee, which you're supposed to use in less than a week.

 

[Chattyaholic]

it's Jamaica Blue Mountain, which from what I have read seems to be just about one of the most expensive coffees in the world.

I bought some of this coffee (I think it was a half pound, about $20) when we were in Ocho Rios last January. We got the whole bean, so we could grind it ourselves. I was so excited to try it. Didn't taste any different or better than our regular coffee beans. I was very disappointed.