Just figured out I was storing beans wrong for 2 years

Kept my coffee beans in the freezer. Thought it kept them fresh. Then a barista at Blue Bottle in Austin told me the moisture ruins the oils. Now I keep them in a dark cabinet. Anyone else make that mistake for way too long?

3 comments

3 Comments

abby_cooper10d ago

Aww man, I feel your pain. I did the same thing for like a year and a half before a friend set me straight. I was convinced the freezer was keeping them super fresh, but all I got was sad, stale-tasting coffee. Now they live in a regular mason jar in the pantry and it makes a world of difference.

zara_sanchez10d ago

My buddy Dave did the exact same thing with his fancy single-origin beans... kept them in the freezer for months because he read it somewhere online. The day he finally pulled one out to brew for a camping trip, it tasted like dusty cardboard and he was so bummed. @emma96 would probably say he did it all wrong, but for him the whole process of thawing and worrying about moisture was just a hassle. Now he just buys smaller bags and keeps them in a plain ceramic jar by his kettle, way less drama. Funny how sometimes simple is better than overthinking it.

emma9610d ago

Freezer is literally the best place for beans, you guys are missing out big time. If you're getting stale coffee from the freezer, you're doing it wrong - you need an airtight container and you can't be opening it every single day letting moisture in. I keep a whole month's supply portioned out in little vacuum sealed bags, just grab one when I need it. Room temperature is fine for a week or two but any longer and the oils start going rancid, especially if you live somewhere warm. Mason jar in the pantry works great short term but don't act like it's better for long term storage.