How to Store and Use Frozen Coffee
Over the last few years, freezing coffee beans has quickly gained traction among coffee lovers who want to preserve the freshness of their favourite beans for longer periods. This method is especially valuable for maintaining the vibrant flavours and aromas of high-quality, specialty coffee.
However, misconceptions about freezing coffee persist – many people believe it can harm the flavour, or aren't sure how to do it correctly. In reality, when done right, freezing coffee can lock in quality and extend the lifespan of your beans without sacrificing flavour. At ONA Coffee, we believe in empowering you to enjoy your coffee at its best, which is why we've put together this guide.
With insights from Hugh Kelly, two-time World Barista Championship finalist and a key member of our team, we’ll explore the origins of freezing coffee, how to store your beans properly, and how to make the most of them when you’re ready to brew.
The Origins of Freezing Coffee Beans
Freezing coffee beans as a method for preserving freshness started in the world of specialty coffee, where maintaining the highest quality is essential. Freezing coffee began as an experiment among top baristas and roasters, who were searching for ways to extend the shelf life of their beans without sacrificing their unique flavours. By freezing coffee beans at their peak, they discovered they could lock in the aroma and flavour, delaying the ageing process that typically diminishes a coffee's complexity over time.
The benefits of freezing coffee are clear. By freezing your coffee, you can preserve its ideal taste profile for months, sometimes even up to a year, without experiencing significant degradation in quality.
"Freezing dramatically slows down the ageing of coffee after roast," Hugh Kelly explains. "When the coffee is tasting at its best, freezing allows you to lock in that quality to use day-after-day for extended periods."
At ONA Coffee, we’ve been using freezing as a method for several years now, and it was an integral component of the World Barista Championship routine of our Director of Sales, Matthew Lewin back in 2019. It's a key part of our commitment to ensuring that our coffee remains as flavourful as possible from the moment it leaves our roastery to the time you brew it at home.
We’ve seen firsthand how freezing can be a game-changer for preserving our carefully crafted coffee, and we’re excited to share our expertise with you.
How to Store Frozen Coffee
An important distinction is that coffee should always be frozen as whole coffee beans, and not as already ground coffee. This minimises the oxidation of the coffee, which leads to ageing and lower flavour quality, and frozen coffee can be used in a grinder just like any other, non-frozen beans.
"Ground coffee exposes a huge portion of surface area to oxygen immediately from grinding, dramatically increasing oxidisation," Hugh says. "Also the heat generated in coffee grinding releases volatile aroma compounds, which will further diminish in the freezer with all of that exposed surface area."
Proper storage is crucial when it comes to freezing coffee. One of the most common mistakes people make is freezing coffee in large quantities, or simply leaving it in the original packaging.
Unfortunately, this can lead to air exposure every time you open the bag, which accelerates oxidation and degrades the coffee's flavour. We recommend avoiding this by using small, airtight containers or centrifuge tubes that hold individual doses of coffee.
"It’s best to purchase small Tupperware containers or centrifuge tubes that work for individual doses of coffee rather than freezing in the bag," says Hugh. "This better protects the coffee from the freezer."
Another critical element is ensuring the coffee is properly sealed. Air and moisture are the enemies of frozen coffee – as they lead to the coffee ageing at a faster rate – so airtight containers are essential to preserving quality. By freezing coffee in smaller portions, you can minimise the number of times your coffee is exposed to air, keeping it fresher for longer.
To freeze your coffee correctly, you need to know when your beans are at their peak. Each of our coffees comes with a scannable QR code that take you to our online brew guides, which provide a suggested window for when to freeze – referred to as the 'best freeze date.'
This 'best freeze date' window is mostly linked to roast style. We roast the majority of our coffees to sit into a generalised extraction area, so its not so difficult to work with. This also means a lot of different coffees tend to balance similarly and behave in a similar way even though origin and process can vary greatly.
However, for more heavily fermented coffees – such as those that are anaerobic, carbonic maceration (CM) and natural-processed – it's often best to wait a little longer before freezing.
"This higher level of fermentation gives generally a heavier profile and sometimes these coffees need a bit longer time before they have cleaned up their profile and dispelled some of that extra heaviness and darker notes," Hugh explains.
For optimal results, coffee should be frozen at temperatures below -10°C, which is achievable with most home freezers and effectively slows down the ageing process without requiring specialised equipment. This makes freezing coffee accessible for everyone, ensuring you can preserve your beans at peak freshness right from your own kitchen.
Using Frozen Coffee
Knowing when to freeze your coffee beans is key. In our experience, the best time is after your coffee has rested and reached its 'peak' flavour profile. This varies depending on the type of coffee and the roast style, but in general, you should freeze your coffee when it's tasting its best.
Once your coffee is frozen, it can be stored for several months, even up to a year. However, it's essential to be mindful of how long the coffee remains in the freezer. While freezing significantly slows down the ageing process over time, the flavours can begin to dull, and the texture and mouthfeel of the brewed coffee may deteriorate slightly.
"Our brew guides give a suggested age window for using our coffee after roast and then a 'best freeze date' where we think the coffee will be at its most ideal taste-wise," Hugh says. "We would suggest using your coffee in under a year to avoid being disappointed by the quality drop – just like freezing a meal for more than a year."
When it comes to brewing frozen coffee, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind. For filter coffee, we suggest letting the beans thaw for about five minutes before grinding. For espresso or milk-based drinks, you can grind the coffee straight from frozen.
Frozen coffee shatters more easily during grinding, which can actually result in more consistent particles, particularly for espresso. However, for filter coffee, grinding from frozen can produce too many fine particles, which could negatively impact your brew by increasing bitterness or choking the brew.
Freezing your coffee also has an interesting effect on its flavour. We’ve found that coffee often improves after a week in the freezer, becoming cleaner and smoother on the palate. However, it’s important to note that over long periods, the coffee can lose some of its brightness and texture.
For the best results, we also recommend using frozen coffee within a reasonable timeframe and not expecting it to maintain peak quality indefinitely.
Can you re-freeze coffee?
If you’re freezing coffee in larger quantities, maybe you take it out of the freezer, use 20g and then want to freeze the rest. But, is this possible – and what will it do to the coffee?
When it comes to freezing, using, and re-freezing coffee, there’s more flexibility than some might think. The process can vary depending on the coffee’s freshness and flavour profile. If your coffee is still relatively fresh and has some bitterness, heaviness, or residual gases, defrosting it for 10-20 minutes before re-freezing can actually improve the flavour.
This brief period allows the coffee to ‘breathe,’ helping to mellow out some of the harsher notes and bringing more balance to the cup. However, this method works best for coffees that still need time to fully develop and settle into their optimal flavour profile.
On the other hand, if your coffee has already reached its peak flavour before freezing, re-freezing it after use can negatively affect its quality. When a coffee is at its ideal stage, repeated freezing and thawing can lead to a loss of essential textural qualities, which are crucial for a satisfying cup.
Ultimately, the decision to re-freeze coffee should be made with careful consideration of its freshness and flavour profile. For coffees that still need time to develop, re-freezing can be beneficial, helping to smooth out any remaining rough edges. However, for coffee that is already at its best, it’s better to avoid the re-freezing process to maintain the integrity of the flavours and textures.
By understanding your coffee’s characteristics and applying the appropriate freezing techniques, you can enjoy each cup at its finest, whether it’s your first brew or one after several cycles of freezing and thawing.
Ready to freeze?
Freezing coffee can be a powerful tool for preserving the freshness and flavour of your beans, allowing you to enjoy your favourite brews long after they’ve been roasted.
Our team has long seen the benefits of freezing firsthand, and we’re committed to helping you make the most of your coffee experience. By following the proper storage techniques and using your frozen coffee wisely, you can enjoy top-quality coffee at any time.
Remember, freezing coffee is all about timing and technique. By freezing your beans when they’re at their best, storing them in airtight containers, and following our brewing recommendations, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying incredible coffee every day.
Happy brewing!
