How to Keep Ground Coffee Fresh over a Long Period

it will freeze fine in the can forever

Despite what many people think, storing your coffee in the freezer or refrigerator is not the best. My husband and I are both baristas and coffee aficianados (I joke that we are coffee snobs). We have learned the best way to store coffee is in a plastic container with a tight lid. This will keep your coffee much fresher, and unlike storing in the freezer, will not change the taste and aroma of the coffee.

Hi S.
Have you ever tried storing it in one of those ziploc bags where you can suck out the air? We used to have a food saver and my husband would use that to store his coffee. I don't know if it would work or not, just an idea!

The freezer can help to keep it fresh but it won't stay fresh for long. You could always tell her that she can travel with coffee. When we travel we take our own coffee grounds.

My grandmother had me drinking coffee at 4 yrs old so needless to say I drink it now. But one thing my grandmother still does is she keeps it in the freezer. She has a friend that works at Starbucks and they bring it to her all the time and they told her to keep it in the freezer. When I go visit she pulls out what she calls the good stuff and I cant tell the difference.

Yes you can freeze it, I've done it for years because I literally only drink coffee every 2-3 months or so when I just get a craving. I do buy bags and not cans though. A bag will last me FOREVER. I normally go to Central Market/Sprouts to get mine and just get smaller bags. But even the large ones last a LONG LONG time, years - not months like some said! Some say it will "ruin" it but I assure you these are people who have never done it or just have really weird hang ups about it. I've also read articles in journals where it freezes for a long time.

You can keep it in the freezer but it will make it bitter. It is not the recommended way to keep coffee. Coffee should be kept in an airtight container.

We drink coffee everyday and store ours in the fridge. Yes if you want to keep the coffee fresh the freezer is perfect. Just take the can as is and place it in the freezer.

I would just buy a couple of the tiny bags when she comes. I think they make 4 cups.

I used to always put the coffee in the freezer, until I read that it breaks down the coffee, and instead you should store it in the refrigerator. I never had noticed a flavor issue, but we also drink through it pretty fast! But now I just store it in the fridge. Just stick the can in there, or the bag. You are a good niece! :)

Yes is does keep it fresh in the freezer and you dont have to do anything special just put the can and all in there it will be just fine for the next time your aunt visits.

P.

I always keep mine in the fridge, and it lasts for months. I typically buy the large plastic container ones and since I don't make it daily keep it in the fridge, I think the one I have now has been there for a year and it tastes great when I make coffee over the weekends (no time during the week).

Keeping it in the freezer will actually ruin it. I wouldn't do it. I would just pour the grounds in the garden, and if she comes to visit again, buy a couple of those little sample size coffees for her.

If you freeze coffee, it breaks down the natural oils and makes the coffee stale. She might not notice or care, if she is used to old coffee, but to me it tastes horrible. There is just no way to keep coffee fresh for more than a couple of months. (and that's really too long, IMO)

Hi S.,
I put my packaged coffee in the freezer and it will keep it fresh for months,it won't freeze up either and get all
clumpy. i,ve never tried putting a can of coffee in there
though,so im not sure about this.So ihope this helps.
G.

I don't buy a can. I usually buy a bag for my in laws and when they leave I just put a rubber band around it and put it in those ziplock container and put it in the freezer. They come like 3 times a year and they have never complained about it, believe me my mother in law would say something. We don't make coffee at home so I can say it does stay fresh when they come to visit.

I'm glad you asked this question because we typically store ours in the freezer and it's good to know what others are saying about it breaking down the flavors/oils, etc. We keep our daily coffee in an airtight plastic container in the fridge, but have kept it in the freezer in the past.

Coffee grinds are good compost, too, so you can put them in your flower beds and feel like you're not wasting any! Starbucks actually keeps and packages all of their used grinds and gives it away for people who compost.

Just stick the whole thing in there.

I keep mine in the freezer. Can & all! I buy coffee for when my mom visits & that's what she told me to do. She swears by it. You could probably put it in a freezer bag if space is an issue, but if not, just stick the whole can in there :)

Dear S.:

Just toss the coffee can in the freezer. I keep coffee for my mother-in-law in the door of my freezer and have never had a problem. The coffee drinkers in my life say there is no change in taste.

L. F., A tea drinker in a coffee world

yup...just pop the whole can in the freezer...or you can put it in a freezer bag if their are room contraints...but it works...and I am a coffee drinker! wish all the questions were this easy!!