Posted Tue May 29, 2012, 1:31pm Subject: Freezing Coffee -- more discussion fodder, scientific study
So apparently a coffee company sponsored a study... They "examined a variety of coffee samples stored in three different environments: the freezer 0 degrees Fahrenheit, the refrigerator 36 degrees Fahrenheit and on a counter room temperature at 72 degrees Fahrenheit, over a 12 week period."
Excerpt from news release: "In the study, a sample from each storage environment was cupped and tested for moisture every 2 weeks; then brewed and checked for color consistency every 4 weeks. Throughout the 12 weeks, the samples were cupped and tasted in a blind taste test by three resident Q Graders at Don Francisco's Coffee headquarters. The results revealed the best cup of coffee is achieved starting with whole beans stored in an airtight container in the freezer for a maximum of 6 weeks. For pre-ground coffee, the maximum storage time decreases to about four weeks."
So far, I can't seem to find a copy of the study itself on the web.
Cheers, David
disclosure: I am a big advocate of deep freezing any coffee that is (a) freshroasted, and (b) that I cannot brew within a few days from the roaster.
Posted Wed May 30, 2012, 6:08am Subject: Re: Freezing Coffee -- more discussion fodder, scientific study
DavidG Said:
So apparently a coffee company sponsored a study... They "examined a variety of coffee samples stored in three different environments: the freezer 0 degrees Fahrenheit, the refrigerator 36 degrees Fahrenheit and on a counter room temperature at 72 degrees Fahrenheit, over a 12 week period."
Excerpt from news release: "In the study, a sample from each storage environment was cupped and tested for moisture every 2 weeks; then brewed and checked for color consistency every 4 weeks. Throughout the 12 weeks, the samples were cupped and tasted in a blind taste test by three resident Q Graders at Don Francisco's Coffee headquarters. The results revealed the best cup of coffee is achieved starting with whole beans stored in an airtight container in the freezer for a maximum of 6 weeks. For pre-ground coffee, the maximum storage time decreases to about four weeks."
So far, I can't seem to find a copy of the study itself on the web.
Cheers, David
disclosure: I am a big advocate of deep freezing any coffee that is (a) freshroasted, and (b) that I cannot brew within a few days from the roaster.
------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------- Le café doit être noir comme le diable, chaud comme l'enfer, pur comme un ange, et doux comme l'amour.
"There is no right answer with coffee. There is only the elixir in your cup at the moment you partake."
"...I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind;..." - Lord Kelvin RECIPES thread => http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/machines/585708
Yes, I see the term "nitrogen-flushed" used in the article. That sort of packaging (used for pods and k-cups, too) does prolong shelf life considerably. I get a little annoyed when I see people acting like the Rule of Fifteens was (a) written in stone by the Lord and (b) meant to apply in all circumstances. It's a guideline--nothing more. For example, try grinding fresh into a Ball jar, sealing it up immediately, and brewing the ground coffee after 24 hours. It's great, even without nitrogen flushing.
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,605 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Wed May 30, 2012, 9:15am Subject: Re: Freezing Coffee -- more discussion fodder, scientific study
Actually, I do believe that industrial packaging, and freezing anyway, does work up to a certain degree. Even though the "best before" date printed on packages (usually set two years after roasting) certainly doesn't mean that the beans remain fresh that long, I have enjoyed coffee like Tre Forze! or Lucaffè up to two months after roasting. I don't know how great it would have been within the 15 days margin, but it was still good. Older than two months, however, is a no go without freezing.
*** "This drink of the Satan is so delicious that it would be a shame to leave it to the infidels." (Pope Clement VIII on coffee)
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