How Long Does Coffee Last In The Freezer: Will It Go Bad?

If you are interested in preserving your coffee, you may place it in the freezer; however, how long does coffee last in the freezer? Will it go bad?

If you are like me, then you absolutely love coffee. Wherever you go, you are looking to try something new. If you are visiting an exotic place and decide you want to take some coffee back with you, then you probably know that you aren’t going to be back anytime in the near future. Therefore, why not buy a lot of coffee? You can store it in the freezer, right? 

Even though it is true that you can store coffee in the freezer, you also have to be careful. Coffee isn’t going to last forever and its peak flavor is going to expire a relatively quickly. Therefore, how long does coffee last in the freezer? Take a look at some important information below. 

The Makeup of Coffee: Why it Goes Bad

First, it is important to take a look at how coffee goes bad in the first place. Understand that there is no such thing as a coffee molecule. Coffee, whether you have beans or coffee grounds, is made up of countless compounds. It is the variety of these compounds that contributes to the unique nature of coffee flavors that you know and love.

Coffee is made up of lipids, amino acids, and carbohydrates. As time goes by, these compounds are going to undergo significant changes that will change the taste of your morning cup of coffee. Its volatile organic compounds will evaporate, its lipids are going to turn rancid, and its carbohydrates are going to turn stale. Even small changes can lead to significant impact on your cup of coffee. 

If you want to preserve the integrity of your cup of coffee, then you need to protect all of these compounds. 

You might also be interested in our explainer on why coffee is bad for dogs.

How Should You Store Coffee?

If you are interested in storing coffee, you need to make sure that you protect its flavor. In general, you can store your coffee in an airtight container. Place that container somewhere that is cool, dry, and dark. Moisture can destroy your coffee beans quickly. Even though coffee does have an expiration date, storing it this way will allow it the last few weeks longer. Whole bean coffee might be able to last up to nine months. If you have instant coffee, this is going to last for years. 

On the other hand, if you want to store coffee for even longer, then you may be thinking about using the freezer. 

Storing Coffee in the Freezer: Considerations

When you place your coffee in the freezer, it is going to last longer. At the same time, this does not necessarily mean that it is going to be at its peak flavor. Even though it is true that you are going to slow the rate at which your coffee degrades, it is also possible that the shock of being in the freezer could lead to structural damage.

Ultimately, this is going to depend on the temperature of your freezer and a type of coffee you are storing in the air. On the other hand, you should definitely remove any coffee that you are going to need for the next week or two. That way, you do not risk the freezer destroying your coffee. 

If you place your coffee in the freezer, the most important thing to remember is that you have to prevent condensation from forming. Make sure that your coffee is placed in a vacuum-sealed bag to protect it. A few of the tips to remember include: 

• Use a deep freeze instead of a freezer that is attached to a refrigerator to protect against condensation.
• Only put unopened bags in the freezer. 
• When you remove coffee from the freezer, allow it to rise to room temperature before you open the bag, or you may damage the coffee even further.
• Understand that freezing coffee may change its taste slightly.

If you place your coffee in the freezer, even coffee grounds could last for years. On the other hand, this does not mean that it is going to taste very good when you remove it. Therefore, it is difficult to say how long coffee is going to last in the freezer. One thing that is certain is that you should always drink fresh coffee when you can. 

The Final Word on How Long Does Coffee Last in the Freezer?

In the end, exactly how long coffee is going to last in the freezer is going to depend on the type of coffee you are freezing and what you want your coffee to taste like. There is a good chance that if you put your coffee in the freezer, it is going to impact its taste. You should protect your coffee against moisture and condensation in order to preserve its flavor. Even though coffee can last for years, you should always allow coffee to rise to room temperature when you remove it from the freezer to preserve its structural balance. 

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