# Should you freeze coffee beans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 11, 2001, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-freeze-coffee-beans/68408 "2001-06-11T12:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nick112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@nick112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nick112)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-freeze-coffee-beans/68408/1 "2001-06-11T12:03:38Z")
Will this damage flavor, leach essential oils, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-freeze-coffee-beans/68408/2 "2001-06-11T12:45:36Z")
According to [this](http://worldwidemart.com/choice/cafe2.html) it’s OK to store it in the freezer… According to [this](http://www.ineedcoffee.com/01/01/storage/) storing in the freezer is OK if you are careful to use an air-tight container… According to [this](http://www.customcoffee.com/Training-info/storage-techniques.htm) it’s OK to store in the freezer as long as you don’t freeze, thaw, and refreeze… According to [this](http://www.1st-line.com/cofffact/storage.htm), it depends… I could go on, but I think you’re OK in freezing your coffee (as long as you keep it frozen until you use it!). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-freeze-coffee-beans/68408/3 "2001-06-11T15:38:43Z")
[Starbucks](http://www.starbucks.com/shop/coffee_edu9.asp?catalog%5Fname=Starbucks&category%5Fname=The+Four+Fundamentals) and [Diedrich’s\*](http://www.diedrich.com/tips/index.html) both advise against putting your coffee in the freezer. Diedrich’s, indeed, advises room temp. \*Diedrich’s is a small, excellent chain which is centered in Orange County, CA. Starbucks is good, but Diedrich’s is better. Next to Diedrich’s, Starbucks seems like ordinary grocery store coffee. ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-freeze-coffee-beans/68408/4 "2001-06-11T16:03:58Z")
Not unlike **Astroboy14** , I have found a variety of answers for this question. My understanding was that for storage, beans went in the freezer, ground coffee went in the fridge. There was an article about coffee in the paper the other day, and it said that you should never keep either in the fridge or the freezer, but just in a cool, dark, non-refridgerated place. Really, your guess is as good as mine. ---
**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2001, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-freeze-coffee-beans/68408/5 "2001-06-11T20:53:00Z")
Whittards of Chelsea, London recommend keeping beans in the freezer, and grinding them from frozen. Looks like a question for Cecil… ---
**Author:** ![MrWhy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@MrWhy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrWhy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-freeze-coffee-beans/68408/6 "2001-06-21T05:09:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by javaman \* > **Starbucks is good…** Sorry, but, despite your name, I can’t take serious coffee advice from anyone who would say that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-freeze-coffee-beans/68408/7 "2001-06-21T05:40:01Z")
I love coffee. I LOVE coffee. I always keep my coffee frozen. I think it actually does make a difference. I tend not to be picky about stuff, but in this case I make an exception. So, yeah, I’d say keep your beans or ground coffee in the freezer. ---
**Author:** ![Neurodoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/848f3c/32.png) [@Neurodoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurodoc)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-freeze-coffee-beans/68408/8 "2001-06-21T06:27:12Z")
I have frozen my coffee beans for some time now, in airtight containers, and they have kept well. Indeed, I started doing this because the beans I didn’t freeze didn’t keep well. I would never take advice on this topic from companies who make money by selling cofee beans. It would be in their interest NOT to advise you correctly on ways to store your beans long-term. They would rather have you buy beans more frequently.