Well, shoot, I do freeze my beans but won't anymore after reading this. BTW, this thread is a v good example of the helpful advice one can get from a simple Hotline question! :)
Freezing coffee adds moisture. And does dull the flavor. We love good coffee and grind it fresh each morning. I use 2 different types of containers to store it. One "vacuums" out the air and the other "squeezes". Out the extra air. Both accomplish the goal, take out the air and it keeps the coffee fresher. There are some good products on the market.
As a retired barista of many years, we always recommended against freezing. Not only can the beans pick up funky smells, but they could loose their flavor and the freezer could introduce moisture, as ChefOno pointed out. Make sure the beans you're using are stored in an airtight container out of bright light.
Freeze them if you have no other choice. Some minor degradation will occur but if you do it right, you might not be able to tell the difference.
Only freeze fresh beans (within a week of roasting). Use an air-tight container such as a canning jar (not a zipper freezer bag). Defrost them in a manner that precludes condensation forming on the beans (in other words, defrost the entire container before opening) and don't refreeze. Whatever you do, don't grind frozen beans or prepare to say goodbye to your grinder.
Coffee is like most food, it's best to roast it yourself. Green beans will keep for over a year.
I used to but don't anymore. They'd go into the freezer looking oily and delicious and come out looking dead. So, now I buy frequently but in small quantities. BUT...that's something I can easily do. It's a 6-minute walk from my house to a great coffee place.
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Freeze them if you have no other choice. Some minor degradation will occur but if you do it right, you might not be able to tell the difference.
Only freeze fresh beans (within a week of roasting). Use an air-tight container such as a canning jar (not a zipper freezer bag). Defrost them in a manner that precludes condensation forming on the beans (in other words, defrost the entire container before opening) and don't refreeze. Whatever you do, don't grind frozen beans or prepare to say goodbye to your grinder.
Coffee is like most food, it's best to roast it yourself. Green beans will keep for over a year.