Freezing coffee has long been dismissed as outdated advice but is it actually wrong? In this episode, Chris and Isabella share findings from a six-month research project published in Roast magazine exploring whether freezing roasted coffee slows staling.
Comparing room-temperature storage with two frozen methods across washed and natural coffees, the study found that while nothing replaces fresh beans, frozen coffee retained sweetness and freshness markers longer. After several weeks, cuppers could clearly distinguish frozen samples from room-temperature controls, which showed faster declines in sweetness and more stale notes.
The takeaway: if coffee is a few months off roast, freezing whole beans may actually help preserve quality. A myth revisited, with data to back it up.
