I Want To Buy Some Bulletproof Coffee, How Long Can Additional Bags Last? Freezer A Good Idea?

Natlex

Hey guys, not sure if you saw but apparently they have a promotion on bulletproof coffee if you buy 2 or more bags. It also seems to be working for Canada so I finally want to try it out!! the only problem is the second bag will probably be untouched for 3-4 weeks. If I put it in the freezer will it preserve it close to 100%? It's what I do with my butter when I go buy my grass fed butter in bulk (I can't find Kerrygold in Canada, gotta go to a speciality shop).



I'll most likely try it anyway but I'm wondering what's the best way to preserve an unopened bag, it will have no contact with air for a few weeks so maybe that's enough to preserve it? Will the freezer be a good idea or destroy the beans?





Thanks guys /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

AMurad

Here's what I found from this web site: http://nilevalleyherbs.com/nileinfo/infomine1/Coffee_Storage_Myths.html



Coffee is Porous. It is exactly this feature that allows us to use oils and syrups to flavor coffee beans for those who enjoy gourmet flavored coffees. For this same reason, coffee can also absorb flavors and moisture from your freezer. The absorbed moisture will deteriorate the natural goodness of your coffee and your expensive gourmet coffee beans will taste like your freezer.

The coffee roasting process causes the beans to release their oils and essences in order to give the coffee its distinct flavor. This is the reason why your beans are shiny. These oils are more prominent on dark-roasted coffee and espresso beans and the reason why these coffees are so distinct in flavor. The process of freezing will break down these oils and destroy the natural coffee flavor.

So unless you don’t mind frozen fish flavored coffee, you should avoid using the freezer to store your gourmet coffee beans at all costs.

There are some exceptions to freezer storing your coffee, but you should proceed with caution! Fresh roasted coffee will remain fresh for approximately 2 weeks. If you have more than you can use in this 2 week period you can, & I shutter to say, freeze your coffee but you should follow these steps:

Apply the Freeze Once Rule. What this means is that once you take the beans out of the freezer, they should never go back in. The constant changes in temperature will wreak havoc on your coffee. The frozen moisture on your coffee will melt and be absorbed into the bean, destroying the coffee oils and allowing absorption of unwanted flavors. When you put it back into the freezer, you are repeating the process and destroying your expensive gourmet coffee.

Keep moisture out! Remember, moisture is coffee’s natural enemy. If you have a five-pound bag of coffee to store, divide it up into weekly portions. Wrap those portions up using sealable freezer bags and plastic wrap. If possible, suck out the excess air from the freezer bag using a straw or a vacuum sealer.

Remove the weekly portion when you need it, and store it in an air-tight container in a dry place like your pantry. And remember, Do not put it back into the freezer!

So when is it best Refrigerate Coffee?

Simply put, Never ever, unless you are conducting a science experiment on how long it takes to ruin perfectly good coffee. The fridge is one of the absolute worst places to put coffee. The reasons why not to freeze fresh roasted coffee also apply here.

Other Popular Coffee Myths Exposed.

Grind all beans before storing.

Absolutely not. Grinding the coffee breaks up the beans and their oils, exposes the beans to air, and makes the coffee go stale a lot faster, no matter how you store it. This especially holds true for flavored coffees! For the best tasting coffee, you should buy your beans whole and store them in a sealed container in a dark place . Grind right before serving!

Vacuum-sealed packaging equals fresh coffee.

Natlex

Thanks. Great article! I also was looking at the bulletproof coffee page and Dave posted a comment on this topic for those interested.



"For storage, your best bet is to properly seal the beans (vacuum pack, jars, or ziplock, in that order from best to worst), then freeze them in 1 lb units.

Then, when it’s time to use some beans, get out a bag and let it sit on the counter until it reaches room temperature. THEN open the seal and pour the beans into your storage container of choice for “ready to use” beans. This step is CRITICAL so that condensation from the air onto cold beans doesn’t happen." - Dave http://www.bulletproofexec.com/coffee/



People told me that if I froze butter it would take my freezer's smell and it has not happened so far (though I only freeze for a month at most). So I think the coffee will be fine in the freezer.

That One Guy

After reading the above, I've broken the freeze once rule. Maybe I need to invest in a vacuum sealer and store it in weekly units.

Paige

I live in Canada and buy the 5 lb bag. I use a vacuum sealer to freeze in small quantities and have never had an issue. It works beautifully! I follow Daves rec as mentioned above on how to thaw and not refreeze.



I purchased a handheld vac sealer from Williams Sonoma (or crate and barrel, i cant remember which) and I LOVE IT.

Leon Wurfel

Also - don't forget that the packs themselves have one way valves on them. So (as Dave has also previously recommended) if you squeeze all the air out of a small pack, then tape up the valve (extra precaution) it'll freeze pretty well...



Still need to take all of those extra precautions re: defrosting the coffee though.



I don't have a vacuum sealer but my approach is to:

• zip lock the coffee (i buy the 5lb bags too)
  
• double bag it (to reduce the risk of condensation if the freezer door gets left open or something like that)
  
• then when i defrost it i put it in the fridge overnight (1st stage of defrost)
  
• final stage of defrost is leaving it on the bench for a couple hours and i'm good to go /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
  

BrokenFang

'Natlex' wrote:

(I can't find Kerrygold in Canada, gotta go to a speciality shop).

Have you found a speciality shop in Canada that has grass-fed butter? If so, please share!

Paige

'BrokenFang' wrote:

Have you found a speciality shop in Canada that has grass-fed butter? If so, please share!

Brocken Fang-I may can help you. Local farm near Brockville. Holler if you want more info.

That One Guy

Anyone know of any decent vacuum sealers, that don't cost well over $100?

Paige

'That wrote:

Anyone know of any decent vacuum sealers, that don't cost well over $100?

Caso brand handheld vac sealer only costs about $80 USD.



I'm a gadget junkie and this is FANTASTIC.



And the best part is the bags are REUSABLE! I got mine from Williams Sonoma but I doubt that's the only seller.

reachingbroom

Never freeze your coffee beans, it dries them out. Air tight at room temp is best.

That One Guy

Update on the vacuum sealer. I purchased a Foodsaver V3250. I also purchased 10lbs of Bulletproof upgraded coffee. I was able to vacuum seal 23 bags of coffee. I portioned it out to two week increments. This is a great way to save money on this particularly expensive coffee.

'reachingbroom' wrote:

Never freeze your coffee beans, it dries them out. Air tight at room temp is best.

From what I was able to read, fresh roasted coffee, stays fresh for only about two weeks. If you have a reputable local source, you can potentially circumvent these issues by buying every 2 weeks. For those of us with no local source, we buy in bulk, to save money. I read in a post above, that freezing coffee with a vacuum sealer and only freezing once, will be fine for keeping coffee fresh.

Shc

Is the Foodsaver a good brand? Thinking of purchasing one too.

gramercy

How long does it take to go through a 5lb bag of coffee for you guys? I only buy 1/2 lb at a time from stores in my area and they seem to last for a while. But I only make one cup a day, not 2 like Dave says. I store mine in one of those jars that are vaccum sealed but I can still smell the coffee through it.