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To Freeze or Not to Freeze? The Coffee Freshness Question Answered!

Do you swear by freezing coffee? Or do you scoff at the idea of putting your beans in cold storage? Perhaps you’ve never done it before and are just wondering what all the fuss is about. We have the answers for you!

Should You Freeze Coffee?

It really is hard to give a clear yes or no answer to the ‘whether to freeze coffee’ conundrum.

On the one hand, if you are able to vacuum pack your coffee and remove every molecule of moisture possible before freezing, then it really could work to your advantage. The freshness will be locked in until you decide to defrost.

However, if moisture becomes trapped inside the container with your coffee it’s going to have a negative effect on the flavour. Ensuring that no dampness or condensation alters your coffee during the freezing process is key.

Whether you decide to freeze your coffee should be down to whether you really have to. Like if you want to keep a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime coffee bean in top condition for drinking in a few years time.

The main problem with freezing is that it will always have a slightly detrimental effect on your coffee beans, so it is only a good option when the alternative will have a worse result.

For the best flavour from your coffee bean, you want to brew it within a few weeks of roasting. Over time the flavourful oils in the beans that create great-tasting coffee will go stale, which results in a more bitter taste.

When Freezing Coffee is Good Idea

Here are a few different scenarios when you might want to freeze your coffee:

  • You got some limited edition coffee you absolutely love and are dreading the day you run out so want to keep some to relive the good times far into the future.
  • You have loads of coffee beans that you simply cannot consume quickly enough before they begin to get old and lose their flavour.
  • Freezing coffee beans in your thing. You love nothing more than getting up in the morning and fondling your fresh beans before packing them up for some time in sub-zero hibernation.

The Right Way to Freeze Coffee

If you think freezing coffee is the right choice then there are a few guidelines to follow:

  • Make sure you use airtight containers, like reusable bags, and leave as little air inside as possible.
  • Vacuum pack your coffee if you can.
  • Divide your coffee up into small amounts that you can that thaw and use within a week.
  • Once you have frozen the coffee, do not defrost and refreeze (this can cause condesation to form).

Cold Tip: Grinding after Freezing

When you grind a coffee bean that isn’t frozen you’re going to end up with grounds that are an optimal size, but also some are very small and some a bit too large. Grinding frozen coffee beans reduces this irregularity in the resulting coffee grounds, so you get a more even result and a slightly better brew!

When Freezing Coffee is a Bad Idea

Still not sure if you should freeze your coffee? Here are some examples of when not to do it:

  • You are a true coffee connoisseur and want to experience the taste of if your latest choice of beans at their absolute finest.
  • You have already ground your coffee. Now is the time to drink it, not to freeze it.
  • You want to store your coffee for a month or less. Just keep it in an airtight container, and put it on a shelf where it’ll stay dry and not exposed to strong light or heat.

What About the Fridge?

No way! A fridge will do nothing for the freshness of your coffee, in fact it’s likely to make it worse. Moisture will ruin the natural aroma of coffee and odours from other stuff in your fridge will be absorbed. Unless you want to flavour your coffee with some of last night’s leftover pizza, keep it out of the fridge.

But the Best Thing…

Just buy coffee when you need it! For the best tasting coffee drink it as close to roasting and grinding as possible. A great way to do this is to have a fresh supply of coffee at hand at all times. A Doubleshot coffee subscription can help with this, so you’re sent regular batches of freshly roasted coffee beans. Remember, life is too short for bad coffee!

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Warming Chai Recipes for the Winter Months 🥶 4 of the Best!

There’s no avoiding it, however much you’d like to. The dark days of winter are upon us 🥶  Once the sun goes down and the night creeps in, we need to do everything we can to stay snug and cosy. Which usually means wrapping yourself up in your duvet with a nice warm drink. Well, we don’t know much about duvets but when it comes to delicious hot beverages we’ve got plenty to say!

chai concentrate recipes

To help you get thorough the short days and cold nights, we’ve compiled a handpicked selection of our favourite warming drinks that you can make in a jiffy with our Artisanal Chai Concentrate. Just add a little bit of your time and a few extra ingredients for these tasty brews that’ll make you feel toasty inside and out.

So without further ado, check out all our warming chai recipes for the winter months below to see which one you’re going to try first!

(The ingredient amounts are for one, so if you’re making for guests just multiple by the number of people!)

Mexicali Hot Choccy

Warming Chai Recipes for the Winter Months

For a new take on the classic hot chocolate try this nifty little recipe for a chai-infused winter favourite that the kids will love too!

1. Grab your favourite mug
2. Drop in 3 large chunks of high-quality dark chocolate
3. Steam around 250ml of milk
4. Pour a little over the chocolate to melt it
5. Stir the milk and chocolate together
6. Add roughly 30ml of Doubleshot Chai Concentrate to the mix
7. Stir while topping up the mug with the rest of the steamed milk
9. Grate some dark chocolate over the top and serve!

Dirty Chai Latte

We love this one, because you get to mix our Chai Concentrate with your choice of Doubleshot Coffee, and they all go together so so well 🙂

1. Make an expresso with your favourite Doubleshot coffee
2. Pour it into a large mug
3. Add in a 30ml shot of Doubleshot Chai Concentrate
4. Heat up roughly 250ml of milk then add it to the mug
5. Mix throughly with a teaspoon of honey if you like it sweet!
6. Add some steamed milk to the top
7. Sprinkle on a little cinnamon powder and you’re all set :)

Cheeky Chai Eggnog

Warming Chai Recipes for the Winter Months

Why’s it cheeky? Well, you get to measure how much rum you decide to add, whether just one shot or maybe a triple! A nice brandy or bourbon works great too 😉

1. Crack open an egg and separate the white from the yolk
2. Beat the egg white in a mixing bowl until it’s fluffy
3. Heat up around 120ml of milk in a saucepan
4. Slowly pour the warm milk over the beaten egg white, stirring all the time
5. Put the mixed egg white and milk back into the saucepan
6. Heat until the mixture begins to thicken (do not allow to boil)
7. Take the saucepan off the hob
8. Add in 100ml of creamy custard and 60ml of Doubleshot Chai Concentrate 
9. Mix together with a shot or three of your chosen liquor
10. Pour into a mug and add a dusting of ground nutmeg to serve!

Chai Hot Toddy

If thick and creamy isn’t your thing that this hot and strong brew is sure to delight. You’ll be feeling toasty after a glass, we guarantee it!

1. Take a small saucepan, add 200ml of water, and bring it to the boil
2. Add some thin slices of fresh ginger, a cinnamon stick, and half a teaspoon of ground cardamon
3. After a few minutes bring the heat down and stir in 100ml of milk
4. Then add 60ml of Doubleshot Chai Concentrate and a tablespoon of honey
5. Stir on a light heat for a few minutes
6. Take off the heat and strain the mixture into a mug to remove the ginger and cinnamon
7. Pour in a shot of dark rum to finish, sip and enjoy!

So that’s it for our round up of warming chai recipes for the winter months, we hope you try them all and have as much fun drinking them as we did! And if you have come up with a crazy Chai concentrate concoction then we’d love to hear about it. Add it to the comments section below and we’ll give it a try 😄