That is really bad for coffee. The shelf life of ground coffee is actually hours and putting it in the freezer causes it to absorb flavors from other things as well as to create a moisture problem if you take it out and put it back in. I know it is what used to be recommended, but it surely isn't anymore now that the coffee public is getting more educated. Of course the shelf life on roasted beans is in the under two week realm too. Part of the reason that Starbucks sucks, there chit is so old it tastes like bitter arse. Doesn't help they use super automatic machines either as they don't properly brew at the correct temperature (should be within a couple degrees of 201) or the right pressure (usually from 8.5-9.5 bar) to extract full flavor from the beans. Do realize that I use the European definition of coffee which here you call espresso. On the same note, it is very easy to turn an espresso into an American coffee you just add some boiling water. Really the best "weak" brew coffee you can have, but you need to start with a great espresso then. I do this all the time for people and they rave. My beans are rarely a week old however and brew with beautiful crema and an amazing mouth feel. To find a good coffee shop: 1) They buy beans that are roasted, they sit for three days and then are completely used up within a day. (the good ones here roast in store) 2) They grind special for every single cup. No letting the grounds sit in the grinder. 3) They use a machine with a real group head. Usually a Faema 61 is a great start, almost all brands license this sort of head from Faema. 4) They brew with a timer. Every brew on any particular machine should always take the same amount of time. The packing of the beans is import as well as the grind. This requires a good grinder as well. In home versions reasonably good grinders start at about $300+ and are more important than the machine itself for making great coffee. 5) They have a consistent way of packing the portafilter. Mine I pack the coffee at 30lbs. A lot of learning time with the tamper and a scale taught me and now of course I just press. Being off by a couple pounds will really affect the overall extraction as the machines run at pressure and this will greatly speed/slow the steam flowing through the beans. 6) Lastly, my pet peeve. When they stretch the milk it should only be whole milk and should be cold and fresh everytime steam hits the pitcher. They should use the right size pitcher so that for every cup it is used up. Milk also should not be heated to over 170-180 degrees, the stretching should be done by 140 degrees and the rest of the time the steam wand sits in the pitcher it should be integrating the foam with the milk. In other words the foam should pour consistently with the milk out the pitcher and not have a foam stage and a hot milk stage. This will really make the milk the sweetest and have the best finish. All of you that sugar your coffees will find the amount you use greatly reduced if you have a good barista. Good luck. I have jumped behind the bar multiple times to do the work on my own coffees. To get them to allow me I have to tell them I used to be a professional Barista and really I am just a home-brew hack.