Last Updated on December 20, 2023
Freshness is the most important quality to look for in coffee beans, yet it’s often the most overlooked. Everyone considers what roast level to buy. Most people consider the beans’ country of origin. But how often do you check the roast date stamped on the package?
How Soon To Use Beans After Roasting
Ideally, you should start using beans within a few days of roasting. They develop and mature for the first two weeks, at which point their flavor peaks. You can enjoy them beyond this two-week window, but their vibrancy will begin to decline and it will be noticeable after a month.
What Changes When Coffee Beans Get Old
Coffee beans undergo significant physical and chemical changes as they age. They lose their aromatic oils, leading to a stale, less vibrant flavor.
Oxidation occurs when beans react with air. Over time, it gradually dulls the coffee’s natural acidity, diminishes its vivid flavors, and flattens out the flavors your brew would have had when it was fresh.
How to Make Sure You’re Buying Fresh
Always check the roast date on coffee packaging. Beans roasted within the past two weeks are ideal. In many shops, you might not find such fresh beans. Just remember—the later the date, the better.
Some packages will show a “best by” date, which gives no indication of when the beans were roasted. Sometimes this date is a full year past the roasting date! It might be three months, it might be six months. If all you see are “best by” dates, pick the latest one.
Signs of Old Beans
Beans that are too old give off visual and olfactory cues. Typically, they’ll appear lackluster. They may feel excessively dry to the touch. A noticeable lack of aroma or a bland scent suggests beans that are past their prime.
An oily appearance can be normal for very dark roasts, but in other types of beans it can indicate age. If the oiliness is accompanied by other signs of aging, like a muted aroma, the beans probably aren’t fresh.
Keeping Coffee Beans Fresh
Preserve your coffee beans’ freshness and flavor by storing them in an airtight container, away from light, heat and moisture.
Some people store coffee beans in the refrigerator or freezer, but I don’t recommend it. Refrigeration can expose the beans to fluctuating temperatures and odors, potentially affecting their quality. Freezing is an option for longer-term storage, but make sure the container is airtight.
If you do freeze your beans, use them directly from the freezer without thawing.
