How to tell if you have bought fresh coffee beans

Distinguish between fresh and stale coffee beans with these simple tips. Learn how to assess the quality of your coffee beans and ensure a flavorful cup of coffee every time.

 

    The quality of your coffee depends on the freshness of your beans. They begin to lose quality when they come in contact with air. That’s why it’s better to grind your own coffee and brew it immediately. Roasted coffee is good for four to fourteen days, but green beans can keep for up to a year. Dark roasts go bad faster than light roasts. The perfect age also changes with your brewing method. Sometimes, they can be “too fresh”. Given that, how do you know if they are stale?

1. The first thing to look at is a "roasted on" date.  This tells you when the coffee was roasted, not when it will expire or be past its best, like the dates you usually see on supermarket coffee. A really good coffee company will let you know the roasting date and leave it up to you to determine how long it will remain fresh.

2. The next thing to look for is a one-way valve.  This is a small piece, normally circular about an inch in diameter, attached to the inside of the bag near the top.  It feels like one of those small round pencil sharpeners and there will be a hole or maybe two in the bag where it sits.  This is because when beans are first roasted, they give off lots of carbon dioxide; if the bag doesn't allow for degassing, it will pop.

3. Once you open the bag you should notice some amount of oil on the beans.  A lighter roast will likely have less, but you should still expect to see some.  This is going to have a glossy appearance like the beans are sweating.  They may also leave some oily residue on your hands and other surfaces.  The oil breaks down when exposed to air.

4. Smell the beans.  Freshly roasted beans have a more intense smell than old ones do.  The compounds that cause the coffee to smell so wonderful have a limited lifespan and will break down as time goes on.  When more of them are present, your nose can tell.  Think of it kind of like a radioactive half-life but of coffee goodness.

5. Watch for a bloom. When you wet the ground coffee, you should see some bubbly foam appear. This happens when you make French press or manual pour-over coffee. You won’t see it directly in any machine-made coffee, but you may see some crema on an espresso shot or some bubbles in your coffee cup.

6. The resealable bag test.  If those tips don't help you settle it, you can take a small handful of beans, put them in a Ziploc-type bag, and let all of the air out.   If the beans are not releasing any gas over 24 hours, they are probably over a week old.

    The roasters I tend to purchase from send bags that are roasted and dated after the time of purchase. It takes a bit longer, but it’s worth the wait. I suggest getting coffee more often, but in smaller amounts. A coffee subscription can help you keep your coffee supply fresh and avoid having it sit on your counter for too long. I also keep it in a sealed container that protects it from light, heat, and air.

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