Ever wondered how long do coffee beans last? Fresh coffee is one of the biggest keys to a great morning cup!
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The freshness of coffee beans plays an important role when it comes to the taste and aroma of a brewed cup of coffee. Freshly roasted coffee beans have a much stronger aroma and are more explosive with flavor than stale coffee.
Coffee beans, like most shelf-stable dry goods, have no firm shelf date or expiration date. Most labels on roasted coffee beans you find in grocery stores don’t usually indicate when the coffee beans were roasted.
But they’ll include a Best Before date that bespeaks how long the beans can keep their peak quality. These date labels tend to be confusing and information on packages could vary by roaster.
How long do green coffee beans last?
Green coffee beans are the raw beans of the coffee plant that haven’t been roasted. They are naturally green before they’re roasted. While green coffee beans are not a nutrient-rich food, they do contain a small number of essential minerals and vitamins.
Green unroasted coffee beans have a rather long shelf life as long as you store them properly in optimal conditions. In cool, dry conditions, green unroasted coffee beans can be stored for up to 2 years in a burlap bag.
If you are looking for long-term storage of green coffee beans, store them in vacuum-sealed bags or containers and they will last even longer. Proper vacuum sealing preserves not only green coffee beans by preventing the growth of mold or bacteria, but also their unique aroma.
How long do roasted whole beans last?
There is nothing better than the smell of opening up a bag of freshly roasted coffee beans. Coffee roasting is the heating process that transforms green coffee beans into the brown coffee beans we recognize and purchase.
The roasting process causes the green coffee beans to develop various aroma compounds. These compounds produce the characteristic flavor of the coffee that makes that unique coffee aroma.
In general, roasted coffee beans have a much shorter shelf life than green coffee beans. They last about two weeks after roasting. After two weeks, the flavors and aromas start to decline and lose their freshness, eventually going stale.
Once roasted, coffee should be brewed and enjoyed within the peak window, which is between 4-14 days, for the best taste possible. After two weeks, the aromas, flavors, and freshness would deteriorate notably due to oxidation. Thirty days after the roast date, the beans would be considered dry and stale or even go rancid.
How long does ground coffee last?
Ground coffee is roasted whole coffee beans that went through the grinding process in preparation for brewing. Ground coffee is convenient and is widely available. You can find a variety of pre-ground coffee when you step into any grocery store at different price points.
Unopened pre-ground coffee will last about a year in its own packaging. Once you open the bag, it will stay fresh for 1-2 weeks. This also depends on the quality, the roast of the beans and if it’s stored properly in an airtight container away from direct sunlight.
When coffee beans are ground, they tend to create more surface area for oxygen and moisture to react, and this is where the oxidation process takes place and accelerates. This means ground coffee will become stale faster than whole beans.
How long does instant coffee last?
Instant coffee, or soluble coffee, is made from dried coffee extract. It is a dissolvable coffee beverage that is quick to make and doesn’t require a coffee maker.
Unlike whole coffee beans and ground coffee, unopened instant coffee is made to have a much longer and extended shelf life. It can last a whopping 20 years before it goes bad because it contains no moisture. Instant coffee can virtually stay fresh forever, and theoretically has no expiration date.
An opened package of instant coffee, however, will generally last for 12-18 months at room temperature before it goes bad. Instant coffee will lose its taste and aroma over time, and the coffee will become dull or tasteless.
How to tell if coffee beans are bad?
When your coffee beans go bad, you probably won’t be able to tell by simply looking at them. The best way is to use your sense of smell and sense of taste.
Bad coffee beans have not only lost their pleasant aroma but may also start to smell like vinegar, rancid oil, mold, grass, and sour apple. So if your cup of coffee tastes bland and dull, or if you taste really sharp lemon citrus flavor, your coffee beans are definitely old and stale.
Best way to store coffee beans
The best way to keep whole coffee beans or ground coffee fresh is to store the coffee in an airtight container away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture. Choose a cool, dry, dark place as storage, somewhere like your pantry closet or cabinet.
Storing coffee in the refrigerator, however, is not a brilliant idea. Excessive moisture in the refrigerator will stimulate the deterioration process and further increase the condensation in your coffee.
Can you freeze coffee beans?
If you have a huge batch of coffee beans and need long-term storage, a freezer can preserve the flavor and fresh qualities of your coffee beans if you do it the correct way.
Storing multiple smaller batches is better than one huge batch. Divide coffee beans into several bags or containers and vacuum seal them before storing. When you take the coffee beans out of the freezer, it is best to plan ahead and thaw them to room temperature before you open them up.
Fresh is always best
Coffee beans have a mere 2-3 weeks of peak freshness before the flavor and aroma begin to go downhill pretty quickly.
Roasted whole beans stay fresh longer and although they require a little more work, the freshness can make it worthwhile. Try to use fresh coffee beans if you want a better tasting coffee and to keep coffee beans whole until you are ready to grind and brew for optimal freshness.
