How to determine the freshness of coffee beans: signs and tips
Let’s first talk about fresh coffee beans – what are they like?
To begin with, it’s important to remember that everything has an expiration date. The recommended storage time for coffee beans is 2 months from the roasting date. Checking this date is quite simple – it’s printed on every package of beans you buy.
Coffee beans contain a mix of acids, oils, and other aromatic molecules. Together, they form the "soluble substances of coffee" that have a huge impact on the flavor of the drink during brewing. When beans are roasted, they lose most of their moisture due to the high temperature. Along with this, the coffee essence, also called cafestol, is released to the surface. Cafestol is a collection of about 750–850 chemical compounds responsible for the taste and aroma of the beans. These substances are water-soluble but also volatile, meaning they tend to evaporate. That’s why, if beans are stored in an open package, they lose their properties more quickly.
Another element of assessing the freshness of coffee beans is the degassing process. Freshly roasted beans actively release CO₂ (carbon dioxide) for about 5–7 days. To prevent the package from “exploding” due to the gas buildup, it has a one-way valve. This allows the carbon dioxide to escape safely while preventing oxygen from entering the package, which speeds up the aging process of the coffee. Later, degassing still occurs, but with less intensity. This can be observed when brewing espresso – the fresher the beans, the more abundant and dense the crema (coffee foam). When brewing manually, this process is visible as larger bubbles and a slightly higher foam layer.
Coffee aroma. When you open the package, an intense smell spreads throughout the room – this is one of the indicators of coffee freshness. It may be less noticeable when the coffee is stored as beans, but it should still be quite intense.
The main criterion for assessing coffee freshness is, of course, its taste. With stale beans, you won’t feel distinct flavor notes or a balanced profile – instead, the coffee may have a “dusty” or even musty aftertaste.
How to properly store coffee?
To ensure that coffee retains its properties for as long as possible, it should be stored properly. Modern coffee packaging usually has a sealed closure, which helps maintain airtightness. However, it’s important to make sure that the package is always properly closed and doesn’t allow moisture to enter. You should also avoid storing coffee in places exposed to direct sunlight or near heat sources, as they accelerate the loss of the natural moisture of the beans. Why are we mainly talking about beans and not ground coffee? Because grinding beans significantly speeds up the loss of their aromatic and flavor properties. Therefore, it is recommended to store ground coffee for no longer than a week. You should also avoid keeping coffee in the fridge – there are too many different smells and moisture inside, which coffee easily absorbs. The best place to store it is a cool, dark place.