How Long Do Coffee Beans Last?

Life is all about balance. For coffee lovers, part of this balance is figuring out the perfect amount of fresh roasted coffee to have on hand.

 

The older your beans are, the more likely they are to lose their flavour and aroma. Buying in bulk is a sure way to end up with stale coffee beans before you can finish the bag; as is storing the beans incorrectly and speeding up the oxidation process.

 

When do you hit the point of no return? And what can you can do to avoid it? We take a look at how long coffee beans last, and how to keep them fresh for as long as possible.

In short, coffee beans can last up to 12 months if sealed and stored correctly.

What is the shelf life of coffee beans?

Unopened bags of beans can stay 'good' for up to a year in the right conditions. Opened coffee bags, especially pre-ground coffee beans, will degrade much faster.

How long do whole coffee beans last?

You can expect whole coffee beans to last for up to a year if they are in a sealed package. However, it’s common for the beans to lose flavour before this point as they degas and lose the molecular compounds that give them their rich aroma. If you aren’t planning to use your coffee right away, it is best to keep it in the sealed container or package it came in. 

Once you open the package, you should use the beans within one week to make the most of the taste and aroma. You may be able to push it up to two weeks, depending on the roast level and how it is stored.

 

How long does ground coffee last?

If you want to keep your coffee as fresh and flavoursome as possible, you should be buying whole beans and grinding each dose as you need it. However, that’s not practical for everyone. If you prefer to buy pre-ground coffee for espresso or other brewing methods, you should aim to consume any unopened coffee within three to five months. Once you open the pack, you should use it within a few days.

 

Factors affecting freshness

The four things you want to avoid are exposure to oxygen, heat, light, and moisture. Exposing the beans to oxygen, heat and light can quickly make the beans lose their flavour; exposing them to moisture could cause them to become mushy or worse, to mould.

 

Beyond that, the level of roasting also impacts how long beans will stay fresh. Dark roasted beans can go stale quicker than lightly roasted coffee beans, because the natural oils produced during roasting migrate to the surface of the bean faster.

 

How to tell if coffee beans are stale?

Drinking coffee is a sensory experience; so is figuring out if your coffee beans' shelf life has come to an end.

 

• Smell - Stale beans don’t have the rich fragrance of fresh coffee.
• Sight - Fresh beans have a slight oily sheen to them. As the beans age, the oils evaporate and they will look duller than fresh beans.
• Taste - If you are getting less flavour than normal when you brew, this is usually a sign that you need new beans.

 

Old coffee beans are easy to recognise by their lack of vibrancy in all these areas. If you are finding your precious beans are going stale even before the recommended timeframe for consumption, you might need to improve your coffee bean storage method.

 

Storing coffee beans: 'Do's and 'Do Not's

Coffee is a food product with a finite shelf life. There is no way to stop the clock so your beans stay fresh indefinitely, but you can take steps to avoid undue exposure.

 

Do: Store coffee in a cool place away from heat, light or moisture

The best way to keep your beans fresh for longer is to keep them in a cool, dark place - somewhere like your kitchen pantry, provided it isn’t close to a heat source like the oven or the afternoon sun through your kitchen window.

 

Do: Use suitable containers for storing coffee

The best vessel for storage is an airtight metal canister. You could also use a ceramic container, or, if you don’t have opaque containers available, glass is the next best option. These materials are best because they are non-absorbent (unlike wood or plastic).

 

Do Not: Store coffee beans in the fridge

No. While fridge storage might seem like a logical option as it is both cold and dark, fridges have a lot of ambient moisture - and that moisture tends to be contaminated by whatever else you store in the fridge. Even if that moisture doesn't make your coffee beans soft, you may find the taste affected by the smell of last night’s leftovers.

 

 Do Not: Freeze coffee beans

The freezer is marginally better than the fridge, but you can still easily encounter the same issues with moisture and contamination unless your beans are very well vacuum sealed. It is not a good storage place for any open packages as condensation will get into the coffee beans.

 

Technically this could extend the life of your beans - but there is a cost to the quality of your beans. If your coffee beans are properly sealed they could last for up to two years; however, we do not recommend this as you will still lose some aroma and flavour.

 

Related: How to Store Coffee Beans Once Opened So They Stay Fresh

 

Tips for better tasting coffee beans

Whether you are an at-home barista or enjoy beautifully brewed coffee at the office, there are a few habits you can enforce to make sure your coffee beans produce an aromatic, delicious cup.

 

1. Buy only what you need

The easiest method for keeping coffee fresh is to only have fresh coffee available. Because coffee can go stale quickly, you want to avoid having a stockpile of beans in the cupboard.

 

Buying smaller batches, more frequently can be the economical choice. Most coffee subscriptions will offer you a discount off retail price as a reward for using the service.

 

2. Start grinding your own beans fresh

Freshly ground coffee is the best way to experience the intended taste and aroma. If you can grind your coffee beans yourself right before brewing, you will get the most intense flavour as the fragrant oils are freshly released. We recommend burr grinders over blade grinders for consistently sized coffee grounds.

 

3. Be selective with your roasted coffee beans

For a fresh taste, opt for a blend or single origin beans from a specialty coffee roaster. Specialty-grade Arabica beans are held to stringent standards for uniformity and taste, and roasted with freshness in mind. There is a lot of care taken in the entire process, from raw coffee bean selection to the roasted beans.

 

Related: What is Specialty Coffee?

 

4. Seek better coffee bean packaging options

If you do find yourself with more beans on hand than you will realistically get through within the recommended timeframes, you can do your best to store them properly without breaking the seal on the packaging.

 

Some roasters have better packaging than others to combat oxidation, which can come in handy if you do need to store coffee beans for a while before using them. Vittoria uses one way valve technology, and nitrogen flushing to remove as much oxygen as possible. This helps your coffee beans stay fresh as long as possible before you open the coffee bag.

Enjoy your coffee while it is freshest

Coffee beans have a long way to go from origin, to roasting, to your kitchen. By the time they reach you, the beans are perfectly ready to be brewed into a perfect cup - best not to delay using them much longer.

 

On top of following the tips for coffee bean freshness, you should make sure you have the best beans on hand. Why not experiment with the roast or origin to find a flavour profile that you love? 

 

Vittoria’s coffee subscription service offers you up to 40% off the retail price, and you can update your order any time to try new options. Enjoy fresh coffee beans delivered to your door - just remember to keep them in a cool, dark and dry spot when they arrive.