Starbucks Sold Near-Expiry Kenyan Coffee Beans

In October 2012, a reporter visited a Starbucks location in Guangzhou’s TaiKoo Hui mall and discovered that most of the coffee beans on sale were close to their best-before dates. The most extreme case was a bag of Kenyan coffee beans with a best-before date of October 27, 2012—just five days away from the visit date of October 23. This raised serious concerns about how retailers handle near-expiry coffee products.

Yes, the Kenyan coffee beans found at the TaiKoo Hui Starbucks had just five days left before expiration. With 250 grams per bag, the staff said 40 grams makes two cups, meaning the bag yields roughly 12 cups. To finish it safely, a customer would need to drink 2–3 cups daily until the best-before date.

What the Law Says About Near-Expiry Food in Guangzhou

According to the 'Guangzhou Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Expired Food (Draft for Comments),' food with a shelf life of more than six months but less than one year is considered 'near-expired' if it is within 20 days of its expiration date. That means the Kenyan coffee beans in question clearly fell into the near-expired category under this definition.

Where the Problem Shows Up: In-Store Practices

The investigation showed that these near-expired coffee beans were being sold as usual, without any special labeling or segregation. There was no prominent notice or centralized display indicating their proximity to expiry, leaving customers unaware of the limited freshness window. Staff confirmed consumption rates but did not proactively warn buyers.

What Should Retailers Do—And What Didn’t Happen Here

The draft regulation requires that sellers either display near-expired food in a dedicated area of the sales floor or add clear Chinese-language labels on the packaging to inform consumers. This helps buyers make informed choices. However, at the TaiKoo Hui Starbucks, neither measure had been implemented for the nearly expired Kenyan beans.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days were left on the Kenyan coffee beans found at Starbucks?

The Kenyan coffee beans had a best-before date of October 27, 2012, and the report was filed on October 23, 2012—leaving just 5 days until expiration.

How many cups can you get from a 250g bag of these beans?

Starbucks staff stated that 40g of beans makes two cups of coffee. Therefore, a 250g bag yields approximately 12 cups of coffee (250 ÷ 40 × 2 = 12.5, rounded down).

Did the store label the near-expired beans in any way?

No, the store did not add any special labels or warnings on the packaging, nor did it display the beans in a separate near-expiry section as required by the draft Guangzhou regulations.

What does Guangzhou’s food regulation say about near-expired products?

Under the Guangzhou Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Expired Food (Draft for Comments), food with a shelf life over six months but under one year is 'near-expired' if it is within 20 days of expiry—and must be clearly labeled or displayed separately.

How quickly should you drink a 250g bag of these near-expired coffee beans?

To consume the full 250g bag before expiration, and based on the staff’s estimate of 2–3 cups per day (12 cups total), you’d need to drink 2–3 cups daily over the remaining days until the best-before date.

Recommended FrontStreet Single Origins Like Kenyan

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Kenya Giti Natural for bright Kenyan character—notes of blackcurrant, citrus, and gentle sweetness, with a crisp, winey acidity. For something more balanced, the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Kochere offers floral, lemon, and stone fruit tones with a silky body. Both are freshly roasted and ideal for exploring single-origin profiles. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.