How long is the shelf life of ripe coffee beans?

Wine lovers all know that a bottle of wine encapsulated in a bottle is a living creature that is changing all the time. In fact, the same view applies to packaged and stored coffee beans. So how long can the unopened coffee beans be preserved in proper packaging? Based on the practical experience of a large number of enthusiasts and coffee shopkeepers, we describe the fresh cycle of ripe coffee beans. A few coffee professionals may set more stringent standards to evaluate freshly roasted coffee beans.

Bean cultivation period: freshly roasted coffee beans (after thoroughly cooling) should be stored in a bag with an one-way exhaust valve as soon as possible. Although this is the freshest, but the texture is not stable, for example, there will be a large amount of carbon dioxide escape, so we need to wait patiently for the coffee beans to enter a stable state. This process is commonly known as "raising beans", and 1-2 days is the shortest period for raising beans. After this stage, it can be used to make drip coffee. If it is used to extract Espresso or cup test, the bean raising period should be appropriately extended, such as 5-7 days. But it is important to keep in mind that too much is not as good as too much, and that too long a period of raising beans can only do harm and no good.

The latest fresh period: calculated from the end of the bean cultivation period, if we cut the packaging of coffee beans and start grinding, there is no doubt that coffee beans are at the best stage of flavor at this time. If it is well preserved, this stage lasts about 2 weeks, and we might as well call it the "latest fresh period".

Fresh period: from the end of the "fresh period" of about 2 weeks, the coffee beans in the bag gradually go down from the peak state. However, if it is properly preserved, the quality and flavor of coffee beans decline slowly in the first period of time, and the freshness of coffee beans is still at a high level. We call it a "relatively fresh period" for about one month. Every coffee lover and coffee shopkeeper should strive to use up the coffee beans purchased before the end of the "fresh period".

Disposal period: calculated from the end of the "fresher period" of about 4 weeks, the quality and flavor of ripe coffee beans has been much worse than before, it is difficult to act as the word "fresh", unable to meet the picky needs of professionals. However, it is OK to make some fancy coffee, such as refreshing coffee for family breakfast, black coffee for coffee shops, or blending milk, cream, chocolate sauce, etc., which need not be denied at all. We believe that this stage can be maintained for about a month, during which time we need to open the bag and use it as soon as possible, which can be called the "disposal period".

The total 10-week period from the latest fresh period everywhere is neither long nor short, and consumers should make good use of it. After the disposal period of coffee cooked beans, even if the bag has not been opened, but also a sharp decline in flavor, no sense of freshness, no taste value.

PS: how to keep the coffee powder?

This problem is distressing, because for any ordinary coffee consumer, there is absolutely no ability and technical means to achieve good storage of coffee powder, and test data from professional institutions prove that coffee beans are in the first five minutes of grinding. there will be nearly 50% of the active volatile aromatic substances escape. If you buy coffee powder (except filled with inert gas), do not expect too much on the taste and flavor, can only talk about convenience as the starting point. And buying the worst grinding equipment will be hundreds of times better than buying coffee powder directly, enthusiasts should settle down to learn how to grind coffee beans.

(source: excerpt from Coffee Coffee)