How long
will coffee beans stay fresh?

Question:
How long will coffee beans stay fresh?

Answer:
For best results coffee should be ground, brewed, and then consumed as early as possible to get the best flavor. The best tasting coffee comes from grinding only the amount of beans you will be brewing and consuming immediately.

You would be wise to use only the quantity of fresh roasted coffee beans that you will drink within the next 7 to 10 days, 15 at the most. The absolute best taste is 24 to 72 hours after the beans have been roasted.

Question:
How long will it stay fresh once the coffee is ground?

Answer:
That is a question that is either simple or complex depending on whom you ask. If you are asking a coffee afficionado or just a regular coffee drinker looking for a great tasting cup of coffee. A coffee afficionado would tell you ground beans should be used within fifteen minutes of grinding.

For the average coffee drinker I would recommend brewing and consuming ground coffee within 15 days of grinding. The longer you wait, the less of the original aroma and taste there will be.


Question:
When I initially could not find the coffee, I went to a local coffee shop and bought Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Not knowing what I was doing, I had them grind it for me? I had bought to give to my wife for Christmas...now will get the Blue Nile. I have a pound of the Ethiopian. Is it a lost cause or should I give it to someone else asap?

Answer:
If you compare the ground Ethiopian Yirgacheffe to a typical store bought brand that has been ground, you will still have a superior tasting coffee. Yes, it will not have the optimum taste it could have, but it will still have a better taste than most brands on your local store shelves.