Many people assume coffee has a strict expiration date. In reality, coffee behaves differently from most foods. Coffee rarely “expires” suddenly. Instead, coffee freshness and storage involve gradual change as oxygen interacts with the oils and aromatic compounds inside the...
Coffee does not suddenly become stale a certain number of days after roasting. Instead, roasted coffee changes continuously. The question of whether coffee expires therefore needs more context than a date alone. Carbon dioxide gradually leaves the beans. Aromatic compounds are...
Coffee begins changing as soon as roasting ends. Although that process cannot be stopped completely, it can be slowed. Good coffee freshness and storage practices help preserve more of the coffee’s aroma, flavor and espresso performance by protecting it from...
