Does your coffee lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

Forget chewing gum.  How do you keep coffee fresh and full of flavor?  One important factor is to start with fresh roasted coffee (and finish drinking it BEFORE bed!).  Once beans have been roasted they do start the march toward eventual staleness.

As coffee beans are roasted they are exposed to heat.  When the internal temperature builds, carbohydrates are broken down which causes a buildup of carbon dioxide.  Some of the gas escapes during the roasting process but beans go through the degassing process for several weeks in some cases; the most intense degassing is within the first 3-5 days.  This is why we do not serve or sell newly roasted beans for at least 3 days.  During the initial degassing period the flavor profile changes.  Dark roast beans will develop that beautiful sheen in those first 3 days as well.  It would still be good coffee, and yes, it's super fresh, but it's not the best cup you can be drinking.

Having fresh beans exposed to air speeds the aging process but you also don't want to store them in an airtight container.  This is why we use containers and packaging with one-way valves.  This allows the coffee to continue its degassing without suffering the ill effects of being choked.

Grinding ages coffee.  I'm not saying you have to run out and buy a grinder but using your coffee as quickly as possible after it's ground will help you get the freshest cup. 

Storing your coffee in a cool dry place is optimal.  The refrigerator or freezer are not really great options because coffee will absorb moisture and tastes from other items.  Moisture can lead to mold  Typically, if the packaging has a degassing valve and zipper you can leave it in the bag and store it in the cabinet for several weeks (if it lasts that long!).

So how do you tell if your coffee is stale?  It should smell pleasant, not rancid, pungent, skunky, or musty.  If it still smells like coffee it's likely okay to drink but it may not have that same richness of flavor as a bean freshly roasted.  On days when you need a coffee fix, older coffee is still better than what you can get at a lot of chains or grounds that come pre-packaged.  We don't like to waste coffee but sometimes it is a must (I have a bag of crafting beans from some that didn't work or were too old - I just can't throw them out!).

So if you're looking for the best cup of coffee, look for beans that have been roasted recently.  Try to avoid buying beans that have a "sell by" or "best by" date only - they can be quite old - look for a "roasted on" date.  Also look for beans sealed in a bag with a degassing valve.  Whole bean is best but you can typically ask to have your beans ground to suit your needs.  Knowing when they were ground is important.

You don't have to pay more for fresh roasted, gourmet coffee.  We actually sell our beans for less than most chains and it is a LOT fresher.  Being serious about coffee doesn't make you a snob.  It just means you have good taste!

So what's in your cup?