If you've ever picked up a bag of coffee from the grocery store and looked at the packaging you may have noticed a "best by date" printed on the bag somewhere. As long as it isn't beyond the expiration date you've probably assumed that the coffee you're paying for is fresh right?! The answer might surprise you.
Large commercial roasters and grocery stores tend to avoid providing the roast date. This is done intentionally to extend the perceived freshness of their product. From a buyer's perspective we would like to know how old the coffee is as it can give us an idea if a coffee is past its prime.
There is some debate on how long a coffee is at its peak freshness and it will vary from coffee to coffee. Light roasts tend to keep longer than dark roasts. Whole bean coffee keeps better than pre ground. The general consensus for whole bean coffee is around 6 weeks for optimal flavor. Beyond that, flavors begin to fade. We prefer to enjoy our coffee within a month after roasting for best taste.
Our coffee is roasted to order in small batches with a roast date provided on every bag so you never have to guess if your coffee is fresh.
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