How Long Does Fresh Roasted Coffee Stay Fresh? | 2023 Update

Buying fresh roasted coffee (or fresh ground coffee) in 2023 with the aim of making a barista-quality cup at home is all well and good, and is becoming very popular. As is going for the ultimate fresh coffee by roasting your own green coffee beans at home, which can be a seriously satisfying experience.

But for how long does fresh roasted coffee actually stay fresh, once it has been processed? More importantly, is there anything you can do to preserve the freshness of your coffee beans or grounds, beyond their standard shelf life?

Different Coffees, Different Rules

As you’d expect, different rules apply when it comes to the different types of coffees available. Depending on whether you pick up whole bean coffee, ground coffee or raw coffee beans (i.e. unroasted coffee beans), you’ll be looking at the following approximate shelf lives:

Here are some rules of thumb when it comes to coffee freshness:

• Green coffee beans: Stay good for as long as 12 months, if stored in ideal conditions.
• Roasted whole bean coffee: Whole bean coffee retains optimum freshness for approximately 2 weeks and can be preserved for a maximum of 3 months.
• Roasted ground coffee: Coffee grounds should ideally be used as quickly as possible after being ground, as their freshness can begin to deteriorate within days.

Of course, just because any of the above coffees are technically past their prime does not mean they won’t still produce an enjoyable cup. It’s just that the resulting coffee will not be nearly as enjoyable as it would have been when the beans (or ground coffee) were at their freshest.

How To Keep Coffee Beans Fresher For Longer

Once coffee beans have been ground, there isn’t a lot that can be done to preserve their freshness. This is why it is a good idea to get into the habit of grinding right before brewing - never too far in advance.

With whole bean coffee, the key to preserving freshness lies in storing it in a container with as little excess air as possible. If it’s something you have access to, a vacuum sealer is an invaluable tool for storing spare coffee beans long-term.

If not, a zip-lock bag will do - use a straw to suck out as much air as possible, before closing it tightly.

After which, store the vacuum-sealed bags of beans in a cool, dry and dark location - perhaps inside an additional box or container of some kind to keep them safe.

Hayman brings you an incredible menu of fresh roasted coffee, including the famous specialty coffees Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, Hawaiian Kona coffee, and Panama Geisha coffee (aka Gesha coffee). All coffees are available as whole bean coffee, ground coffee, coffee pods compatible with Nespresso®*, coffee pods compatible with Keurig K Cup coffee makers (incl. Keurig 2.0 models)**, and as green coffee beans (i.e. for home roasting with your coffee roaster) – click here to buy your fresh coffee now, we are offering free worldwide shipping for all orders!

* Nespresso® is a registered trademark of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., unrelated to Hayman ®. Our espresso pods are not created or sold by Nespresso®.

** Keurig and K-Cup are registered trademarks of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. unrelated to Hayman®. Our pods are not created or sold by Keurig®.