Coffee Beans Shelf Life: How Long And Storage Tips

Coffee beans shelf life often comes to mind especially if you are purchasing a huge bag of coffee beans.

Does the coffee expire? How long will the coffee last?

Well, you will be glad to know that coffee technically does not expire and there is no need to worry about coffee beans expiry date. However, if you leave them out for months, they will turn stale and rancid over time. 

So now, the real question is, how long before the coffee beans turn stale?

In this blog post, I will discuss everything about coffee beans shelf life and share some storage tips for coffee beans to keep them fresh as long as possible.

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At a glance: Coffee Beans Shelf Life: How Long and Storage Tips

What Is The Shelf Life Of Coffee Beans?

If you look at the bags of coffee beans sitting on the aisle, you will notice that there isn’t any expiry date (usually). This is because coffee beans are pretty shelf stable and they do last pretty long if the package is left unopened. 

Instead, what you will notice is printed on the bag is the roast date of the coffee. This is an essential piece of information to tell the freshness of your coffee beans. Hence, when we talk about coffee beans shelf life, we usually refer to the freshness of the coffee beans. 

With that in mind, a well-packaged bag of coffee bean shelf life typically ranges from 6 to 12 months from its roast date. 

You might be wondering why the range is so huge?

Well, this is because the coffee bean shelf life is highly dependent on the state that it is being stored in; i.e. How long were the coffee beans exposed to air? Were the coffee beans kept in suitable condition?

All of these factors affect the freshness duration of the coffee beans. 

Let us look at the freshness of coffee beans in three different scenarios here: 

1. Coffee Beans Stored In A Sealed Bag (Unopened)

2. Coffee Beans Stored In A Sealed Bag (Opened)

3. Coffee Beans Stored In A Freezer

How Long Do Coffee Beans Last In A Sealed Bag?

The freshness of coffee beans in a sealed bag last within the range of 6 to 12 months from the roasting date. Pretty much similar to the shelf life of green coffee beans which is 12 months. 

This is provided that the sealed bag is properly sealed, provided with a one-way valve, and nitrogen flushed. Let me explain what each of these components does.

This way, coffee beans in an unopened bag will undergo minimal oxidation due to the scarcity of oxygen molecules in the coffee bag. Therefore, it is possible for a nitrogen-flushed and unopened coffee beans shelf life to extend up to 12 months. 

How Long Do Coffee Beans Last After Opening?

After opening the coffee bean bag, you have now exposed the coffee beans to air and moisture. From here onwards, the rate of oxidation of the coffee beans will increase and the coffee beans shelf life will start degrading.

Typically, with proper storage methods, coffee beans’ freshness can last about 3 weeks after opening. The key word here is proper storage methods. 

Hence, I do highly recommend getting air-tight containers or vacuum canisters to store your coffee beans. This will reduce the rate of exposure of the coffee beans to air and hence reduce the rate of oxidation. By doing this, you will prolong the freshness of your coffee beans. 

If you do not have those items in your pantry, check if the coffee bean bag is resealable with a one-way valve in place. The valve allows excess carbon dioxide gas from the coffee beans to escape and prevent oxygen from entering the bag. If so, you can store the coffee bean in the bag and place it in a cool and dry place. 

However, for best results, I would still recommend the vacuum canister which 100% prevents air from entering the canister, hence greatly reducing the rate of oxidation.

How Long Do Coffee Beans Last In A Freezer?

Freezing coffee beans have been a hot topic of debate within the coffee brewing community. Personally, I prefer to have fresh coffee beans for my morning coffee.

However, when done right, coffee beans’ freshness does last as long as 3 years when you store them in the freezer the right way. 

Here are 4 tips if you intend to freeze your coffee beans and store them.

How Does Coffee Bean Turn Stale?

Coffee beans turn stale due to a process known as oxidation which I will elaborate on further below. 

This is because the ticking time of coffee beans shelf life or freshness actually starts right after the coffee has been freshly roasted out of the roasting drum. The process of roasting coffee beans gives rise to the formation of carbon dioxide in the coffee beans. 

Hence, coffee roasters usually advise you to allow the fresh coffee to “rest” for a couple to days prior to brewing. This process is known as “coffee degassing” where we allow carbon dioxide to escape the coffee bean. 

This is essential as these carbon dioxide bubbles will interfere with extraction when brewing coffee leading to a poorly extracted cup.

So, back to oxidation of the coffee beans.  

As the carbon dioxide escapes the coffee bean, this creates a void and it needs to be filled. Naturally, oxygen is abundant in the surrounding air, and it will seep into the coffee beans and cause oxidation of the flavor compounds. This is how you get coffee that lacks depth and flavor. 

What Affects Coffee Beans Shelf Life?

Like all food products, coffee beans degrade due to a chemical process called oxidation. Think about your everyday pantry items like bread or an apple. If you leave them out for too long, they will eventually turn moldy and go bad. 

Coffee beans too will undergo oxidation when exposed to free air, but unlike most other food items, roasted coffee beans are a relatively dry product and mold growth is unlikely. Instead, oxidation will cause the coffee beans to lose their flavor and aroma in the context of roasted coffee beans shelf life.

There are four main factors that affect the coffee bean shelf life, or in other words, coffee bean freshness. These elements are oxygen, moisture, light, and heat. 

Quick Note: These factors affect green coffee storage the same way. So be sure to avoid exposing them to air, humidity, light and heat too.

1. Oxygen

With no surprise, oxygen is the main culprit when it comes to coffee bean oxidation. Before we delve further, let me bring you on a quick tour of coffee chemistry. Just some basics, I promise! 

Coffee on its own contains multitudes of chemical compounds like flavonoids, oils, and acids. All of it makes up for the incredible coffee aroma we know. However, these compounds are very susceptible to attack from oxygen molecules in the air.

Hence, the term oxidation. 

When these chemical compounds get in contact with oxygen, they will start to degrade causing the loss of aroma and flavor of the coffee. 

Other than flavor compounds, oxygen too will react with the oils present in the coffee bean. As with all oils, the oxidation of oil will result in an unpleasant rancid flavor. In this case, dark roast coffee beans is prone to oil oxidation as the surface of dark roasts is usually oily.

2. Moisture

Coffee beans are roasted at high temperatures and hence they are considered to be a dry product. Usually, the humidity present in the air is not enough to cause mold growth on coffee beans. 

However, if the storage conditions expose the coffee beans to a high moisture environment and condensation, this may promote the growth of mold. Naturally, coffee beans are not fit for consumption anymore.

3. Light 

Yes, light is another culprit when it comes to coffee beans’ shelf life degradation. 

Having direct light exposure to coffee beans will cause a phenomenon known as “photodegradation”. This is because light travels in a form of electromagnetic waves and it carries energy with it. Hence, when coffee beans are exposed to light, it is actually being continuously blasted with photon energy from the light.

This process increases the rate of oxidation of the coffee beans, and more specifically, the lipids. 

Lipids which are present in coffee beans are responsible to retain the aromatic and flavor compounds of the coffee beans. But with light exposure, the oxidation of lipids is sped up and eventually causes the loss of aroma and flavor of the coffee. 

4. Heat

Exposing coffee beans to hot or warm environments will accelerate the rate of oxidation of the coffee beans. However, the effect of heat is not direct. Heat merely functions as a middleman in this phenomenon.

Let me explain. 

The science behind this acceleration is due to the energy that the heat brings. As with all chemical reactions, the presence of heat will cause higher levels of excitation of the molecules. 

Heat will increase the rate of reaction between the coffee flavor compounds and the oxygen molecules. In other words, heat facilitates and increases the rate of oxidation of coffee beans. 

Also, heat will also cause the rate of aromatic compounds to escape the coffee bean itself. All you are left with is boring flat tasting flavors. 

7 Tips To Keep Coffee Fresh

And so, I have discussed at length on factors that degrade coffee beans’ shelf life and freshness. Not all is doom and gloom, as there are definitely ways to counteract these factors to prolong the freshness of your coffee beans

Worry less about coffee beans expiration date and focus on preserving freshness instead. 

Here, I’ve put together 7 tips to help you keep your coffee fresh. 

1. Use Air Tight Containers

The presence of oxygen will lead to oxidation of the coffee beans. For this reason, you would want to reduce the exposure of your coffee beans to air. 

One way to do so is to store your coffee beans in an air-tight container. This prevents fresh waves of oxygen from continuously oxidizing the coffee beans. 

Additionally, only open the container when you need to and quickly reseal the container. This is because every time you open the lid, you are introducing fresh air into the container, hence accelerating the oxidation process. 

However, I’d highly recommend that you use a vacuum canister for coffee storage. The design of vacuum canister is designed in a way where it creates a partial vacuum in the canister causing it to be 100% airtight.  

2. Reduce Light Exposure

You will often find air-tight containers to be transparent or semi-transparent. Both of these options don’t really go well with coffee beans as light may still pass through. 

I’d highly recommend you get air-tight containers that are opaque to eliminate any chances of light exposure to your coffee beans. Hence, eliminating the risk of photodegradation to your coffee.

3. Store At Cool Area

The presence of heat will increase the rate of oxidation of your coffee beans. 

Furthermore, fluctuating the temperature of your coffee beans will lead to condensation of moisture and this will further lead to faster degradation of your coffee beans. 

Store your coffee in a cool and dry cabinet for the best results. 

Author’s Note: Heat does not necessarily come from sun exposure. It can also come from kitchen appliances like the stove or oven. Make sure to keep your coffee far from these items. 

4. Purchase The Right Amount

Always purchase the right amount of coffee. Buying too much coffee will lead to your coffee going stale if left out for far too long. 

For example, I brew my coffee daily with 18 grams of coffee beans each time. With that in mind, getting a 250 grams bag of coffee every 2 weeks is just perfect for my consumption routine. 

This way, I can ensure that my coffee is always fresh.

5. Choose Whole Bean Coffee Over Coffee Ground

Coffee grounds exist because of their convenience. Essentially, grinding coffee beans increases the surface area of exposure to air of the coffee. 

Aromatic compounds can now escape easier and oxidation can take place much more easily. And this is why coffee grounds turn stale much faster when compared to whole coffee beans.

So when it comes to choosing between ground coffee and whole bean coffee in terms of coffee freshness, whole bean coffee has the upper hand. 

6. Type Of Roast Matters

The roasting level of the coffee also plays a role when it comes to coffee beans’ shelf life. 

The process of coffee roasting introduces heat to the raw coffee beans until a point where cracks are formed on the coffee bean surface. Generally, the longer the coffee bean is roasted, the more cracks are formed. 

In fact, the two major cracking points in coffee roasting are: 

• The first crack indicates that the coffee beans have reached the medium roast level.
• The second crack indicates that the coffee beans have reached the dark roast level.

These cracks open up more pathways for aromatics to escape the coffee beans and also allow easier pathways for oxygen to enter the coffee bean. 

Hence, the darker the roast, the quicker the rate of oxidation. 

Author’s Note: The rate of oxidation between a dark roast coffee and light roast coffee is not significantly higher but it still plays a role when it comes to coffee staling rate. 

7. Freezing Coffee Beans

The last resort to extending coffee beans’ shelf life is to freeze the coffee beans. If done right, freezing coffee beans can retain the coffee beans’ flavors pretty well.  

One of the key things you should take note of when freezing coffee beans is to ensure it is stored in an air-tight container. Alternatively, a vacuum-sealed bag works very well too. This ensures minimal exposure to air and greatly reduces the time to coffee staling.  

Free Tip! Frozen coffee beans are more brittle than regular fresh coffee beans. Hence, grinding them right as you remove them from the freezer will get you some decent consistent grind sizes. 

Coffee Bean Or Coffee Grounds Last Longer?

Between whole coffee beans and coffee grounds, whole coffee bean shelf life is better and definitely stays fresher for a longer period of time.

The process of oxidation is highly reliant on the surface area of the coffee. By grinding up the coffee beans, you increase the coffee surface area of exposure to air by multiple folds. Hence, accelerating the oxidation process. 

This is why you see most cafes grind the coffee beans to order. By grinding the coffee beans way ahead of time, most of the aromatic compounds would have diffused away into the air. 

In fact, the coffee loses 60% of its aroma and flavor within the first 15 minutes after grinding. Nobody likes a coffee that tastes flat and boring! 

Author’s note: I’d highly recommend you get whole coffee beans compared to coffee grounds if possible. You will definitely see a major improvement in the flavor profile of coffee when you brew with freshly ground coffee beans. 

FAQ On Shelf Life Of Coffee Beans

Can you use 2 year old coffee beans?

Yes. You can use 2 year old coffee beans as coffee is usually safe to drink for six months after roasting. However, for coffee beans past expiration date, do not expect great flavors out if it. Most of the flavor compounds and aromatics will have oxidized leaving you with a flat and boring-tasting coffee.

How do you prolong the shelf life of coffee beans?

To prolong the shelf life of coffee beans you have to store them in an opaque, air-tight container at room temperature. This is to reduce the coffee beans’ contact with air to minimize oxidation. Also, store the container in a cool and dark area to prevent heat damage and photodegradation. 

How do you know when coffee beans go bad?

To know when coffee beans go bad, simply just smell them. Coffee beans that have been left out for too long will have a musty aroma or sometimes even rancid. The coffee beans are still safe for consumption but do not expect great flavors from them.

Do dried coffee beans expire?

Coffee beans won’t ever “go bad,” which is why you don’t typically see an expiration date on the package. However, coffee beans will rapidly lose their flavor and aroma right after the roasting stage. Hence, to prevent that and also stop the coffee from going stale, you have to store them in an air-tight container.

Conclusion

I believe I have covered most, if not all that you need to know about coffee beans shelf life. If you do have coffee beans stored with exposure to air, please do consider my recommendations above to try to preserve the freshness of the coffee beans.

That said, I always recommend people to purchase coffee beans in small amounts and consume them as soon as possible. The aroma and flavor profile of the coffee is at their peak during the first few weeks after the roast date. 

If you find this piece of article informational and have helped you understand a thing or two about coffee bean shelf life and storage methods, please share it with your fellow friends. baristas and home brewers!

Happy brewing!