How Long Does Coffee Stay Fresh after roasting?

Since we started our Crickle Creek Coffee journey here in Canada, we knew one thing for certain: we were going to provide the freshest roasted coffee possible. We knew that no matter how incredible the farm was or how rare the varietal, if we roasted it and let it sit on a shelf for weeks, the coffee would not shine the way it should.

Coffee, like many other foods, has a peak window for flavour. There is a time when it is fantastic, a time when it is great, and a time when it is still drinkable, but the magic notes start fading.

Sometimes people ask me, “Adriana, why does your bag say best before four months? Does that mean it is bad after that?” Here is the friendly truth: coffee does not go bad. Most commercial grocery brands roast coffee weeks or even months in advance, and the best before date is often twelve months after roasting. The thing is, after a few months, the flavours that make coffee truly special—bright fruit, chocolatey richness, nutty complexity—start to fade.

This is especially noticeable with dark roasts. Dark roasted beans have more surface oils and less trapped carbon dioxide, which makes them more prone to oxidation. Left for months, a dark roast loses its aromatic complexity, tastes flatter, and can develop slightly stale or bitter notes.

Coffee Flavour Timeline After Roasting

Here is a quick guide to what happens to your beans over time:

• 0 to 4 days – Developing: Beans are still releasing carbon dioxide, so flavours can taste muted or sharp. This is usually when your coffee delivery just arrived.

• 4 to 5 days – Great: Flavours start to open up.

• 7 to 9 days – Peak: The sweet spot. All the complex aromas and flavours are at their best.

• Up to 1 month – Fantastic: Coffee retains depth, sweetness, and character, delivering a stellar cup.

• 2 to 3 months – Great: Slightly less brightness, still delicious.

• 3 to 4 months – Good: Some prominent flavours are still recognisable, but the lively character begins to fade.

• After 4 months: Beans will begin to lose their luster. Most specialty roasters consider this the point where coffee surpasses its best by date. The beans are still drinkable, but they lose much of the flavour and vibrancy that makes great coffee special.

2 Simple Tips to Keep Your Coffee Fresh

1. Store wisely: Use an airtight container away from light, heat, and moisture..

2. Grind just before brewing: Whole beans preserve flavour longer. Ground coffee loses aroma quickly.

At Crickle Creek Coffee, we take freshness seriously. Roast-to-order, fast delivery, and careful handling mean you get the best possible flavour in every cup, because great coffee deserves nothing less.