How to Tell if Your Coffee is Fresh (4 Signs Your Coffee is Stale)

Ever wondered, "how do I know if my coffee is fresh"?

You are not alone and it is a great question to consider if you want better tasting coffee.

How Fresh Coffee Impacts Flavor

Obtaining freshly roasted coffee is more important than you may think. 

It can be the difference between coffee tasting like bitter gasoline and sweet, dark chocolate.

Freshly roasted coffee refers to coffee beans that are recently roasted. Many store-bought coffees are roasted at least a month in advance, often times more. 

So, how do you know if your coffee is fresh? Let's find out how to tell in just under 60 seconds!

Tip #1 on How to Tell if Your Coffee is Fresh

The first and easiest way to tell if your coffee is fresh is simply looking at the label on your bag of coffee.

Most specialty coffee roasters will put a roast date on their label, indicating when the coffee was roasted.

For example, Happily Coffee Roasters puts their roast date front and center on each bag, so you know you are getting fresh coffee.

After you have located a roast date, it's important we know what date we are looking for.

For most coffee, a roast date within 2-3 weeks is considered fresh coffee. Anything more is considered staling coffee.

Tip #2 on How to Tell if Your Coffee is Fresh

The second way to tell if your coffee is fresh is by smell.

Yes, smell.

When you shop for your next coffee, be sure to squeeze the bag to get the aroma of the coffee if the roast date is unavailable.

If you get a chemically or flat aroma, chances are your coffee is not fresh.

If you get an earthy, chocolatey, or even fruity aroma, the coffee is probably fresh.

Pro tip: if it's a light roast, the coffee will be slightly more acidic, alluding to a more fruity note. If it's a dark roast, the coffee will tend to have a more chocolate aroma.

Tip #3 on How to Tell if Your Coffee is Fresh

The third way to tell if your coffee is fresh is by the brew.

This part may be difficult if you are using a more standard way of brewing such as a Keurig or drip machine.

However, if you are using Keurig, chances are high that your coffee is very stale already (except our pods which are roasted, grinded, and packaged with a roast date on every box!)

If you use an espresso machine, then it is vital that you purchase freshly roasted coffee beans. 

The beautiful crema left on top of the espresso shot is the result of the carbon dioxide gases in freshly roasted coffee. Over time, these gases escape and you get a flat espresso shot with older beans.

Pro tip: order freshly roasted beans for espresso. See Happily Coffee's Signature Espresso Blend for a balanced shot of espresso.

If you use a pour over device, then you can simply look at the bloom, or the initial rise in the coffee grounds at the sudden onset of water being poured on top.

If the coffee has a high bloom and rises, then the coffee is fresh.

If the coffee has a minimal bloom, then the coffee is most likely stale.

Tip #4 on How to Tell if Your Coffee is Fresh

The fourth way to tell if your coffee is fresh is simply by the taste.

Freshly roasted coffee beans taste extremely different than stale coffee.

If the flavor of your coffee disappears after the initial 2 seconds, then the coffee is more than likely stale.

If the flavor settles nicely on your taste buds throughout the sip, then the coffee is probably fresh.

Pro tip: look at the 'taste notes' on coffee labels or descriptions & when you try the coffee, see if you can identify some of the notes.

Final Thoughts on Buying Fresh Coffee

Stop guessing.

Simple.

When you purchase coffee from small-batch coffee roasters, like Happily Coffee Roasters, the coffee is often 'roast to order'.

The labels also happen to have the roast date front & center, taking out any uncertainty or guesswork.

If you want better tasting, healthier, and smoother coffee every time, make the switch to freshly roasted coffee. Shop freshly roasted coffee here.