The way I normally roast my beans I can brew them straight out of the roaster, but I also then only get a max of about 7-10 days from this point before they are getting stale. But many roasters say they will need at least that amount of rest time before their beans are even drinkable!
So I'm sure your local roaster / barista were right. Perhaps that batch was a really quickly / lightly roasted bean or blend that needed a good long rest to bring out the best as espresso. I've talked to roasters who suggest their clients stockpile beans for 3-4 weeks to get the best out of them…

So roast dates on a bag are a great idea - but really only so you can estimate how long you are from roast date and knowing from experience when they will peak - and each roaster's offerings will be different.
So, in essence, there is no set answer to how long a roast will last. But most CS'ers will agree that once you have reached the sweet spot once beans have rested (how ever long that takes) the best is around 7-10 days of coffee goodness.
Cheers Matt

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