I've noticed ground coffee changes, for the worse, in extraction after 4 minutes.
Beans stored in hopper extract differently, need finer grind, than beans stored air tight container and added fresh, although I haven't worked out the timing on that one - only experience is periods of 12 hours or more.
Green beans can be ruined on arrival or great for years.
All depends on the journey from tree to your door and then how it is stored at home.
Generally I try to buy beans within the 12 months of the harvest date (although hard to get that information) and then use within 6-12 months of receipt. Although, buying on CoffeeSnobs not such a concern on harvest date as turn over high, Andy roasting himself commercially and kicking goals with the awards.
All sorts of fascinating information out there on moisture levels, moisture exchange, storage temps, affects of packaging on the bean - all great theory. Useful if you can implement it yourself from the farm gate.
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Ground coffee! how long does it remain fresh?
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There are a number of chapters in Espresso Coffee the Science of Quality by Illy & Viani, related to staling from a scientific perspective, which if you try and read you will realise it's not as simple as is generally quoted on this forum ad nauseum. Many factors are involved in staling and storage etc. Much of the reading goes a bit over my head not being a scientist, but think I get the jist of it, although it does not try and define it in terms of 4years, 4weeks, 4mins or whatever the latest quote of the week is.
Common sense & taste with a dash of practicality works for me. I grind coffee for my partner to take to work for a plunger that lasts a week. For her it's good enough, much nicer and more convenient than the alternative, and cheaper than 3 or so t/a espresso's a day.
GrahamKLast edited by GrahamK; 7 August 2016, 05:32 PM.
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Does anyone know of any scientific based research on shelf life of green beans, roasted beans and ground beans?
Given it's a global $20 billion dollar industry, I'd hazard a guess many (many) companies have done the research though not necessarily made it freely available.
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I thought it was rules of 15! 15 minutes till the ground beans are stale, 15 days till roast beans are past there best and 15 months for green beans [emoji3]
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I wonder it grinding does always deteriorate. As degassing is sped up with grinding, it could well bring beans which are just before peak into peak. Too early of course would be staled by oxidation.
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I'm unsure why people need to have these (rules) cast in stone, the fact is that as soon as beans are ground they begin to deteriorate, the shelf life of coffee grounds is a personal thing, 1, 2, 3, 4 ------ minutes or 24 hours after grinding, with some very simple trials you will discover what's acceptable and what has deteriorated to the point its undrinkable.
There are no rules, do what suits you, if your happy grinding a KG on Sunday and letting it sit around for a week as you use it fine, wouldn't suit me, but some don't care.
Last edited by Yelta; 24 July 2016, 01:29 PM.
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That's a completely different set of patameters and the first one isn't even correct. Some beans take much longer post roast to reach their peak.Originally posted by ArnhemR View PostThe rule is 7's not 2's, nor 3's ! Its a guide not a rule.
7 days for roasted beans to be at their best, 7 minutes after grinding before grounds are stale and 7 seconds after extracting to drink!
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If you think in terms of particles. One bean ground for espresso approx. 3500 particles the potential for loss of aromatics and therefore flavour is spectacular. We have the ground coffee brewing within ten seconds of hitting the grind button. Safety in numbers. Why leave it around any longer.
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I think by now I've heard people say that rule with every number and I put zero faith in any of them. We tried an experiment with a few baristas and the conclusion was that after 20 minutes the effect was noticeable enough to say it was bad. Before that it was acceptable. This was espresso grind, we didn't bother with courser grinds
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The rule is 7's not 2's, nor 3's ! Its a guide not a rule.Originally posted by trentski View PostThe rule is 3's not 2's. And it's not a rule its a guide.
7 days for roasted beans to be at their best, 7 minutes after grinding before grounds are stale and 7 seconds after extracting to drink!
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