Why Roast Date Matters: When to Brew Your Beans
Most coffee drinks well from about day 7 to day 30 after roasting. What the roast date on your bag tells you, and how to store beans so they stay good.
The roast date is the day your coffee came out of the roaster. Most coffee drinks well from about day 7 to day 30 after that date. Before day 7 the beans are still releasing gas, and after day 30 they start to lose aroma. Every Bean Shipper bag has its roast date printed on it, so you always know where you are in that window.
What is a roast date?
A roast date tells you when the beans were roasted. A best-before date is set months ahead and says nothing about when the coffee was roasted. For whole-bean coffee, the roast date is the number to look for.
Why does freshly roasted coffee need to rest?
Roasting builds up carbon dioxide inside the bean, and for the first few days the beans release it quickly. This is called degassing. Brew too early and the gas gets in the way: espresso can taste sharp and thin, and a pour-over bloom foams up and extracts unevenly.
After about a week the gas has mostly settled and the flavour opens up. Darker roasts usually settle sooner. Light roasts meant for filter often keep improving into their second week.
How long do roasted coffee beans stay good?
Most coffee drinks well up to about 30 days after roasting. After that it goes flat: the aromatics fade and oxygen dulls the sweetness. An opened bag fades faster than a sealed one, so finish an open bag within a few weeks.
| Days after roasting | What is happening | How it brews |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 to 6 | The beans are still releasing carbon dioxide | Espresso tastes sharp and runs unevenly; filter blooms hard |
| Day 7 to 30 | The gas has settled | Sweetness and aroma come through in the cup |
| After day 30 | Aromatics fade and oxygen takes over | Flatter and duller, faster once the bag is open |
How to read the date on a Bean Shipper bag
We roast our own coffees to order in Kuala Lumpur and ship them within 24 hours of roasting, with the roast date printed on every bag. Your coffee reaches you a few days after roasting, just before the day 7 to 30 window opens, so the whole window is yours.
Count forward from the date on the bag. If the beans were roasted three days ago, give them until about day 7 before you judge the coffee, then notice how it changes over the next fortnight.
How should I store coffee beans?
- Keep them whole. Ground coffee goes stale much faster than whole beans, so grind just before you brew. Our guide to grind size and brew time covers the settings.
- Keep the air out. Press the air out of the bag and reseal it after every use, or move the beans into an airtight container.
- Keep them cool and dark. Malaysian kitchens run warm and humid, so a closed cupboard away from the stove and direct sun does more than a jar on the counter.
- Skip the fridge. Opened beans pick up moisture and smells from it. If you won't finish a bag within the month, freeze part of it in an airtight container straight away and take out only what you need.
How much coffee should I buy at a time?
Buy what you will finish inside the window. A 300g bag makes about 20 cups at 15g a cup, so it lasts about three weeks at one cup a day, or ten days at two. A 1kg bag makes about 66 cups at 15g, which is a little over two weeks for two people drinking two cups a day each.
Brewing with a different dose? Our brew ratio guide shows how to work out your own recipe.
Frequently asked questions
Is fresher always better?
Not in the first few days. Beans straight off the roaster are still degassing, so most coffees taste better from about day 7.
Can I drink coffee more than 30 days after the roast date?
Yes, it just tastes flatter as the aromatics fade. Older beans often run faster as espresso, so try a slightly finer grind.
Is the window different for espresso and filter?
A little. Darker espresso roasts are usually ready a few days sooner, while light filter roasts can take closer to two weeks to open up.
Why does a fresh bag of coffee puff up?
Freshly roasted beans release carbon dioxide, which can inflate a sealed bag. It is normal and settles over the first week or two.
How do I know when my Bean Shipper coffee was roasted?
Check the roast date printed on the bag. We roast our own coffees to order and ship them within 24 hours of roasting.
Ready for a fresh bag? Browse our coffees, or take the coffee quiz and we'll match one to how you brew.
Updated October 2026.