Le café se périme-t-il ? Peut-on en consommer après la date de consommation ? Le café se périme-t-il ? Peut-on en consommer après la date de consommation ?

Does coffee expire? Can you drink it after the expiration date?

Coffee is extremely well known for its benefits as well as for its aromas, and many people consume it every day. But one question often arises: does it really expire? Can you drink it after the date indicated on the packaging without risking a loss of quality?

At Shoukâ, we consider that the freshness of the coffee is essential for an optimal experience. We will therefore answer this question by highlighting the importance of recent roasting and proper storage.

Coffee and consumption dates: how does it work?

On coffee packages, you will find a Best Before Date (BBD), which indicates until when the coffee retains its best aromatic properties. Unlike an Expiration Date (ED) found on perishable products, the BBD does not indicate a health risk after expiration.

This means that coffee does not really "expire", but its aromas gradually deteriorate. And this happens long before the BBD indicated on the packaging.

The "real" freshness period of coffee

Coffee begins to lose its aromas from the first days after roasting. This is why, at Shoukâ, we apply a strict policy to guarantee optimal freshness:

  • In-store availability limited to 2 months after roasting: We regularly refresh our stock to guarantee maximum freshness.
  • Sold as beans with grinding on demand: Grinding accelerates the loss of aromas. This is why we only grind the coffee when ordered, to best preserve its richness of flavor.

Thus, artisanally roasted coffee should ideally be consumed within 30 days of roasting to fully enjoy its aromas.

Can you drink coffee after the BBD?

Yes, it is possible to drink coffee after the BBD without any health risk. However, the further away from the roasting date, the more the coffee loses intensity.

Points to watch out for if you wish to consume it after several months:

  • Faint smell: Coffee that almost no longer smells has already lost a large part of its aromas.
  • Blander or oxidized taste: If your coffee no longer has the expected aromatic depth, it is surely too old.
  • Poor storage: If the coffee has been exposed to moisture or heat, it can develop taste defects.

How to properly store your coffee?

Coffee is extremely sensitive to air, which is its main enemy in terms of storage. To keep it in the best conditions, we recommend:

  • Store coffee as beans rather than ground, because grinding accelerates its oxidation.
  • Use an airtight and opaque container, such as our Shoukâ Airscape stainless steel boxes. These boxes remove the air inside, thus slowing down the degradation of aromas.
  • Avoid the refrigerator or freezer, because moisture can alter the coffee and change its flavors.

Discover our storage solutions here: Airscape Shoukâ.

Where to find freshly roasted coffee?

At Shoukâ, we roast our specialty coffees in small quantities, guaranteeing exceptional freshness. Our coffees are carefully selected and artisanally roasted to reveal all their aromas.

Discover our range of coffees on demand here: Shoukâ Specialty Coffee Catalog.

To conclude: coffee aromas decline quickly

Coffee does not expire, but its aromatic qualities decline quickly after roasting. At Shoukâ, we favor an approach focused on freshness:

  • In-store stock limited to 2 months after roasting
  • Sold as beans with grinding on demand
  • Use of airtight Airscape boxes for optimal storage

If you are looking for fresh, intense, and flavorful coffee, favor recently roasted and well-stored beans. Come discover our selection of specialty coffees!

Sources

Written By : Shoukâ

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