Freshly roasted coffee has an intense aroma and a lot of flavour, but many people wonder whether it is best to brew it straight after roasting. It turns out the beans need time to show their best. In this article we explain why coffee has to degas after roasting, when it tastes best and why it is worth buying coffee directly from a roastery.
What is freshly roasted coffee?
Freshly roasted coffee means beans that were roasted fairly recently, usually from a few days to a few weeks earlier. Unlike supermarket coffee, which often sits around for many months, coffee from a roastery reaches customers shortly after roasting. As a result it keeps more of its natural aroma and lets you discover the full character of the beans.
The roast date is one of the most important markers of quality. The shorter the time from roasting to brewing, the better your chance of a cup with a rich aroma and a complex flavour profile.
Should you drink coffee straight after roasting?
It might seem that coffee tastes best right after roasting, but in reality that is not always the case. Straight out of the roaster, the beans contain a lot of carbon dioxide, which affects brewing.
Freshly roasted coffee is perfectly fine to drink, but its flavour may be less balanced. With espresso, beans that are too fresh often cause unstable extraction, excessive foaming and difficulty getting a repeatable taste.
That is why experienced baristas and roasteries recommend waiting a few days before the first brew.
Why does freshly roasted coffee need to degas?
Once roasting is over, the beans gradually release the carbon dioxide stored inside them. This is a completely natural process called degassing.
During degassing the structure of the beans stabilises, which makes it easier to bring out the sweetness, aroma and tasting notes typical of a given coffee when you brew it.
The general rule is:
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coffee for espresso tastes best about 7-14 days after roasting,
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coffee for filter methods gives very good results after just 3-7 days.
Remember that these are rough guidelines. The exact moment depends on the type of beans, the roast level and the brewing method.
When does freshly roasted coffee taste best?
There is no single answer, because every coffee matures slightly differently. In most cases the best flavour appears a few days after roasting, once the beans have finished the most intense phase of degassing.
At this point the coffee becomes more balanced and it is easier to pick out natural tasting notes in the cup, such as:
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chocolate,
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caramel,
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nuts,
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fruit,
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citrus,
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floral aromas.
This is when the coffee shows its true character.
Why buy coffee from a roastery?
When you buy coffee directly from a roastery, you get a product made with quality in mind. The beans are roasted regularly in smaller batches, so they reach customers much fresher than the coffee sold in many shops.
The main advantages of coffee from a roastery:
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a recent roast date,
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a richer and more complex flavour,
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carefully selected beans,
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a choice of coffees suited to espresso or filter methods,
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the certainty that the coffee has not spent many months in a warehouse.
When you buy freshly roasted coffee, you are investing above all in quality. Even the best machine will not get the full flavour out of beans that have been sitting on a shop shelf for a long time.
How to store freshly roasted coffee so it keeps its aroma
Proper storage has a huge effect on how long the aroma lasts. It is best to keep the coffee in its original bag with a valve or to transfer it to an airtight container.
Keep the beans:
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at room temperature,
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away from sunlight,
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away from moisture,
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away from strong smells.
Storing coffee in the fridge is not recommended, because it easily absorbs moisture and the smells of other foods.
Summary: when is the best time to drink freshly roasted coffee?
Freshly roasted coffee definitely tastes better than beans that have been stored for many months, but that does not mean you should brew it immediately after roasting. A few days of degassing bring out the full aroma and give a more balanced flavour.
If you care about coffee quality, look first and foremost at the roast date. When you buy coffee directly from a roastery, you know you are getting fresh beans that, given the right amount of time after roasting, will make an aromatic, full-flavoured cup.
FAQ: freshly roasted coffee
Can you drink freshly roasted coffee straight after roasting?
Yes, but in most cases it is worth waiting a few days. Thanks to degassing, the coffee develops its full aroma and becomes more balanced in flavour.
How many days after roasting does coffee taste best?
For espresso, the usual advice is to wait about 7-14 days from the roast date, while for filter methods the optimal time is usually 3 to 7 days.
Why buy coffee from a roastery?
Coffee from a roastery is freshly roasted and has a roast date, so you can brew it at the best moment. It keeps more of its natural aroma and offers a richer flavour than coffee that has been stored for a long time on shop shelves.
How should you store freshly roasted coffee?
It is best to keep coffee in a sealed bag or an airtight container, away from light, moisture and heat. Keeping the beans in the fridge is not recommended.
What should you look for when buying freshly roasted coffee?
First of all, check the roast date. It tells you how fresh the beans are and helps you judge when the coffee will have its best flavour and aroma.
