So you probably used to think coffee was fresh for months.

Coffee beans are considered to be a dry good, because they have an extremely low moisture level. Having a low moisture level keeps mold and other things from growing. That’s why when you find an old can or bag of coffee grounds they seem normal, despite being old.

Coffee beans do go bad! If the grounds are extra-oily, those surface oils can go rancid, allow mold to grow, or if the beans are stored in a damp environment and soak in the moisture around them, they could become moldy or let bacteria start to grow.

In most cases you have nothing to worry about. For normal people living in normal homes, it takes over a year (or much more) for the beans to absorb enough moisture to start growing mold and truly expire.

Next time you go to the grocery store, take a look at the coffee bags, Most will have a “best by” date that’s up to a year in the future. But the big question is… How long have those beans been sitting there?

Supermarket coffee is almost always stale!

Coffee roasters that are focused on quality will have the date the beans were roasted on, to ensure you buy fresh beans. Skip the supermarket – buy from local or online roasters that are honest with you.