Frequently Asked Questions
How long does coffee stay fresh?
Although some flavors in some beans may start to fade after a week, most coffee is considered fresh for approximately 2-3 weeks. Once coffee is ground
it will only stay fresh for few hours.
Contrary to what most of us thought, freezing coffee is a good way to preserve freshness as long as it's done only once for beans that you will have on hand for more than 2-3 weeks. So if you buy a pound of coffee and only drink a half a pound in two weeks, freeze half of it. Then when you need it, take it out of the freezer and don't refreeze it. A group of roasters tested this and couldn't find any difference, although this was done with coffee that was just roasted.
I noticed that some beans like Colombian look very even and consistent but others like Ethiopia Harar or Yemen are different in size and darkness. Why is that?
Colombian and most Central American beans are wet processed and some are screened for size. Harar and Yemen are dry processed and considered wild coffees.
Without going into the details of the processing, be assured that looks don't correlate to taste. Harar and Yemen are quite possibly the most
interesting tasting coffees on earth, possibly in part due to its variability in size and roast level bean to bean within each batch. Sometimes it can even
taste a little different from cup to cup. This is part of the adventure.
Please check for small rocks in the beans before grinding. I hate telling customers this, but because of the nature of the natural processing, sometimes rocks that are the same size as a bean can slip through, even with the highest quality beans from this area. I do my best to look for these and get rid of them. I have only found 3 rocks in three years of roasting (and a few pieces of corn!).
 Costa Rica Beans |
 Ethiopia Harar Beans |
Why is the bag puffed up when I get it?
For the first 3-4 days after the roast, the beans will release CO2. Most beans taste their best after 2-3 days rest. If you
are a non-local customer, even though you aren't getting the beans fresh out of the roaster, you'll be getting them at the right time to
enjoy them at their best.
What about grinders?
Please see the About.com article: Blade vs. Burr.
What makes coffee strong and how should I brew it?
In general, one bean or roast level isn't really stronger than another, although some are more pungent. The strength of the taste is determined by how strong you brew it. For brew instructions please see this part of the Coffee FAQ. (Quick answer: 2 Tbs. per 6 oz. of water.) Most people
seem to brew too weak, possibly in part because they are used to cheaper, bitter beans or extremely dark roasted coffee. If that's the case, try brewing
it stronger, more according to the recommendations, and see if you can taste more of the flavors in the bean. If you use a flat-bottomed
type filter (which is very inefficient) in a drip machine, you may need to use even more. This suggestion isn't an attempt to sell more coffee, but will help you get maximum flavor. The right balance will be different for each individual.
- Frequently Asked Questions about Coffee
- The Coffee Directory
- Coffee Regions of the World
- Coffee: The New Health Food?
- Java Joy: Study Touts Coffee's Benefits
- Coffee: For most, it's safe - Coffee has been blamed for everything from moral turpitude to cancer. But none of the bad raps have stuck. Coffee may even be good for you.
- Coffee Perks
- Coffee : A Guide to Buying, Brewing, and Enjoying, Fifth Edition
- Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World
Other Questions?
Please use the Contact Form to ask any other questions you may have.
