How to tell if coffee beans are fresh?

The freshness of coffee beans is crucial to a delicious cup of coffee. Fresh coffee beans can retain their natural aroma and taste, while old or expired coffee beans will lose their original flavor. So, how do you tell whether coffee beans are fresh? Here are a few ways to tell.

First of all, observing the appearance is an important indicator of the freshness of coffee beans. Fresh coffee beans are usually shiny and smooth. If you find spots, cracks, or uneven colors, it may mean that they are old or damp.

Secondly, smelling is also one of the effective ways to judge whether the coffee beans are fresh. Hold some ground coffee powder that has not been brewed in your hands and bring it close to your nose and breathe in gently. If you can smell a strong and fragrant aroma, it means that the coffee beans are still fresh; on the contrary, if there is no aroma or a strange smell, it may mean that they have expired.

In addition, taking a bite is also one of the ways to judge the freshness of coffee beans. Put an unground coffee bean in your mouth and bite it gently a few times. If it feels hard and difficult to break, it may mean that they have become stale; fresh coffee beans should have a crispy texture.

Finally, you can judge whether the coffee beans are fresh by grinding and brewing. Grind a small amount of coffee beans into powder and brew a cup of black coffee with boiling water. If the taste after brewing is bitter or bland, it means that these coffee beans may have lost their original flavor; on the contrary, if you can taste a rich and complex aroma and taste, it means that these are fresh and high-quality coffee beans.

In short, when buying or using, you should pay attention to the above aspects to determine whether the coffee beans you have are fresh and high-quality. Only by choosing high-quality, fresh coffee beans that suit your taste can you make a satisfying cup of coffee.