Roasted Coffee
Freshness and shelf life
The arithmetic, published rather than glossed. Including the applications origin roasting does not suit.
What actually determines how long roasted coffee stays good?
The barrier film, the residual oxygen left in the pack after sealing, and storage temperature — far more than roast date alone. Grinding accelerates everything by multiplying surface area, which is the real argument for whole bean packaging.
| Element | What it does |
|---|---|
| One-way degassing valve | Vents CO2 outward, admits no oxygen. Lets coffee be sealed minutes after roasting. |
| Barrier film | Governs oxygen ingress over the whole shelf life. |
| Nitrogen flush | Displaces oxygen from the headspace before sealing. |
| Date and lot coding | Lets stock be rotated by roast date rather than by best-before. |
What is your roast-to-dispatch commitment?
Our roast-to-dispatch window is committed in writing in each supply agreement, as a number rather than a promise of freshness, because a number can be held to and a promise cannot.
How long is transit to my market?
Ocean transit from Santos plus customs clearance at destination. Transit time by destination is confirmed per booking and covers the ocean leg only; clearance varies by importer and by port, and should be added rather than assumed away.
| Destination | Suits | Does not suit |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast | Espresso blends, foodservice, vending | Light-roast filter specialty |
| US West Coast | Espresso blends, foodservice, vending | Light-roast filter specialty |
| Rotterdam | Espresso blends, foodservice, instant | Light-roast filter specialty |
| Jebel Ali | Espresso blends, foodservice | Light-roast filter specialty |
Saying plainly which applications this does not suit costs us some enquiries. It costs less than winning one and disappointing it.
How should we store it on arrival?
Sealed cases below 25 degrees Celsius, out of direct sunlight, away from cleaning chemicals and aromatic foods — coffee absorbs both. Rotate by roast date, first in first out, and decant into display hoppers as late as you can.
Once a pack is opened, published shelf life no longer applies: oxygen exposure governs from that point, and the useful window is weeks for whole bean and days for ground.
Frequently asked questions
How long does roasted coffee stay good in a sealed valve bag?
Sealed shelf life depends on the barrier film, whether the bag is nitrogen flushed and how it is stored, far more than on roast date alone. Shelf life for each format is confirmed in the product specification sent with the quote. Once opened, oxygen exposure governs and that figure no longer applies.
What does a one-way degassing valve actually do?
It lets carbon dioxide escape without letting oxygen in. Coffee releases carbon dioxide for days after roasting, so a fully sealed bag without a valve inflates and can burst. The valve is what makes sealing coffee immediately after roasting possible at all.
Does nitrogen flushing make a real difference?
Yes, when it is measured. Flushing displaces oxygen in the headspace before sealing, and the meaningful specification is residual oxygen percentage rather than the word nitrogen. Whether a format is nitrogen flushed, and its residual oxygen target, is stated in the product specification for that format.
Which uses suit origin-roasted coffee and which do not?
Espresso blends, foodservice, vending and instant applications suit it well, because all benefit from rest and none depend on aromatic top notes. Light-roast filter specialty sold on origin character does not suit it, because the volatile compounds that market pays for fade during transit.
Request green offerings
Tell us what you roast and at what volume, and we will send the current position with a basis.
Request green offeringsRequest a private label capabilities packet
Formats, minimums, lead times and certification status, in one document.
Request the capabilities packet