Is whole bean coffee the freshest?
On One Hand: Whole Beans are FreshestAccording to the website, Whole Coffee Beans, whole coffee beans do have a longer shelf-life than ground beans. Ground coffee beans expose more of the bean’s surface area to oxygen, according to coffee expert Stefanie Mason. Whole Coffee Beans suggests using ground beans within two weeks, while whole beans can stay fresh for up to one month.On the Other: No GuaranteesWhole Coffee Beans points out that in some cases, the consumer has no way of knowing how long their coffee beans, whole or ground, have been sitting on the grocery shelf since they were roasted. The whole beans you think are freshest may actually have been waiting in the store longer than those that are ground.Bottom LineWhile whole beans may be preferable, the method of coffee preparation, method of roasting and origin of the coffee bean all play into the flavor and quality of your cup of coffee.
