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Master Five Principles: Learn How to Select Coffee Beans! Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

Published: 2026-01-28 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/28, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style). 1. Don't be tempted by cheap prices, it's best to buy an amount you can finish within one month from the coffee roasting date. Because the freshness of coffee beans is calculated from when they are roasted. Freshly roasted coffee beans will begin to release gas (mainly carbon dioxide), continuing for about a week or so,

For professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style).

1. Don't Be Greedy for Small Bargains - Buy Only What You Can Finish Within One Month of Roasting

The freshness of coffee beans is calculated from the time they are roasted. Freshly roasted coffee beans will begin to degas (mainly carbon dioxide) for about a week. When the gas is completely released (about 2-3 weeks), the coffee beans are no longer fresh!

Tips for judging coffee bean freshness:

1. Oil on Surface: Light to medium roasted coffee beans will have a foggy surface with almost no visible oil; dark roasted beans will have small particles of oil on their surface. The darker the roast, the more oil appears.

2. Aroma: Freshly roasted coffee beans will have a rich aroma; conversely, stale coffee will look shiny and smell heavily of rancid oil, which indicates you've bought stale coffee beans.

3. Foam: Fresh coffee beans still contain some unreleased gas. Therefore, when hot water is poured over ground coffee powder, foam will form on the surface. The coffee beans are like breathing - they will produce some bubbles and crema.

2. Choose Coffee Beans with Clear Date Markings

Generally, food products have expiration dates and best-by dates. Coffee beans belong to the food category, and some large coffee companies use central roasting methods for mass production, with expiration dates usually between 12 to 18 months. However, expiration dates and freshness are two different things. For coffee beans, what really matters is the best-by date. The fresher the coffee beans, the better the coffee tastes when brewed!

3. Avoid Coffee with Unclear Origins or Incomplete Labeling

Many coffee merchants in the market, due to price competition, can only purchase poor-quality and cheap green beans for roasting, so they dare not clearly label their coffee's identity. However, FrontStreet Coffee's coffee has a clear and complete identity, allowing you to buy with confidence and drink with peace of mind.

FrontStreet Coffee's coffee beans, in addition to having clear identity labels, are all sent to SGS for testing. Among these tests are 398 pesticide residue tests, as well as tests for aflatoxin, ochratoxin A, and E. coli content. None were detected. We hope consumers can consume with confidence and continue to support FrontStreet Coffee's efforts in food safety and transparent consumption.

4. Choose Packaging with "One-Way Degassing Valves"

Roasted coffee beans are prone to oxidation, especially high temperatures and humidity will accelerate the oxidation process and shorten the optimal flavor period. It is recommended to choose packaging that is opaque or has one-way degassing valves.

5. Coffee Drinking is Subjective - Find What You Like

Drinking coffee is very subjective. To find coffee that tastes good to you, the most important thing is to first understand your own preferences.

If you're not quite sure what type of coffee you like, we suggest starting with black coffee without milk or sugar. Cultivate your preference for coffee, practice tasting the aroma and mouthfeel of coffee beans from different regions. Gradually, you'll become addicted to drinking black coffee and find your own unique coffee flavor!