Can coffee beans go bad?

Coffee beans contain oils, which can go rancid, just like any other oil. The best way to keep the oil from going rancid is to use your coffee beans within three months or so. Freezing coffee beans will certainly keep them fresher for longer, but you will also lose some of the flavor of the coffee beans by freezing them. read more

So when your nose can’t smell the coffee, you can assume the flavor is gone. Of course, what’s most important for coffee drinkers is flavor, and the freshest beans don’t guarantee the best flavor. read more