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Stale beans?

  • 02-04-2009 11:44am
    #1
    IsThatSo?
    Closed Accounts Posts: 988 ✭✭✭


    I have started experimenting with different coffees. I got a batch of beans about 10 days ago. They are quite old looking, dry, no shine on them. Crema isn't great tbh, and I do only grind as I use, so nothing is sitting around. They were supposed to be freshly roasted.

    Up to now I have only used espresso blends which always looked "young" and had a great shine on them (think skin of 15 year old as in comparison to skin of 45 year old with current batch) so unsure if its just different kind of coffee or I got a dud batch.

    Comments appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    Mr Magnolia
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,440 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mr Magnolia


    Some beans produce less oil than others when roasting, though the oils will dry out as they age.

    I find that a thin crema can be an indicator of freshness of roast. The coffee's usually a little watery and shallow tasting too.

    Saying all of that the beans shouldn't have aged all that much if roast was only over 10 days ago, is there a roast date on the bag? You should consider contacting the supplier and commenting on them.


  • #3
    RE*AC*TOR
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,482 ✭✭✭RE*AC*TOR


    Origin, varietal, degree of roast, quality of roast all contribute to the visual appearance.

    Naturally processed coffees can often look a bit rough when roasted, but taste great.

    So I'd be hesitant about drawing too much from the visual appearance in terms of freshness. How does it taste? Crema as well can be unreliable, some beans just don't produce much or very persistant crema.

    Then again the possibility remains, that they are in fact stale.


  • #4
    IsThatSo?
    Closed Accounts Posts: 988 ✭✭✭IsThatSo?


    The coffee tastes flat, and tbh, not much better than a good instant :eek:
    (Thin and watery like Mr Magnolia said). There is no roast date on the bag, but I was under the impression that this crowd sold freshly roasted.

    My husband was disappointed with the coffee also and I am convinced at this stage that the beans are older/stale, its just a gut feeling. I won't be purchasing there again. Its a well known shop too, I might give them a ring.

    Well Trained Father is visiting next week and will get a supply of Badger & Dodo beans in :D


  • #5
    Gran Hermano
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,330 ✭✭✭Gran Hermano


    Sounds like a dodgy roast or old beans.

    Can I be cheeky and ask who the roaster is?


  • #6
    ch2008
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 427 ✭✭ch2008


    Most if not all shops that sell decent beans with roast dates will be happy to take them back or else advise you on how to get the best from them if they're not performing. What are you using to make your coffee?


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  • #7
    RE*AC*TOR
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,482 ✭✭✭RE*AC*TOR


    M&D per chance?


  • #8
    IsThatSo?
    Closed Accounts Posts: 988 ✭✭✭IsThatSo?


    IsThatSo? wrote: »
    The coffee tastes flat, and tbh, not much better than a good instant :eek:
    (Thin and watery like Mr Magnolia said).

    A correction before I continue, I should have stated an "expensive instant" rather than a "good instant" :pac:

    BTW, re crema, the beans are open a few days now and the crema is now non existant, I saw this before on a bag of 3 month old beans.

    I rang the shop, its Ma*hers in Cork, and they don't roast their own, they get them in roasted. I described the beans and how they looked and the very nice girl on the phone said to send them back to her and they will replace them.

    TBH, I don't want a replacement at this stage, the fact that they don't roast their own has turned me right off as there is just no way of knowing how old the beans are. This is the downside of knowing what great, fresh coffee tastes like, nothing else will do!!

    I may just live with it, dump the coffee and be grateful for the learning experience :)

    Ch, I am using a Gaggia Evolution and MDF grinder (started on coffee journey about 6 months ago). I have been happy with my results up to now.


  • #9
    ch2008
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 427 ✭✭ch2008


    I know who their roaster is and he does a good job. Ask if they have any fresh Brazilians or the Columbian Huila, they're some of his best.


  • #10
    IsThatSo?
    Closed Accounts Posts: 988 ✭✭✭IsThatSo?


    ch2008 wrote: »
    I know who their roaster is and he does a good job. Ask if they have any fresh Brazilians or the Columbian Huila, they're some of his best.

    Thanks for that.

    I don't doubt the roaster at all, I just wonder how long the beans are in the shop for. I don't know if the one I got is a popular blend or not you see :)

    I don't consider myself to be critisizing the shop at all, I certainly don't intend to :) They were very helpful when I rang and decent about the whole thing, can't ask for more than that :)

    I like Columbian beans, will try those, thank you :)


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