Freshly roasted coffee was roasted the same week you receive it. Rested coffee has been immediately stored in sealed, airtight bags and allowed to "rest" between 5-10 days after roasting. Much like aged wines and spirits, we believe that resting coffee improves its flavor. By giving the coffee adequate time to "rest" the cup opens up to more sweetness and complexity.

When coffee is roasted, carbon dioxide builds up inside the beans as a byproduct of various chemical reactions. As the coffee rests, the carbon dioxide is released from the beans and out of the one way valve on the bag. If brewed before the coffee has fully "de-gassed," the carbon dioxide can disrupt the brewing cycle, creating a little more bitterness and astringency upfront and reducing overall sweetness. Sometimes these early cups taste 'faint' or 'unfocused.' Buying rested coffee allows you to skip the waiting period and dive right in to the best cups.

We will always send fresh roasted coffee unless you select the rested option.

Predicting demand for rested coffee is tricky and we may run out. If that happens, we'll complete your order with fresh roasted coffee instead.

As long as the coffee stays airtight, the carbon dioxide pushing out of the beans will create a protective barrier against oxidation. Generally speaking, the lighter the roast, the longer the shelf life. We find that coffees like Rogue Espresso and Black Swan Espresso still taste great with 4-5 weeks of rest. Some of our lightest single-origin coffees have held up well for 3-4 months! We've even done some experiments with year-old coffee and had very positive results.

We've got a few tips here!

1. In the bag— you can invest in fancy storage if you want, but don't feel the need. Our bags have premium foil lining to create a safe barrier and keep your beans happy.

2. Airtight— squeeze out all of the air in the bag before closing and use the zip closure or tin tie to keep the bag closed. Open bags are a no-no!

3. Room temperature— don't store bags near the stove, oven, hot exterior walls, under the cat, or on top of the espresso machine. On the flip-side, don't store in the freezer unless you're saving for a much later date. If you freeze it, always allow the coffee at least 24 hours to thaw before brewing.

4. Whole bean— if you pre-grind your coffee or order it pre-ground, that's fine! Just be extra careful about oxygen exposure. Consider investing in a hand-held vacuum pump to draw the oxygen out of the bag after sealing. Place it right over the one-way valve and gently draw out all the air. Don't pull any muscles trying to get every last oxygen molecule.

Head to the subscription page for more information.