Hand holding coffee beans.
Look For This Green Flag When Buying Coffee Beans

NEWS

By CAMRYN TEDER
A person holding a bag of Intelligentsia coffee.
For the freshest coffee possible, a fully-sealed bag of beans with a one-way valve is the green flag you should look for on the shelves.
A woman shopping for coffee.
This packaging style is optimal for coffee beans as it keeps them safe from excess moisture and air while preserving the environment inside the bag.
A closeup of whole beans and grinded coffee.
This method offers higher levels of freshness and extended preservation so you can make as many cups of coffee from one bag without having to dump any due to diminished quality.
A closeup of a bag of Allegro coffee.
This is because fresh coffee beans naturally release carbon dioxide gas, and that air needs a way to escape the bag. That's where the one-way valve comes in.
A coffee bag and coffee beans in a coffee machine.
These valves allow CO2 to be released without letting in any excess oxygen. Oxygen is a freshness killer for coffee beans, leaving them with a stale, rusty flavor.
Coffee bags with one way valves.
So if you don't see a one-way valve, (often small little holes are visible on the front of the packaging) avoid buying the coffee beans as they might end up being old or unsavory.