As we have written it is always better to have fresh coffee rather than coffee that has spent too much time in storage as green beans or roasted beans. Ideally one would prefer to purchase green coffee just after it has been harvested and processed. But, when during the calendar year should you look for freshly harvested and processed coffee? The best place on earth to find large quantities of reliably excellent Arabica coffee is Colombia. The best coffee in Colombia comes from the coffee triangle consisting of the departments of Caldas, Risaralda, and Quindío.
Colombian Coffee Triangle Courtesy of Wikipedia
Colombia is a large country and would be the second biggest state if it were in the USA, smaller than Alaska and larger than Texas. It has sea coasts on the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico as well as mountains over 18,000 feet in altitude. The country staddles the equator as well. Thus it has a lot of variation in climate which also results in different times for the coffee harvest depending on where you are in the country. Additionally there is a primary as well as a secondary harvest on top of local seasonal variability.
Primary and Secondary Coffee Harvests in Colombia
The primary Colombian coffee harvest runs from September or October to March and begins in the north of the country and moves south until all regional harvests are in full swing. By the end of primary harvest only the southern regions are harvesting. And then the secondary harvest or Mitaca takes over through April into June. About sixty percent of total production comes from the primary harvest and about forty percent comes from the secondary harvest. The bulk of the secondary harvest comes from central and southern Colombia.
How Long Does Stored Green Coffee Remain Fresh?
A good reason for timing your green coffee purchase to the harvest seasons in Colombia is that processed green coffee starts to age immediately. Properly stored green coffee (cool, dry, no sunlight) will retain freshness for three years. When your coffee is shipped out of Colombia within a month of two of either the primary or secondary harvest that is ideal. Coffee that has been in storage for months of a year before being shipped has already begun to lose its freshness. The next freshness issue has to do with roasted coffee.
How Long Does Roasted Coffee Retain Its Freshness?
If you order fresh green coffee directly from Colombia you can maintain freshness for up to three years with proper storage in a cool dry place (not in a cupboard over the stove). Do this until you roast, grind and brew your coffee for the best and freshest cup of Java. However, if you buy roasted coffee, even coffee that was shipped immediately after the first of second harvest, the clock starts ticking on a six month countdown when the beans come out of the roaster. It gets worse once you grind your coffee as air gets into the interior of the bean and starts to oxidize taking away any residual freshness. If you like the convenience of buying roasted and ground coffee, buy in small quantities and do not let long shelf life take away the excellent aroma, flavor, and healthy antioxidants of your Colombian Arabica coffee!
Year Round Coffee from Colombia
The fact that Colombia has two coffee harvests as well as a huge amount of altitude variation and a large land mass results in the country having coffee harvests virtually year round. There are excellent Arabica sub varieties harvested throughout the year so that you are never getting lower quality coffee at any point during the two harvest seasons. Enjoy your coffee from Colombia whenever during the year and wherever in the country is was grown.