How do I know if the coffee beans are fresh?

Usually you can tell by smell. Fresh beans smell GREAT! Are the packaged with a one-way valve? If so, the package should be plump as fresh roasted beans give off carbon dioxide gas for some time.

In fact the opposite is true: if the beans are oily it indicates the beans have been over roasted, and the oils have been forced out of the bean. If you don't want to take the time to roast your own beans, buy them direct from a roasting company. The best window to grind beans is from 12 hours from roast (to allow the gases to release), up to one week at the most.

Kim

The strength of the aroma is greater when the coffee beans are fresh. Also the flavour is stronger and less bitter. However, although the ideal time to use your beans is in the first two weeks from roasting, you can however still use them 2 yrs later.

The only way to have really fresh coffee is to buy locally roasted coffee and in most cases you need to buy it direct from the roaster. Espresso drinkers will notice the difference when freshly roasted beans are used, however when milk based coffee drinks such as Cappuccinos or Lattes are consumed the subtle differences are often lost.

Always store your beans in a cool dark place but not in the fridge or freezer. Condensation can cause grinder problems. Using a dark oily roast can also cause grinder problems, especially if the bean tends to powder easily. Unless your grinder is easy to pull apart and clean I would suggest that you avoid beans that look too oily.

You will know espresso roast coffee beans are fresh if they have an oily surface.