Days Off Roast
How many days since the coffee was roasted. The single most important freshness signal — and the one most bags hide on a peelable sticker.
Days off roast (often abbreviated DOR) is the number of days between when the coffee was roasted and today. A bag roasted on June 1 is at 8 days off roast on June 9. Coffee changes characteristically over the first month: gas release peaks early, solubility settles, and aromatics evolve.
Why it matters
Fresh-roast coffee is loaded with CO₂ from the roasting process. That CO₂ blocks water from extracting cleanly during the first few days — espresso shots gush, pour overs taste thin. After about a week, the gas levels drop enough that the bean extracts more evenly.
On the other end, after 30+ days, aromatic oils begin to oxidise. The cup loses brightness and complexity before it tastes overtly "stale," but the peak is gone.
Freshness windows by brew method
| Method | Sweet spot | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 7–21 days | Needs gas to settle; pre-7-day shots run fast and channel. |
| Pour over (V60, Origami) | 5–14 days | Light roasts can run later (10–21 days). |
| AeroPress | 4–14 days | Forgives wider freshness range than V60. |
| Batch brew | 5–21 days | Long forgiveness window. |
| French press | 5–21 days | Immersion is the most forgiving on freshness. |
| Decaf | 3–14 days | Processing removes some gas; opens window earlier and closes faster. |
What changes as days off roast increases
- Days 1–3: Aggressive gas release. Espresso shots gush. Bloom on pour over explodes.
- Days 4–10: Balance arrives. Espresso shots stabilise. Pour over blooms are vigorous but predictable.
- Days 11–21: Peak window for most coffees. Brightness, sweetness, and structure all present.
- Days 22–35: Slowly declining aromatics. Cup is still good; complexity is fading.
- Day 35+: Detectable staleness. Aromatic oils oxidising; baked or papery notes appear.
Storage matters as much as time
A bag kept sealed in a dark, cool place ages much more slowly than one left open on a sunny counter. Vacuum-sealed bags can extend the peak by weeks. Freezer storage in airtight containers preserves freshness for months — but only if bags are sealed before freezing and used immediately on thaw.
How HomeBarista tracks it
Set the roast date once when you add a coffee bag (or scan it with the AI bag scanner). Days off roast updates automatically. You can see at a glance which bag is freshest, which is approaching its peak, and which is past it.
Related terms
- Bloom — bloom intensity is largely a function of days off roast.
- Crema — crema thickness is mostly a function of freshness.
- Dial-In — grind setting that works at day 7 won't work at day 28.
Auto-tracked days off roast on every bag.
Set the roast date once; HomeBarista updates daily.
