The Short Answer: You can buy the freshest beans in town right off the roaster here at Larry's Coffee. While many Raleigh grocery stores carry local brands, the beans can often sit on the shelves for weeks. For the freshest experience (often within 24-48 hours), visit Larry's Coffee at our sustainable facility in the Five Points neighborhood (1507 Gavin St Raleigh NC 27608).
The Grocery Store vs. The Direct Source
At Larry’s we want to deliver you the best cup of coffee possible, that means roasting fresh to order based on demand. Keeping a limited backstock allows us to ensure our coffee finds a good home and doesn't just sit on the shelf. While properly roasted and stored coffee can remain good for a long time, the flavor continues to evolve. Roasting closer to when you will actually brew allows you to experience the coffee in a more personal and intentional way.
Fresh to order roasting also gives coffee the time it needs to breath and develop. Right after roasting, coffee releases natural gases that can affect how it tastes if brewed too soon. Depending on the blend, some coffees shine early while others open up gradually, becoming smoother and more balanced over time. Buying directly from the roaster lets you choose when you enjoy it within that flavor window.
We want to be clear, buying coffee at the grocery store is a perfectly valid choice. Convenience matters, access matters and everyone’s routine is different. Our goal is not to replace that option, in fact we love our grocery partners! Think of buying directly from our roaster the way you might think about visiting the local butcher, farmers market or the neighbors egg stand. It is a closer connection to your food, with more transparency around how and when it was prepared.
Roasting fresh to order is also a sustainability choice. Producing only what we need helps reduce waste, avoids overproduction and keeps coffee from sitting unused. We know how much effort and care it took to grow, harvest and get these beans here, we don’t want to waste a single one!
Why "Roasted On" Dates Matter
Roasted on dates matter, because they let you know where the coffee is in its flavor journey.
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Oxidation: The moment coffee is roasted, it starts reacting with oxygen. Over time, oxygen steals the oils that give coffee its specific flavor notes (like blueberry, chocolate, or jasmine).
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The "Bloom": Fresh coffee releases CO2. When you pour hot water on fresh beans, they bubble up (the bloom). This is what you can expect to see with fresh coffee
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Expirations: We have a 1 year expiration date on our coffee. Coffee that is stored correctly does not suddenly expire or become unsafe to drink. What changes over time is the flavor and after one year we can’t stand behind that flavor.
How should I store my coffee?
When it comes to fresh coffee, storage matters! When storing coffee think: airtight, cool & dry.
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Airtight: Oxygen is coffee’s biggest flavor thief. Store your coffee in a sealed, airtight container or in its original bag when sealed.
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Cool and Dry: store in a cool, dark, dry place. A pantry or cabinet is ideal, avoid storing it near the stove or window. When we say cool, not too cool. Refrigerators introduce moisture and odors, both of which can be absorbed easily by coffee. Freezing can work for long term storage if coffee is sealed extremely well and only thawed once. For everyday use room temperature is best.
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Whole Bean: If you are not going to use your coffee within a month, buy whole beans if you can. Grinding exposes more surface area to oxygen which speeds up flavor loss. Whole beans
Where to Find the Goods: The Raleigh Roundup
1. Straight from the Source: Larry’s Coffee (Five Points)
Come see us! We are on one of the last dirt roads in Raleigh, tucked away on Gavin Street. You can grab bags of our best-sellers right off the shelf.
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Best for: The absolute freshest roast dates.
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Try This: [Larry's Coffee Cowboy Blend] It’s our best-seller, and when it’s fresh, the smoky/sweet notes are out of this world.
2. Local Markets and Shops
Can't make it to Five Points? We stock fresh bags weekly at partners who actually care about rotation.
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Weaver Street Market
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Harmony Farms
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Whole Foods (Wade Ave & North Raleigh)
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Taylors BP on Six Forks Road always has a fresh batch brewed and their shelves stocked!
3. Right at Your Door
If you want fresh coffee but hate traffic (we get it, Wade Ave is a nightmare), we ship directly from the roastery.
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Try This: [Larry's House Blend] Set it on auto-pilot. We roast it and mail it. It usually arrives at your Raleigh doorstep in 1-2 days.
The Takeaway
The roast date tells you where coffee is in its flavor journey. Freshly roasted coffee gives you more control over when to brew it. Come swing by 1507 Gavin Street, say hi to the team, watch tomorrow's beans getting roasted right through the viewing window and grab a bag that was roasted yesterday. Not in the neighborhood? Subscribe on our website for freshly roasted beans right to your doorstep!