Work backwards from how many drinks you make, not from how long the bag lasts on a shelf.
What a 250 g bag makes
- Espresso at 18 g a shot: about 14 drinks
- Filter at 15 g a brew: about 16 brews
- French press at 30 g a pot: about 8 pots
- Moka pot, 3-cup, at roughly 15 g: about 16 brews
Match the bag to the window
Coffee is at its best from about five days to five weeks after roasting. Once opened, two to three weeks before you notice a decline.
So the right bag size is the one you will finish in that window:
- One drink a day: 250 g lasts a fortnight. Correct.
- Two or three drinks a day: 250 g lasts a week. Consider 500 g or a subscription.
- One drink at weekends: 250 g will go flat before you finish it. Buy smaller, or freeze in portions.
Buying a kilo
Cheaper per gram and usually a mistake unless you drink a great deal. A kilo at two drinks a day takes five weeks, and the last third will be past its best.
If you do buy in bulk, freeze it in weekly portions, thawed sealed and used within a few days.
Last reviewed 8 August 2026