What is past crop coffee?

Past crop refers to green coffee that is no longer considered part of the current or new crop - coffee that has been in storage long enough to show signs of ageing and quality decline. There's no fixed definition of when a coffee transitions from current to past crop, but it's generally understood to occur after 18–24 months from the harvest date.

Past crop coffee typically shows reduced brightness and acidity, colour shifting from vibrant green towards yellow or pale, and loss of aromatic complexity. In the cup it develops flat, papery, woody, or hay-like notes - the flavour equivalent of old bread compared to fresh.

Past crop lots are priced at a discount and are typically used in commercial blends where fresh, distinctive flavours aren't the priority. For specialty buyers, past crop should be approached with caution. It shouldn't be confused with intentionally aged coffee like Monsooned Malabar, where ageing is controlled and purposeful - a very different proposition to old stock that simply wasn't sold in time.