I smiled when I received the recent Starbucks mailing with samples of their three new, limited-edition estate coffees—Sumatra Lintong, Mexico el Retiro and Tanzania Estate. I smiled, as I had just returned from Tanzania, where oddly I had been served instant, not fresh brewed local coffee. So I especially looked forward to sampling the Tanzanian one — as well as theTB_Tanzania_Estate.jpg other two brews.

Unfortunately these limited reserves are only available ground. Unfortunately I say, as pre-ground coffee is never as fresh as fresh ground (obviously). And, sometimes it’s just stale. My Sumatra Lintong — the extra bold variety — from Indonesia was just that. Luckily the opposite was true with the Tanzanian coffee with its intoxicating aroma indicating just that when I opened the bag.

If you’re a coffee aficionado, do try one of these estate coffees as the fresh ones produced delicious brews. But if you end up with a stale bag — evident by a non-inviting aroma as you unseal it — do return it to the store. Maybe if enough people complain and return their stale pre-ground coffee, Starbucks will consider offering the next limited edition ones as whole bean coffees.

Each 10-ounce bag sells for $9.99