An unopened can of illy ground coffee will remain fresh for at least two years due to illy's proprietary patented pressurised system that extracts air from the can and replaces it with inert gases at a higher-than-atmospheric level of pressure. This method guarantees a longer preservation time, maintaining flavour and aroma for over 24 months. At the same time, it 'ages' the coffee, improving its aroma over time by causing its volatile aroma compounds to bind with the oils that are contained in the beans. Simple vacuum packing cannot achieve this flavour transformation. The positive pressure exerted by illy's method actually forces these aroma compounds back into the coffee, whereas vacuum packing lets them seep out. The effect of illy's ageing process is similar in many ways to the development of complex flavours when a fine red wine is aged under proper conditions.
A room-temperature can of illy will remain at optimum freshness for 7 days after opening. After 7 days, flavour will begin to deteriorate due to natural oxidation from exposure to air.
If the entire can will be consumed within 7 days, room temperature storage is recommended. If the coffee will not be consumed within 7 days, we recommend refrigerated storage, allowing the coffee to return to room temperature before use. It is important to refrigerate the can immediately after opening in this case to retain optimum flavour.
