Fresh ground beans lose flavor after 12 hours.
Fresh roasted beans lose flavor after about a week.
I roast green coffee beans to the "darkness" I prefer for that particular bean. I roast enough for about a week and grind what I will use each day that morning.
The characteristics of green beans will change after maybe two years. They don't go bad or acquire a poor flavor, just a different flavor.
For those interested in becoming a Coffee Nut, check out Sweet Maria's
http://www.sweetmarias.com/index.phpSo, to me, possession of flavored or decaf (Medical Exemption accepted) coffee in any form with the intent to brew is a capital offense. Evening thinking about it is getting borderline...but it's a free country....what can you do?
If you want your coffee flavored, pour something in it after it is brewed...like Bailey's or Bushmills.