Learning about green coffee and arrival dates are factors in your coffee cup. Good coffee starts with purchasing high quality green coffee, proper storage, arrival dates, and much more. Usually green coffee from origins above 1400 meters are better. Another important factor is how green coffee is stored for a prolonged time as the coffee quality decreases distinctively.
In general, nobody who has a financial stake in a shipment of coffee wants to see it age. Coffee sold as “Specialty-Grade” has large premiums attached to it that are based on the cup quality as agreed upon by a buyer and seller. If the pre-ship sample does not match the arrival coffee, the container can be rejected at a HUGE loss to the exporter.
Aged coffee is NOT old coffee: it is aged with care by rotating the bags or otherwise rotating the coffee to even out the moisture distribution and prevent any bad things like mold from developing. It is done in the county of origin, usually at some altitude to avoid extreme temperature or humidity fluctuations. It is expensive since the costs to age it are great, the reward delayed, there is labor involved, and the risk of possibly turning out a rotten cup of coffee after 2-3 years!