One of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, particularly in the US, is coffee. You may be surprised to know that the United States consumes 1.62 billion pounds of coffee every year and 73% of Americans drink coffee every day. Coffee has become familiar to everyone, appearing in many meals, and can be combined with many dishes.
But how long does coffee last? Or do different types of coffee have different shelf life? If you are a coffee lover and want to learn more about these issues, this article is for you. We will learn more about the shelf life of different types of coffee and tips to prolong its freshness.
How Long Does Coffee Last?
The type of coffee and mode of storage determine the shelf life of coffee. Whole-bean coffee usually can last from 6 months to 1 year or more with appropriate storage. A whole coffee bean vacuum-sealed bag might last for up to 2 years. Meanwhile, ground coffee may last for around 4 weeks to several months unopened. For the opened roasted version, its life can last about 2 weeks when stored in the refrigerator. For brewed coffee, the shelf life will take a bit shorter, taking about 24 hours to several days.
Generally speaking, dry coffee will last longer. However, the kind of coffee and the way the coffee is kept will have a great impact on how long coffee can last. We will discuss the factors that affect the shelf life of coffee to understand better below:
- Oxygen: Like any dried food, coffee is susceptible to spoilage and loss of original flavor when exposed to oxygen for a long time. The oxidation process will reduce the shelf life of coffee beans.
- Sunlight: If coffee and darkness are “best friends”, then sunlight is the biggest “enemy” of coffee. Temperature and UV rays in sunlight will make coffee spoil faster.
- Humidity: High humidity is the third factor that makes coffee spoil faster. That is also the reason why coffee needs to be stored in a dry place.
How Long Do Different Types of Coffee Last?
Now, let’s take a closer look at the shelf life of different types of coffee to help you get a clearer view!
Whole Coffee Beans
Whole coffee beans are the longest-lasting coffee. Whole roasted coffee can last from a few weeks to a year, or even longer if stored properly. A whole bean that has been packaged properly in a vacuum bag can last for up to two years. The essential storage conditions include ensuring the coffee bag is closed appropriately and storing it at room temperature without exposure to potential sources of moisture or light.
On the other hand, whole-bean coffee can last for 1 – 3 weeks only if placed in an opened bag. You can put whole beans in a dry, airtight, and light-proof container to extend their life.
You can also store coffee in the freezer or refrigerator. So how long does coffee last in the fridge? Whole beans in an airtight container are good when stored in the freezer or refrigerator for 3-4 weeks. But, freezing the coffee beans themselves is not a very good way of preserving the taste of coffee.
Ground Coffee
Like whole-bean coffee, unopened-ground coffee will keep fresh much longer than opened-ground coffee. It can be fresh up to the expiration date from the manufacturer, about 4 weeks or a few months.
Opened ground coffee should be kept in an airtight container at room temperature away from moisture and light. If well stored, opened-ground coffee will last for approximately 1-2 weeks.
You can also store ground coffee in the refrigerator or freezer to limit moisture in the air. Ground coffee can last about 2 weeks in the refrigerator and about 1 month in the freezer if sealed.
Brewed Coffee or Espresso
There is very little expert research on how long does coffee last with brewed coffee or espresso. Most advice or opinions on the shelf life of brewed coffee come from personal experience.
Some say that for up to 20-30 minutes, the taste of brewed coffee will be freshest when it has been kept at room temperature. Brew coffee can be consumed after being left at room temperature for several hours. Brewed coffee without adding milk or cream, can only last up to 4 hours at room temperature. While brewed coffee stored in an airtight container and refrigerated lasts approximately 3-4 days, of course, it will not yield a flavor as great as the original.
Meanwhile, coffee with milk or cream should be consumed within 2 hours when left at room temperature. You can then store it for longer by placing the coffee with milk in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When stored this way, the coffee with milk can survive fresh for approximately 1-2 days. However, before using the coffee, one needs to smell it if it is spoiled because milk easily spoils.
It is the same as instant coffee; espresso needs to be used within a few hours for the flavor. The espresso will last a few hours at room temperature and about a day in the refrigerator but lose its original flavor.
Cold Brew Coffee
Cold-brew coffee will last longer than hot-brewed coffee. If you store cold brew concentrate in an airtight container, it will last 4-7 days in the refrigerator. If you add water to cold brew coffee, it will last about 3-4 days.
Like hot-brewed coffee, cold-brewed coffee with milk should be consumed within 2 hours. It may be kept in the refrigerator for approximately 1-2 days, but you may want to check the contents before consumption.
Instant Coffee
Instant coffee is a type of ground coffee that has a longer shelf life than traditional ground coffee. Some say that unopened instant coffee can last from a few years to about 20 years if stored properly. Opened instant coffee can be stored in an airtight container for a few months.
Can You Still Drink Expired Coffee?
So if your coffee has expired, can you use it? In fact, old or expired coffee does not pose a food poisoning risk. However, stale coffee will not have the same delicious original flavor as fresh coffee.
However, you should still be careful when using expired coffee. You should evaluate and check if it smells moldy, rancid or has changed color. If so, you should throw the coffee away immediately. Also, be careful with coffee with milk or cream. Milk and cream will make coffee spoil faster, so you should not try coffee with milk or cream that has been left for too long to avoid food poisoning.
Wrap Up
How long does coffee last depends largely on the type of coffee and how it is stored. Whole bean coffee may last from several months to a year, as opposed to ground coffee, which may last from some weeks to a month. Meanwhile, brewed coffee has a life of only about 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Good storage of your coffee will extend its usability, but having it in the specified timeframe will determine the best quality and flavor for consumption.
