One question that's relatively common -- especially if you're an infrequent coffee drinker, or if you were a bit overzealous because it was on sale -- is, "Does coffee go bad?" The answer is, yes, it does. Okay, our work here is done.
Wait, you wanted to learn more? Here's how to tell if coffee has gone bad, and why freshness matters.
There's no such thing as a coffee molecule. Coffee -- whether it exists in bean or ground form, or it's sitting in front of you in a cup -- is made up of as many as a thousand different compounds, including carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids. With the passage of time, those compounds undergo physical and chemical changes that alter the aroma and taste of both the raw material and the finished product. Carbs go stale, lipids go rancid, volatile organic compounds evaporate, and other components change with exposure to oxygen (oxidation) or water. Even small changes can have a significant impact on the taste of your coffee.
How long your coffee will last depends on its form, as well as where and how it's stored. If taste is your concern, your best bet is to store coffee in an airtight container somewhere cool, dry, and dark. Stored this way, ground coffee can be used for a few months past its expiration date, whole bean for up to nine months, and instant coffee for up to twenty years. You can also store coffee in the freezer, which greatly extends its shelf life (anywhere from one to three years for whole bean and ground coffee, and practically indefinitely for instant). However, freezing coffee practically destroys its flavor; the more interesting parts of the flavor profile vanish, and coffee that's thawed from frozen will taste dull.
Peak flavor can vary, depending on the type of beans, the roast, and the brewing method used. In all cases, however, your safest bet is to use coffee as close to the roasting date (not the expiration date) as possible. Often, the expiration date is a year from the date on which the beans were roasted. The closer you are to the latter than the former, the less fresh (and less tasty) the coffee. If you've bought coffee and you're not sure when you'll use it, as happens if you usually drink regular but keep a can of decaf on hand for company, at least keep it sealed 'til you're ready to use it. Most coffees are packed with nitrogen to slow spoilage, but once the seal is broken, you're trading nitrogen for oxygen and humidity, both of which rob your coffee of flavor. Since the preceding sounds a bit confusing (and Googling returns all sorts of contradictory information), let's distill this to its essence.
Fresh coffee is best, period.Freshly ground coffee, if you have the beans and a grinder; as close as possible to the date of purchase if you've bought your coffee pre-ground. If it looks or smells a bit "off" (rancid, moldy, or mildewy), throw it out. If it just smells flat, it's going to taste flat, since the smell of coffee is such an important part of its flavor profile. Unless it's gone moldy, you shouldn't get sick from expired coffee, but just because you can drink coffee that's past its expiration date doesn't mean that it's a good idea. Freshness matters!
Does Coffee Expire? Similar to some other food items like chocolate and spices, coffee does not have an expiration date in the traditional sense. This is because coffee beans, when stored properly, do not spoil or become harmful to consume. However, coffee can go stale over time, which can affect its flavor and aroma.
Bottom line is that ground coffee will stay safe enough to drink pretty much indefinitely, barring any mold in the bag or a funky smell. But let's be honest, the coffee-drinking experience is more about the taste than anything else. If you don't like how it tastes, then you might as well dump it.
Depending on how they're stored, whole, roasted coffee beans can last for a few weeks to several months — or sometimes even years. A sealed package of roasted coffee beans that hasn't been opened and is stored at room temperature away from heat, moisture, and light should stay fresh until its best-by date.
The good news: No, coffee doesn't really “go bad” in the way that bread grows mold or a banana slowly rots on your countertop. And drinking coffee made from old beans won't make you sick, even if the expiration date has passed. (We can't vouch for the taste, though.)
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no caffeinated coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks or other products for children under the age of 12, while adolescents between the ages of age 12 and 18 should limit their intake to less than 100 milligrams per day -- about the size of an old-fashioned cup of coffee.
Coffee beans: An unopened bag of whole coffee beans can last for up to twelve months when stored in a cool, dark, dry place and an opened bag is good for up to one week. Ground coffee: You can keep an unopened pack of ground coffee in the pantry for three to five months.
Ground coffee stays good for about 3 to 5 months if you keep it in your kitchen cupboard. If you put it in the freezer, it can last up to 1 or 2 years. But, if you want the best taste, it's a good idea to use it within a few weeks after you open it.
If you place coffee with milk or creamer, it will stay fresh for only 2 days. However, if you brew black coffee, it will last 4 days in the fridge. The exception is a cold brew concentrate that stays fresh for up to 10 days in the fridge.
But if your coffee smells and tastes bland, or worse—like nothing—it's stale. You'll instantly know your coffee has gone stale when the scents and flavors are noticeably diminished.
Not really. Compared to the other elements in coffee, caffeine is a fairly stable chemical. It tends to last for months without losing any significant amount of potency. That means if you have old coffee, the caffeine in it is still going to be just about as potent as it was when you originally bought it.
Plain black coffee, without any added milk or creamer, can sit out at room temperature for about 4-6 hours. However, after that point, its flavor and quality will start to deteriorate. It's best to consume black coffee within the first few hours of brewing to experience its optimal taste.
Hot black coffee: At normal room temperature, black coffee can last up to 24 hours before you've got to worry about it spoiling. However, that doesn't mean it won't be stale. Just thirty minutes in, plain black coffee will start to lose its flavor.
Some research suggests coffee can lower the risk for high blood pressure, also called hypertension, in people who don't already have it. But drinking too much coffee has been shown to raise blood pressure and lead to anxiety, heart palpitations and trouble sleeping.
In fact, unopened bags of coffee beans can stay fresh for up to a year from the roast date. Once you open a bag of coffee beans, it's best to consume them within three weeks. After three weeks, the flavor of the coffee may start to deteriorate, and you may notice a loss in aroma and taste.
Freshly roasted coffee whole coffee beans can last up to a whole year in a sealed package, and one week to a month once opened. Ground coffee beans on the other hand have a shorter shelf life and will stay fresh for a few months unopened, but should be consumed within a few days once opened.
Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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