Blog

Does Brewed Coffee Go Bad?

Contents show

Coffee could be a medium where bacteria can grow and goes stale within hours of brewing due to delay refrigeration or freezing. If you leave nor sit for a few days, you’ll notice molds growing in t and its taste and smell change to an acrid vinegar.

So How Does brewed coffee go bad?

Well, definitely it goes bad. But it depends on how you define “bad” when it comes to your coffee. For some, it’s when they drink their coffee and made them sick, some refers to its bad taste. But for some, as long as the taste is still coffee and drink the same caffeine, it’s perfectly fine for them.

There is only 30 minutes or less shelf-life of coffee when you store it in an airtight thermos. Why? Because it continues to oxidize even after brewing. Your coffee’s freshness mostly depends on the beans you are using, like if you’re using stale ground beans then for sure it will produce a stale cup of coffee.

When your coffee beans contact with air it starts its oxidizing process. This oxidization process can cause your coffees flavor compounds to deteriorate and be released when contact with air. It will remain good for a few weeks when you store it properly as its oxidization process slows down.

The brewing process itself is considered as an oxidization process because your beans are in contact with water and it begins releasing its aromatics, oils and acids into the water. And this oxidization doesn’t stop even if you brewed it already.

Letting your coffee sits for too long, there would be a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, raising the pH level making it taste bitter or stale. So, it is not advisable to let it sit in a brewing pot for a longer period of time. If you don’t want to have a very bitter coffee make sure that your grind size is not too small and not brew it for too long.

So Does brewed coffee go bad?

Yes, it does. How? It’s the oxygen affecting your coffee once it is brewed while breaking down the organic compounds in your coffee. Now, you’ll probably wonder how long you can sit your brewed coffee. Well, your coffee’s flavor decay and starts to become less pleasant after an hour or two. It will have an intense bitterness after four hours or more.

Thus, it is not recommenced drinking coffee that has been sitting out for more than 5-6 hours as we don’t know that mold spores may attach and grow. Though it looks fine but it’s not.

Keep these following reminders not to mistaken your coffee as fresh or too bad for your taste.

Whole beans can be fresh and flavorful for 2-3 weeks
Ground coffee can be fresh for 20-30 minutes
Take note of the roasted date when you try to buy some
You can extend your coffee’s shelf-life by 1-2 weeks through using a vacuum coffee canister
When you have brewed coffee, it starts decaying after 1-2 hours but still safe to drink.

How can you say of your brewed coffee is bad?

Well, it all boils down to the beans being used. If the beans you brewed smell rancid, or has discoloration or molds, better disregard that kind of beans. But if your beans seem to be perfectly fine, then it’s good to go and brew it.

Coffee’s freshness lasts after roasting depends on roaster’s packaging. In packaging, there are different types of bags that can prevent fresh air from getting in while allowing carbon dioxide out like the triple-ply foil. This is the most common packaging done in any local stores. On the other hand, there are some that requires nitrogen flushing, where it helps preserve coffee beans by flushing away the oxygen and temporarily eliminates it to become stale. It’s temporary because as soon as the bag is open and oxygen enters, it starts to stale your coffee. Delaying your coffee could ruin the shelf life of your coffee beans. So you have to grind it fresh. Crush your beans and the air will make them stale so you should not leave your ground coffee even 10-20 minutes until you brew it again.

Espresso Expert Member since November 3, 2018

which coffee maker makes the best tasting coffee

Disclaimer

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We are also participants in other affiliate programs and may earn a small commission if you purchase through our links.