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How Long Does Coffee Last In The Fridge

How Long Does Coffee Last In The Fridge?

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The coffee that you bought at the store is a pre-ground coffee and is already old so expect that it’s really hard to find great coffee from package grounds. There are some studies suggested that coffee doesn’t last very long so it’s best to store it in a fridge. If coffee grinds doesn’t get wet it won’t get bad. Storing your beans for as long as possible in a proper container and keeping your coffee in whole bean form is important before grinding it and turning into a cup of coffee. As its grinding stage takes a whole bean changing its form. All the ground beans are exposed to elements such as air, moisture and light causing your coffee to start downhill.

If you buy a whole coffee beans and grind it at your own comfort, you have to store your whole beans in an airtight container and make sure to keep your ground coffee at its best possible. When you already have the whole coffee beans and grind it its ground starts oxidizing. After a few hours it will not be fresh anymore and within days ground coffee will taste stale. So, it’s important to know if it’s passing its peak flavor. It couldn’t be as bad as moldy and dangerous to consume but its flavor is deteriorating.

A stale coffee has no health threat but those coffee beans that are already ground could develop a dull flavor. Some says that within a couple of weeks from grinding it starts deteriorating, about twice as fast as unground coffee. If you brew coffee and let it remain unrefrigerated it will quickly goes bad. The oils in the coffee will be grown with bacteria and molds same as perishable product in a span of days.

How long does coffee last?

There are many factors to consider and these are some:

When you store your coffee bean in a brown paper bag it will stay fresh within a couple of weeks. If it is placed in an airtight container they can stay fresh for 3-4 weeks or more.
Your ground coffee beans have more surface area exposed so it loses its freshness faster. Once you start grinding your whole beans it starts losing its freshness in just a few days. You can extend its freshness time by storing it properly in a good container.
Some people would suggest to store your coffee in the fridge if you want to stay it fresh. But this is not true since the refrigerator is a moist place so it is not good for coffee grind and it doesn’t stop the oxidation process. Putting in an airtight container and storing it in a fridge also helps in storing coffee in keeping oxygen and moisture out as possible. Freezing helps preserve coffee longer however it affects its flavor.

So How long does coffee last in the fridge?

If your bag of beans is still unopened it can last up to 2 to 3 years in the fridge but if it’s open and stored properly it can last for 1 up to 2 years. While storing your beans, make sure to use the beans as close to the roast date as possible, within 2 to 3 weeks for a pound coffee.

When you have brewed coffee, you can store it in your fridge for 3 to 4 days. It could last much longer than an ice in the freezer. You can add ice cubes for a perfect iced coffee. If you have an instant coffee stored in the fridge, whether it is open or unopened and you stored it properly, it can last up to 20 years after its best before date. And this is quite a longer shelf life. Isn’t it?

But it doesn’t mean that it can last long you’ll feel comfortable drinking it. When a product starts losing its pleasant flavor and aroma, it means there’s something wrong. And who doesn’t want to have a good taste coffee, right?

Your coffee goes bad because it is being contaminated by bugs’ or rodents’ moisture and heat causing problems. If your coffee is exposed to moisture and stays moist molds can grow. You can determined if your coffee gone bad due to its bad looks and smells. You can see or smell any signs of the presence of molds so better not use it anymore even it’s before its expiration date indicated in the container. When the oils start to break down its delicious aroma it also indicates a rancid flavor.

So, it is not advisable to store coffee in the fridge as its temperature fluctuations affects its taste and flavor. Your ground coffee loses its freshness over a week or two depending on the storage conditions and grind size. Frozen ground coffee may lose its flavor so freezing as way of storing coffee cannot be used up within two weeks of opening it. When it is properly stored it can maintain its best quality for about a month and still safe to drink.

Espresso Expert Member since November 3, 2018

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