Do you know if the old bag of coffee beans you found is any good? The label’s date was not all that old.
If there is no mold or other ruined ingredients, such as milk, you can consume outdated coffee without becoming sick. Even though the coffee is over its expiration date and is still safe to consume, the beverage lacks the typical tastes and fragrances. Coffee does not taste the same after the package date has past, but it does not degrade to the point where it cannot be consumed. In conclusion, drinking coffee does not necessarily become worse with time, and you can do so for an extended period of time without experiencing any negative effects. For best results, consider drinking it within a few weeks.
Nevertheless, you might not want to.
What I mean is this.
How Long Does Coffee Normally Last?
Coffee doesn’t go bad for months or even years after the production or harvesting date. The Best By or Expiration Date on the packaging itself is the most obvious clue as to how long your coffee could last. That is, of course, assuming that your coffee was initially pre-packaged and printed with that information.
Three factors will determine how long your coffee lasts even beyond the expiration date:
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the format in which coffee is served (e.g. ground coffee, whole beans, instant coffee).
where you have it stored (e.g. in the cupboard or in the freezer).
if it has been opened or is still sealed.
How Long Is Coffee Good After The Expiration Date?
Here’s a little-known fact regarding the expiry dates on food products of all kinds: they’re more of an estimate than a precise time when the coffee goes bad.
In actuality, your coffee keeps for a long time and much past the listed expiration date on the packaging.
That period of time depends on three things, as was described in the previous section: the way the coffee is packaged, the location in which it is kept, and if it has been opened.
Here are a few instances:
Ground coffee will be usable for up to 5 months after its expiration date.
Whole coffee beans will keep for up to 6 months after their expiration date.
If you have instant coffee, it can stay fresh for up to 20 years after it has expired.
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However, keep in mind that coffee, in any form, will remain much longer if it is still sealed than if it is not. Additionally, coffee will survive longer in the freezer than it would anyplace else.
YOU CAN STORE BREWED COFFEE
Although it won’t taste or smell as lovely as freshly made cups, you may store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. Ground coffee may stay fresh for a few months after the date of consumption, whole beans for nine months, and instant coffee for up to twenty years if stored in this manner. In order to increase the shelf life of both whole beans and ground coffee by up to a year or three, you might also choose to store your coffee in the freezer. Additionally, putting your coffee in the freezer extends its shelf life compared to other storage options.
For example, a sealed bag of coffee stored in the freezer will last far longer than an open bag of ground coffee left in the kitchen cupboard. The life of coffee grinds, even in vacuum-sealed packaging, is only around three to five months.
Can You Drink Expired Coffee?- All things you need to know
Yes, unless it contains mould or ruined additions like milk, you may consume outdated coffee without becoming sick. However, you could feel sick to your stomach and disgusted when you realize that you drank old coffee. Coffee that is almost completely over its expiration date is bitter or sour.
People who have respiratory allergies may get respiratory problems from moldy, expired coffee.
Unless the grounds or beans have mold from improper storage, brewing coffee with old beans or grounds won’t make you sick. Your cup of tea, however, will be monotonous and hardly worth the work.
Similar to how a dead espresso or an old cup of black coffee won’t harm you on their own. However, consuming a lot of coffee with ruined toppings like milk or cream might result in health problems including bloating, diarrhea, and stomach pain. These issues are brought on by expired additives.
If you were to bring someone a cup of expired coffee and then let them know it was expired, it would not be a nice thing. The person could actually experience nausea and terror. It has nothing to do with the coffee; it’s just a fear in his mind that he may have drunk coffee that has gone bad.
Does Coffee Expire?
Yes, coffee eventually ages and spoils, whether it is made from whole beans, coffee grounds, or freshly brewed coffee. Old coffee won’t likely make you sick, though, unless it has become tainted with fungus and bacteria as a result of bad storage.
Coffee’s shelf life is influenced by a number of variables, including its physical state (green beans, roasted, pre-ground, or brewed coffee), as well as how it is stored. The presence of additions to the coffee is another consideration, especially for brewed coffee.
Whether or not coffee is opened, it ultimately expires. A small amount of air enters the bag or container you are using to store your coffee each time you open it, exposing the coffee to oxidation.
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How Does Coffee Expire?
Coffee beans are heated during the roasting process, which causes the beans to release moisture, generate delicious smells and oils, as well as gases like carbon dioxide (CO2). The beans’ structural alterations result in lighter beans with larger pores. The beans contain trapped CO2 gas and volatile substances.
Compared to green beans, roasted beans are more unstable and more susceptible to changes in temperature, moisture, light, and time. The beans are highly porous and hygroscopic. In a process known as de-gassing/outgassing, roasted coffee beans constantly release the contained CO2 and volatile chemicals.
After roasting, roasted beans start to off-gas; this off-gassing peaks within the first 24 hours, with around 40% of the trapped gases leaving. After 5 to 10 days after roasting, the rate of degassing slows down and stabilizes, at which point the beans are ready to be used for coffee.
As CO2 continues to escape quickly during brewing, it interferes with the extraction, resulting in uneven coffee and a bloated crema when coffee beans are used without first priming them. After brewing, the inflated crema leaves the cup quickly.
How to Tell if Coffee is Rancid
Coffee may be smelled to determine whether it is rotten. The scent of rancid coffee is flat, mildewy, and ashtray-like.
Coffee that has been made, particularly cold brew, loses taste and fragrance as it ages, becoming bland and occasionally exhibiting woody undertones.
There are three techniques to determine if coffee beans or ground coffee is stale.
- Taking note of the beans’/grounds’ external characteristics (color, dryness, and scent)
- Seeing how beer is made
- Aroma and flavor of freshly brewed coffee
Stale coffee beans will often be excessively dry and devoid of oils. Older fields also feel and have a dry surface. Stale coffee beans or grinds that have been exposed to moisture for an extended period of time are likely to have visible mildew and a musty odor that can induce respiratory issues.
When using a pour-over coffee maker or drawing an espresso as compared to a drip coffee machine, it is simpler to visually identify rotten coffee.
When pulling an espresso with old beans or grounds, there will be channeling because of the uneven grounds. Additionally, the crema is probably going to be poor or nonexistent because of the high CO2 loss. Due to the oxidation process, some of the brighter chemicals have vanished, giving the espresso a woody fragrance and flavor.
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How To Store Coffee Beans in a Freezer
Coffee beans can be kept in a freezer without risk as long as the storage bag has been completely emptied of air. When you place the coffee beans in the freezer, there won’t be any condensation within the bag because all the air has been removed.
The freezer should be set as low as possible, with temperatures below -20 degrees Celsius producing the greatest results.
We advise freezing your coffee beans in portions of roughly 250–350 grams each, sealed in airtight zipper bags. The portioned bags should be placed in a closed container and kept at the back of the freezer.
When using frozen coffee beans, take out one pack at a time and store it in a cabinet until you’re done. It is not a good idea to open a bag and then put it back in the freezer since this increases the likelihood of condensation.
To allow for proper degassing, avoid freezing newly roasted coffee beans right after roasting.
Related questions
Q: Can I get sick from drinking expired coffee?
A: No, you cannot get sick from drinking expired coffee. The flavor may not be as enjoyable, but there are no health risks associated with consuming past-date coffee.
Q: Can I store my opened bag of ground coffee in the refrigerator?
A: Yes, storing your opened bag of ground coffee in the refrigerator or a dry, cool place can help extend its shelf life. However, it is best to store coffee in an airtight container away from light and moisture for optimal freshness.
Q: How long does brewed coffee last?
A: Brewed coffee typically lasts up to 3-4 days when stored in the refrigerator. It’s important to note that the flavor and quality of brewed coffee will begin to degrade after a few hours and become less enjoyable over time. So it’s best to drink your coffee as soon as you brew it if possible.
Final thoughts
There you have it, everything you need to know about drinking expired coffee. Hopefully, this has settle the debate for you once and for all. If not, at least now you know what risks come with consuming expired coffee and can make an informed decision.
If you have any questions about coffee or want to share your tips and tricks, don’t hesitate to reach out to us through Angelo’s Burgers. We would love to hear from you!