How Long Does Coffee Last? 8 Storage Tips
Is there anything better than that first cup of coffee? We don’t think so. While we can’t get enough Javvy Coffee, we know plenty of coffee varieties are out there. If you’ve ever wondered how long coffee lasts, we’ve got the answers.
Today, we’re going to walk through the details of how long coffee lasts and how you can store it to maximize its shelf life. Life is too short to drink bad coffee.
Coffee Beans
Let’s start by talking about the most basic form of coffee: whole beans. These beautiful little treasures are what make coffee, coffee. Later, we’ll grind them up to make coffee, but first, let’s look at how long coffee beans last.
How Long Do Coffee Beans Last?
Of all the forms of coffee we will talk about today, coffee beans have the longest shelf life. Coffee beans are fairly easy to store, and when stored properly, they can last for years.
Many YouTubers and coffee influencers have made videos about drinking old coffee made from beans roasted all the way back in the 1930s. Thanks to proper storage, they were still safe to drink 90 years later.
But that doesn’t mean those old beans made coffee worth drinking. Over time, coffee beans go through a process called oxidation, where the oxygen in the air breaks down certain antioxidants in the coffee responsible for its flavor.
That means that whole bean coffee, when properly stored, will always be safe to drink, even after the expiration date on the bag. However, after about two months from the roasting date, even the best coffee beans will begin to lose their flavor.
Bottom line: The shelf life of coffee beans is roughly two months with proper storage.
How To Store Coffee Beans
The best way to store your coffee beans is in a cool, dry place with little to no light. You can keep your beans stored at room temperature in a cabinet, preferably in an airtight container. If you follow these simple principles, your coffee will stay fresh for those full two months.
Coffee Grounds
You’re already familiar with coffee grounds. Before Javvy Coffee came along, it was a convenient way to have coffee on hand without needing another small kitchen appliance (hello, coffee grinder). Pre-ground coffee is easy to find, but is it easy to store?
How Long Do Coffee Grounds Last?
Grounds don’t keep for nearly as long as coffee beans do. Once the coffee is ground, a much larger surface area of the bean is exposed to the air. More air means more oxidation, so ground coffee loses its flavors far quicker than beans.
When you buy a bag of grounds at the store, they are kept in an airtight container or bag. In this state, they can last for several months. However, once you open your grounds, they will age much faster.
Grounds start to oxidize and lose their flavor within hours of being opened or ground. This results in stale coffee rather than the aromatic hot coffee you were hoping for.
How To Store Coffee Grounds
Luckily, there is still a lot you can do to slow the aging process. It all comes down to vacuum-sealed or airtight containers. If you can remove most of the air from the grounds while storing them, they will keep much longer.
Grounds remain food-safe for several months when stored properly. To keep your coffee fresh for longer, investing in an airtight or vacuum-sealed coffee container is a great idea.
Brewed Coffee
Now let’s talk about brewed coffee. A pot of fresh coffee is part of the morning routine in American households every day. Sometimes, those pots go unfinished. What do you do with that extra coffee?
How Long Does Brewed Coffee Last?
The length of time that your coffee lasts depends on several factors. First, does your brewer keep it hot? If your brewer has a hot plate keeping the coffee warm, it will last much longer than if left at room temperature.
Hot coffee technically stays fresh for about 20 minutes. However, you can turn your hot brewed coffee into iced coffee, which can be stored in the fridge for a few days. Just put your coffee in an airtight container or carafe in the fridge to help keep it fresh, and you’ll have iced coffee ready to go the next day.
How To Store Brewed Coffee
There are several ways to keep your cup of coffee fresh. We’ve already mentioned the hot plate on the coffee maker as an option, but you can also store your coffee in an insulated mug or thermos to keep it hot for much longer. Some electric mugs even heat themselves.
To store brewed coffee as iced coffee, place it in an airtight container in the fridge, and it will stay good for up to four days.
Iced Coffee
How Long Does Iced Coffee Last?
After you make iced coffee, you have one or two days to drink it.
How To Store Iced Coffee
The best place to store your iced coffee is in the fridge in an airtight container. This can be an airtight pitcher, but the best option is a jar or another container with a screw-on lid and a solid, airtight seal.
Cold Brew
How Long Does Cold Brew Last?
Cold brew is a bit different from iced coffee. While iced coffee is hot coffee that has been cooled in the fridge, cold brew is brewed at a cold temperature. Because of this, the reactions in the coffee brewing process are slightly different, creating distinct compounds and oils that stay fresher longer.
Cold brew will last about five days in the fridge if stored properly.
How To Store Cold Brew
Store cold brew in an airtight container in the fridge, and you’ll have it ready whenever you want—at least for the next five days.
Lattes
How Long Do Lattes Last?
Now we’re not only talking about coffee but also milk, which changes things. Milk and coffee together won’t stay good as long as either ingredient on its own.
Due to the acidity in coffee, milk in a latte spoils faster than usual. While normal milk lasts for a week or two when opened, a latte will only last for two days, max.
How To Store Lattes
If a latte sits at room temperature for two hours or more, it has likely already spoiled. Drink your latte or store it within an hour of it reaching room temperature.
Instant Coffee
How Long Does Instant Coffee Last?
Instant coffee is made by either freeze-drying or dehydrating coffee, which allows it to last for a long time. When unopened, it can last for decades.
How To Store Instant Coffee
Keep instant coffee sealed in the container it came in and store it in a cool, dry place. Doing this ensures your instant coffee stays good for years.
Coffee Concentrate
How Long Does Coffee Concentrate Last?
Unopened coffee concentrate can last in the fridge for up to six months. Once opened, it remains good for about four to six weeks.
How To Store Coffee Concentrate
Store coffee concentrate, like Javvy Coffee, in the airtight container it came in and keep it refrigerated. This keeps it fresh and conveniently cold for whenever you need a caffeine boost.
Storing Your Coffee
Now you know how to store different types of coffee drinks. No matter what coffee you have, you can keep it safe and delicious for as long as possible. Now go enjoy your properly stored coffee!