How Long Does Coffee Last — How to Store Coffee to Preserve Freshness

Millions of people drink coffee every day, meaning many households go through coffee fairly quickly. But what happens to beans that haven’t been used in a while — does coffee go bad? If it does, how long is coffee good for? The answers to these questions are not exactly straightforward, especially if you enjoy having top-quality coffee.

Technically, coffee can’t go bad in the same sense as milk and eggs do. Therefore, drinking old coffee won’t give you food poisoning, but the flavor won’t be the same. In fact, it will be far less superior. Coffee lovers are quite finicky when it comes to types of roasts and their overall quality.

Hence, we’ve tried to cover the most common questions related to coffee and its life span. We will discuss the basics like how long does coffee last, can coffee go bad, and what makes that happen. Next time you decide to purchase coffee or brew yourself a cup of joe, you’ll have all the info on hand.

How Long Does Coffee Last in All Its Forms?

If you are a coffee connoisseur, you must know that coffee comes in many different shapes and forms. But does its form affect its expiration date, and does coffee expire? Naturally, whole-bean coffee lasts the longest, so if this is how you purchase coffee, try to keep it in this form for as long as possible.

Once you have ground your coffee, you’ll have about two weeks before it starts to go stale, and the same goes for instant coffee. Now, if you have already brewed your coffee and you don’t want to drink it straight away, due to some mysterious reason, you’re probably wondering how long does coffee last when you drink it? Unless you decide to store it in the fridge, you should consume it that day.

What Factors Degrade Coffee Beans?

Now that you’ve learned how long can coffee sit out, it’s time to get to know the four riders of the apocalypse of the coffee world. Just like most groceries, coffee is best kept in places that are dry and relatively dark. You’ll want to avoid exposing your coffee to oxygen, light, moisture, and heat.

Oxygen will make your coffee go stale in a matter of days, as will the excess light. Heat, on the other hand, will cause your coffee beans to lose flavor. If you’ve been asking yourself, “Does coffee go bad?”, you will be happy to learn that you can prevent that scenario by avoiding storing their coffee in humid places.

How to Properly Store Coffee Beans

To preserve the freshness of your coffee, you need to note its storage. Now that you know what makes it go bad, it’s time to take some precautions. When purchasing your coffee, make sure you don’t overbuy. Don’t go overboard just because there is a discount or a special offer.

Once you’ve made your purchase, keep your coffee in an air-tight container. This way, neither moisture nor light can go through it. Finally, store it someplace with absolutely no humidity. That place would, ideally, be in a cabinet or a shelf that is less likely to come in contact with water.

Freezing Coffee Beans: Is It a Good Idea?

You may have heard that some people like to freeze their coffee beans or put them in the fridge. But, how long does coffee last in the fridge, and is storing coffee there a good idea? We do not recommend this particular course of action simply because coffee beans can absorb the smell of other edibles from your freezer.

Is a fridge a good option for brewed coffee then, and how long does brewed coffee last in the fridge? The answer to this question is similar to the previous scenario. Coffee stored in such a humid place will deteriorate much faster, and its aroma will also change.

Never Worry About Stale Coffee Beans Ever Again

Does coffee expire quickly is a never-ending dilemma amongst coffee lovers, and we hope we’ve managed to make the whole ordeal somewhat clearer. Frankly speaking, the best way to preserve its freshness is to purchase top-quality, fresh coffee beans and use them right away.

With Kebon, you’ll get fair trade coffee beans of the best quality. Our coffee is ethically sourced and shipped to you as soon as we get it, so you can be certain that the coffee you get is not stale. Now you’ll finally be able to enjoy a complex mix of aromas that are not just flavorful but super fresh as well.