Coffee is considered a boosting and refreshing caffeine beverage. It is the third most consumed drink after water and tea. Sometimes you come up with the thoughts of do coffee beans expire? Is it safe to drink expired coffee? What happens if you drink expired coffee? Let’s explore this side of coffee.

Technically, coffee does not expire but its quality may reduce over time. Although, it does not harm you but the taste would be not good enough to drink it. Coffee beans stale or bland overtime. There are a lot of forms of coffee like coffee grounds, coffee pods, and instant coffee, used worldwide by coffee enthusiasts.

The timespan of losing the taste may vary accordingly. However, if coffee is stored properly i.e. sealed in an airtight jar / container, it can preserve the freshness and taste. Brewed coffee has an even shorter span of freshness than coffee grounds. In this article we will categorically explain about the freshness period of different forms of coffee.

Do Whole Coffee Beans Expire

Whole beans can maintain freshness and rich taste for a long time even for years if stored properly. Properly roasted and stored in a sealed bag, coffee can last for months. After opening the sealed bag, it can last only for 1-3 weeks. But still you can keep it for an extended time.

To keep it fresh for a longer time period, please store opened package coffee in an airtight container. And keep that container away from heat or direct sunlight. When you buy coffee it is recommended to look for a degassing valve packaging. These valves help to release carbon dioxide produced during the roasting process.

Coffee beans actually do not have an expiration date, instead they have a best-by date. Which means until that mentioned date you can enjoy the freshness and aroma of coffee. After the time is over, the quality of taste and flavor declines.

Coffee grounds are also available within different roast levels and grind sizes. Since coffee grounds have more surface area exposed to the air, the freshness would not last longer enough. Storing coffee gourds in an airtight container can save its pure taste and freshness for 1-2 weeks.

 

Talking about coffee grounds you might be thinking, does instant coffee expire? Instant coffee usually comes with a good packaging, so if the packaging is good enough it can last for years. Coffee pods can also maintain freshness until the best-by date.

Brewed Coffee Shelf Life

Brewed coffee shelf life is even shorter than the two previous forms of coffee. Most people believe that you must drink brewed coffee within 30 minutes. Otherwise, you will lose the rich taste and freshness. Coffee without milk can last more than 4 hours.

But milk cannot be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours. So, coffee with milk must be consumed within a few hours. However, you can store brewed coffee with some protocols to keep it for a few days in your refrigerator. It may last for 3-4 days but the rich taste will change for sure.

What Happens if You Drink Expired Coffee

The word “expired” seems to be dangerous especially when we talk about food and drinks. Although, we have mentioned earlier that drinking expired or spoiled coffee may not be harmful. But it still has some risks. You might not get the sensible taste, other than that there is nothing to worry about.

There are some signs that will indicate the spoiling stage of coffee. For example, it can become moldy, smelly or discolorate. After sighting these signs, you must discard that coffee because it cannot be consumed. According to USDA coffee is a shelf-stable drink that has no expiry but best-by date.

Final Thoughts

Coffee shelf life depends on the type of coffee and its storage method. Coffee beans tend to maintain flavor and freshness for a longer time which is up to 12 months. Coffee grounds can be fresh and tasteful for up to 3-5 months. However, plain black coffee with no milk can survive only 12-24 hours at room temperature.

If you store brewed coffee in the refrigerator, it can last for 3-4 days. This shelf life span is for plain black coffee with no milk. If you have added milk, you must consume it within 2 days. Yet you must store brewed coffee with milk in a refrigerator.

Note: Keep the signs of spoiling coffee in mind and whenever you find any of them, discard coffee.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

Does instant coffee expire

Yes, instant coffee has a best-by date instead of expiration date. If the packaging is good enough it can last for years. Coffee pods can also maintain freshness until the best-by date.

What happens if you drink expired coffee

The expired coffee cannot cause harm but still can upset your stomach. You might find its taste really bad. The quality of flavor also fades away over time.

Is it safe to drink expired coffee

The short answer is yes,it is safe to drink expired coffee but it is not recommended to consume expired coffee.

Do ground coffee expire

Technically coffee grounds do not have an expiration date. But coffee grounds have best-by date mentioned in their labels. After that specific date, coffee grounds must be discarded.