You can make countless coffee-based drinks and enjoy this fantastic brew in many forms that vary in intensity and flavor. However, the key ingredients to a perfect cup of coffee are freshness, quality, and taste. But, if your caffeine fix fails to provide you with that surge of energy, doesn’t it make you wonder if it has gone bad?
Coffee doesn’t go bad, and you can drink it safely as long as it hasn’t gotten damp and molded. That said, coffee loses freshness and taste after some time, based on how it’s stored. For maximum longevity, store whole beans in an airtight container, in the freezer, until ready to grind.
If you’re feeling down and don’t have the energy to complete your daily tasks, it could be because you aren’t drinking the freshest and best-tasting brew. So let’s look at why your coffee may go bad and what you should do to enjoy it in its freshest form.
How Long Does Coffee Last?

Coffee is a dry product that doesn’t have a firm expiration date to keep in mind. Storing it in the right conditions can ensure long shelf life. However, it can lose its flavor and freshness if not stored properly. So let’s first look at how long coffee can last in its various forms.
Whole Beans
Coffee in whole bean form lasts the longest. It’s best to keep the beans whole until you need to brew them to ensure their freshness. Then, grind just the amount that you need to brew. You can keep whole bean coffee for up to a month.
Ground Coffee
If you grind your coffee, it’s best to grind the amount you need daily. This will ensure the freshness and taste of your brew. If you buy ground beans, be sure to use them within two weeks of opening.
Brewed Coffee
The best way to brew a great-tasting coffee is to use a thermal carafe, as it preserves the temperature and flavor. Once your coffee is brewed, be sure to drink it up the same day, preferably within 12 hours.
You can also keep your brewed coffee in the refrigerator for three to four days. Don’t leave a fresh pot of coffee on the burner, as it will make your coffee taste burnt.
Instant Coffee
Instant coffee has a longer shelf life compared to roasted coffee. If unopened, it can last for more than a couple of years. However, once opened, it should be used within two weeks.
Is it Safe to Drink Coffee That’s Been Sitting Out?
If you made your regular cup of coffee in the morning but got so busy that you forgot to drink it, would it still be drinkable in the evening? If you’ve ever faced this dilemma, here’s what you should do:
Milk needs to be correctly refrigerated to ensure it doesn’t go rancid. Even at room temperature, milk typically doesn’t last for more than two hours. So if your coffee has milk in it, then it’s best not to leave it outside for long and drink it while it’s fresh.
Just as ground coffee can taste unpleasant after two weeks, the taste of brewed coffee can start deteriorating after 30 minutes or once your coffee turns cold. After this, you have four hours before the oils in your coffee start to go bad, further altering the taste.
Although you can drink black coffee even if it has been several hours since it was brewed, it’s probably not going to taste too good. If you have added a splash of milk to it, make a fresh pot. However, if you want to stick with your morning cup, which you made hours ago, be sure to microwave it all the way through.
Can You Brew Expired Coffee Beans?
There’s no harm in brewing coffee beans that have expired; however, nothing much can be said about its taste, as coffee loses its freshness and quality over time.
Coffee doesn’t go rancid like a banana rots when left out on the countertop, or bread grows mold. Neither will drinking coffee prepared from old beans make you sick even after the expiration date has passed.
As coffee gets old, exposure to oxygen can cause it to break down and lose intensity and flavor. You also can’t use whole coffee and coffee grounds if they get wet. Leaving a pot of brewed coffee out can cause its natural oils to go rancid over time.
Do Coffee Beans Last Longer Than Coffee Grounds?

Typically, coffee beans retain their freshness and last longer than ground coffee. An unopened pack of coffee beans can last for up to 9 months. However, once you open the pack, be sure to consume it within six months. Roasted coffee beans can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 years.
The increased surface area of ground coffee means that it oxidizes faster. If left unopened, ground coffee can last for up to 5 months. Once you open the pack, the oxygen in the air speeds up the oxidization process to around 3-4 months.
Therefore, it’s best to use an airtight container to store opened ground coffee to maintain its freshness.
How to Store Your Coffee
If you don’t want your coffee to lose its taste and freshness, it’s vital to store it correctly. Let’s now find the right way:
Seal it Correctly
Always use an airtight container, preferably with a vacuum pump, to store your coffee. It’s better to use an opaque jar to keep out the light. Keep this container in a dark, cool cabinet.
Avoid Stockpiling
Make it a habit to buy only the amount you’ll use within a few weeks. However, buying more than you need can lead to waste, as coffee starts losing its freshness within a month.
Instead, establish a coffee-buying routine to brew fresh and flavorful cups of coffee consistently. You can also sign up for a subscription service to receive fresh coffee at your doorstep automatically.
Keep Away from Heat and Humidity
Keeping your coffee jar on the countertop can also make it lose its freshness. Instead, it’s best to store the coffee container in a cabinet, as they are generally cooler, and there’s no exposure to sunlight.
Can You Store Coffee Ground in the Freezer?
Storing your ground coffee in the freezer is better than in the fridge. This is because coffee beans are absorbent, and storing them in the fridge can cause them to soak up any pungent odors like garlic, onions, etc. Also, they lose their moisture in the fridge, making them go stale even faster.
Even when storing ground coffee in the freezer, it’s essential to do it correctly. Put the original vacuum-sealed packet of ground coffee inside a Ziploc bag. Decompress it, so there’s no air inside. You can now store it in the freezer for a few months without worrying about losing quality.
When you want to use this coffee, take it out of the freezer and leave it outside to thaw entirely before brewing. Don’t put the ground coffee back inside the freezer again, as continuous changes in temperature can degrade its quality.
Remember that it’s no use putting stale coffee beans in the freezer, as they’ll remain stale when you grind and brew them.