A Guide To Coffee’s Shelf Life

No matter how much of a coffee purist anyone is, purchasing green beans, roasting and grinding them, and subsequently moving to brewing is impractical — and costly. For that reason, coffee enthusiasts simply purchase coffee beans or grounds and store them at home. The only issue with this system is that not many people know exactly how long coffee lasts.

Roasted coffee beans should last up to six months if they’re stored in an air-tight container and placed in a dark, dry, cool spot to minimize the risks of oxidation. Ground coffee, meanwhile, will last between 2 and 4 months if stored properly in the same manner.

As you can see, storing coffee isn’t too tough. But if it’s not done properly, you might find yourself tossing some stale coffee grounds. Let’s take a look at exactly how long coffee lasts and the best methods for storing it.

How Long Does Coffee Last?

Coffee packaging

Green coffee beans have the longest shelf life, which is roughly two years. They’re your best bet for storing coffee for an extended period without worrying about it going stale.

That said, it’s impractical for most people to store green beans. Instead, it’s common practice to store roasted coffee beans and grind them on a per-use basis.

Roasted coffee beans don’t last as long as their un-roasted counterparts, because the roasting process modifies the bean’s natural structure, making it weaker and more susceptible to environmental changes. Roasted beans generally lose their freshness through a process called oxidation.

Oxidation begins as soon as roasted beans come into contact with air, or more specifically, oxygen. Coffee is made up of thousands of gas elements that give it its unique flavor and aroma.

Once coffee beans are roasted, these elements start to escape from the coffee beans, and in the process, allow oxygen to enter.

Coffee beans generally lose up to 40% of their beneficial elements within 7 days of being roasted. The remainder gradually disappears over a period of 3 to 6 months, depending on how effective your method of storage is. 

What’s the Best Way to Store Coffee?

Coffee beans don’t just react to air and oxygen, they also react to light. A process called photodegradation will have similar effects to oxidation. As a result, coffee should be kept in an opaque container. Ceramic glass and non-reactive metal will also do.

For the best results, keep the container in a cool, dark place such as the pantry, where the temperature doesn’t fluctuate much. 

Do Whole Beans Last Longer Than Ground Coffee?

Coffee drinkers often have to make the choice between storing coffee as whole beans or ground coffee. The basis of this indecisiveness is figuring out which has a longer shelf life. Coffee beans and grounds both experience oxidation, and they both need to be stored in an air-tight container away from light. 

However, grinding coffee increases the coffee’s surface area, which means more surface area for oxygen to react with.

As a result, coffee grounds tend to oxidize faster, and they also have a shorter shelf life. Grounds can last anywhere between 2 and 4 months, whereas coffee beans can remain edible for up to 6 months. 

It’s worth noting that these timeframes can fluctuate because several factors play into the coffee’s shelf life and freshness. It all comes down to the concept of “Garbage in, Garbage out.” That means that starting off with low-quality green beans will not magically produce fresh roasted beans.

Should You Store Coffee Grounds in the Freezer?

Considering all the factors we discussed, the freezer sounds like the ideal place to store coffee grounds — it’s dark and the cold will help preserve the coffee for a lengthier period. We’re not going to discredit the freezer, because for the most part it’s a great option and it gets the job done. But, it has its pitfalls. 

To preserve coffee effectively, you also need to keep it away from moisture. That may prove to be challenging if you’re storing your coffee in the freezer. The constant freezing and unfreezing will create moisture inside the container and cause the coffee to go stale in the process. 

What About Whole Beans?

Whole beans aren’t that different from coffee grounds in terms of storage techniques. Storing beans in the freezer is a great idea at first until the science behind freezing foods takes over.

For better success with freezing coffee, make sure to freeze the coffee in small batches (preferably enough for one serving). Also be sure to store your beans in a reliable air-tight container (on Amazon).

How Long Does Cold Brew Last in the Fridge?

Cold brew is an increasingly popular drink, sought-after for its low acid levels and high caffeine content. Its flavor profile is a smooth combination of caffeine and chocolaty cream.

Unlike other brew types, cold brew can be stored for a few days, or even weeks, depending on your storage method. We recommend a solid cold brew mason jar (on Amazon).

Cold brew usually lasts about 7 days in the fridge, and afterward, it begins to go stale. Telltale signs of a cold brew that has gone bad are a more acidic taste, dull flavor, and bits of mold that form on the surface.

Cold brew will go bad in a matter of days, but certain factors can accelerate this process, such as storing it on the counter or anywhere at room temperature, adding milk or sugar, and not using an air-tight container.

How to Tell if Coffee Has Gone Bad

Blank coffee packaging

It’s challenging to tell when coffee has gone rancid because coffee that has gone bad looks exactly the same on the surface.

To test your coffee, you’ll need to trust your sense of smell. Tasting the coffee may be a sure-fire way to know if your coffee is good, but rancid coffee can be dangerous for consumption. 

Coffee is supposed to emanate a strong creamy caramel, nutty aroma — sometimes a bit chocolatey too — depending on the coffee you’re dealing with. If your coffee smells nothing like that, and instead smells sour and bitter, that’s a pretty good indication that it’s gone bad. 

Conclusion 

The trick to making your coffee last is limiting sunlight and oxygen exposure as much as possible, and if you’re going to freeze it, try freezing it in small batches to avoid having to defrost the entire container every time you need to make a cup of joe.

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