If you are a coffee lover, your morning probably always starts with a cup of hot fresh black coffee. But have you ever noticed how the taste and aroma of the same coffee might change within days and weeks? The thing is, coffee requires specific storage conditions.

So, if you want to keep enjoying the strong aroma and rich flavor of caffeine for at least a few weeks after its opening, you need to follow the advice mentioned in this article.

Does Coffee Go Bad?

Like every other organic product, coffee comprises different compounds, including carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids. Whether coffee molecules exist in bean or ground form, their physical and chemical characteristics change over time.

Therefore, if you want to keep the taste and aroma of this caffeine drink, you should analyze how and in which form your coffee is stored.

If stored in an airtight container, the ground coffee can be used for a few months past its expiration date. In case you prefer the whole bean, you can use it for up to nine months.

Instant coffee has the most extended shelf life, which can reach up to twenty years. However, consider that coffee is best when it is fresh, so try to use it as close to the roasting date as possible.

How Long Does Coffee Beans Last?

Some people genuinely believe that coffee beans never really expire. But every coffee lover knows that “All good things come to an end.”

Therefore, it would be good for you to know the real storage life of your favorite whole bean coffee so that you could enjoy the drink while it is still fresh, aroma, and saturated.

Although coffee beans belong to shelf-stable dry goods, they can start losing their freshness in about ten days after being roasted.

Still, there is a way to make your whole bean coffee last as long as possible. Keep beans until brewing and grind just those you will use at the moment. Thus, your coffee beans will remain ultimate fresh within three or four weeks after the package opening.

How Long Does Grounded Coffee Last? 

Grounded coffee will degas quickly and almost can’t withstand exposure to oxygen. Moreover, it loses its freshness and aroma in about two weeks from opening the package.

If you don’t have a grinder to grind whole coffee beans at home before their use, ground coffee is a perfect option for you. This kind of coffee can save you much time making a cup of aroma drink in the morning.

Besides, it always has lean and convenient packaging, so you can feel free to take your favorite coffee on the road. However, consider that pre-ground coffee is a less fresh option than whole coffee beans.

Still, if you store the ground coffee in a particular sealed container with a one-way degassing valve, you can make your coffee last longer. 

How to Store Coffee Properly? 5 Tips to Make Your Coffee Last Longer

If drinking caffeine is one of your binding morning rituals, you should always have fresh coffee beans or ground coffee at hand.

For that reason, you must store your coffee correctly; otherwise, you risk leaving yourself without a cup of rich coffee one day.

Check out these five tips to make your coffee last longer after its opening, and enjoy your favorite drink non-stop:

1. Choose a non-reactive container. Exposure to light and high temperatures will cause losing coffee quality; therefore, its storage environment is crucial for coffee beans. Keep the beans in a sealed container after opening and store them in a dark, cool cabinet far from the window.
2. Always check the “roasted on” date. Pick fresh coffee beans with the max shelf life.
3. Store your coffee in small portions. Don’t freeze coffee beans so that they don’t lose their characteristics. Keep them in small batches in special airtight containers and don’t open unnecessarily.
4. Get rid of the habit of storing coffee for months. Don’t stock too many coffee beans or pre-grounded coffee. Buy coffee with the calculation that it will start losing its freshness in two weeks from opening the package. 
5. Buy a high-quality coffee grinder. Grind whole coffee beans at home right before cooking a caffeine drink. Thus, you will always have fresh and aroma pre-ground coffee.

What Are the Signs of Bad Coffee?

Spoiled drinks may cause certain health risks, so you should always check out their shelf life before enjoying them. But how is it possible to tell whether the coffee is spoiled or not if it doesn’t have mold or any other sign of a lousy drink?

Use your nose and trust your taste buds to check if your coffee is still fresh. A sour caffeine drink will have an awful taste and a stale aroma.

Such coffee may also lose its deep dark color. If you drink this coffee, it won’t harm your health, but you will be unsatisfied with its flavor.

How Long Does Coffee Last After You’ve Brewered It?

When it comes to the shelf life of brewed coffee, it doesn’t usually last long. Whether coffee beans or ground coffee you used, the drink will start losing its freshness and saturated flavor in about 15 minutes after brewing.

Nevertheless, there is a way to make your coffee last a bit longer. Store it into an airtight thermos or a lidded sealed coffee mug so that it could stay fresh for at least a few hours.

Can I Drink Day-Old Coffee?

Although cold-brewed coffee has a much longer life, it will lose its freshness and flavor within a day. Therefore, you better drink your caffeine right after you make it, or at least within the next 1-2 hours.

How Long Does Coffee with Milk Last?

Drinks last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe. Therefore, if you add milk or cream to your brewed coffee, it will last even less than a regular cup of black coffee.

How Long Can I Store My Brewed Coffee in a Fringe?

Brewed coffee can be stored in a fridge for three to four days. But such coffee won’t be as good as a fresh one, so try to drink it up right after brewing.