When Unopened or Sealed Ground coffee lasts for 3-5 months when kept in a pantry at room temperature, but it can last 1-2 years in the freezer. How long does your brewed coffee last will depend on how you will store it. What exactly is in this coffee? Whole-bean coffee lasts for 6-9 months in the pantry and up to 2-3 years in the freezer. Using this coffee will not harm you, but will just not have much flavor if the smell is gone. When you open the tin or bag do you get that whoooooosh sound? The shelf life of coffee depends on a variety of factors, such as the best before date, preparation method and how the coffee was stored. All rights reserved. The good news: No, coffee doesn’t really “go bad” in the way that bread grows mold or a banana slowly rots on your countertop. (We can’t vouch for the taste, though.). Over time, exposure to air will cause your coffee to break down, losing flavor and intensity. 2 Years. The only difference between decaf and regular is the amount of caffeine. Someone who consumes 40 milligrams (mg) of caffeine will have 20 mg remaining in their system after 5 hours. Don’t leave a fresh pot on the burner, unless you like the taste of burnt coffee. Does Coffee Go Bad? In the freezer, the use of coffee beans can be extended for an additional six months. RELATED: Up to 25 cups of coffee a day still safe for heart health, study finds How long do coffee beans last? Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste. Maintaining the freshness of coffee beans all comes down to storage. How long you choose to use your coffee after the best by date really depends on how particular you are about the taste of your coffee. Can you save those beans for a later date? Does coffee go off? Try a thermos instead to keep it warm and better tasting for a few hours. In the cupboard, your ground coffee beans will last for about three months opened or unopened. There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled drinks so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your drinks before their shelf life has expired! Please drink responsibly! However, in terms of the shelf life of coffee, how long coffee lasts, and if coffee expires - it does not matter whether it has caffeine or is decaffeinated. Brewed coffee can be stored for three to four days in the refrigerator. How long does an unopened package of instant coffee last? No big deal, you’ll just set them aside for later. How Long Does Coffee Withdrawal Last? Brewed coffee should be consumed within 12 hours when left on the counter. Many Death Wish Coffee fans report going through one pound of coffee in one to two weeks. Except…does coffee go bad? So, what’s the bad news? Coffee does degrade over time and degrades faster depending on the surface area - which means that whole beans will keep longer than ground coffee. If we haven’t used our opened ground coffee in about a week, we like to transfer it to the fridge. In fact, a lot of grocery stores and big chains keep coffee on the shelf for several months on their own, never mind the amount of time it will sit in someone's cupboard. Ground Coffee Ground coffee in an unopened packet will still be good to use for up to five months beyond the use by date if stored in your pantry, or for up to two years beyond the use by date if you store it in the freezer. Re-heating is not recommended because it further breaks down the product. Does coffee expire? Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. We offer information to educate consumers on how long food really lasts, past its printed date while providing answers and analysis related to food shelf life, food safety, food storage, food substitutions and many other food related questions. You might’ve heard that you should store coffee beans and grounds in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them tasty for longer. It does, but unlike most food and drink, it can take quite a while. If prepared coffee is left out on the counter, it should be used within 4-6 hours of brewing. Whole coffee beans, on the other hand, can last for six months in the pantry and three years in the freezer. If you found old coffee that you're thinking about drinking, inspect it first. Does an unopened package of instant coffee last will depend on the counter, it not! Now, the use of coffee in the fridge for extended storage, but will just not have flavor. Quality do decrease over time, exposure to air will cause your coffee to keep it warm and tasting. 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