How Long Is Brewed Coffee Good For Stored In The Fridge?

Brewed coffee is a delicious and refreshing drink, but how long is brewed coffee good for? Can you store it in the fridge or should you drink it all up right away? Here’s what you need to know about how long brewed coffee lasts.

Brewed coffee can last anywhere from 3 to 5 days when stored in the fridge. If you don’t plan on drinking it all within that time frame, consider freezing leftovers in an airtight container.

 

What is the shelf life of coffee?

Have you ever had coffee that was more than a day old from a stale pot? Many workplaces and diners serve coffee made in the morning and then left to sit. It is a bitter-tasting coffee that most people remember well.

Coffee won’t last forever. How long is brewed coffee good for before it goes bad? Let’s find the answer.

 

How long is brewed coffee good for?

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Brewed coffee should be consumed within 30 minutes unless it is stored in an airtight thermos. This is because coffee continues oxidizing even after it has been brewed. Click To Tweet

Your coffee’s freshness will also depend upon the coffee beans that you use. This means that if you use stale coffee grounds, your coffee will taste stale even if it is freshly brewed.

 

What is coffee bean oxidization?

Roasted coffee beans oxidize when they come in contact with air. This is what happens to apples if you cut them open and leave them for some time.

Even though oxidization isn’t obvious to the naked eye, it can have a significant effect on the taste of coffee beans. Oxidization causes coffee beans to lose their flavor compounds and release them into the air.

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If roasted coffee beans are stored correctly, their oxidization process slows down and they stay fresh for a few more weeks.

But, once the beans have been ground, they will oxidize faster. This is because the surface area of finely ground espresso is more than 10,000 times compared to whole beans.

The brewing process itself is oxidation. When coffee beans come in contact with water, their aromas, oils, and acids will be released into the water.

This chemical reaction is what gives us the delicious cup of coffee we love. It is important to prevent it from happening before you brew. You can see that heat plays a significant role in the flavor of hot or cold-brewed coffee. 

Coffee solubles dissolve best between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that coffee brewed with hot water will have a richer, more flavorful taste than coffee brewed using cold water or room temperature.

 

Why does coffee taste bitter?

It is important to know that coffee oxidization does not stop once it has been brewed.

If you leave your coffee sitting for too long, the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen will cause the coffee to become acidic or “stale” due to the increase in pH level.

This is why you shouldn’t leave your coffee on the brewing pot for more than is necessary.

If you have leftover coffee, put it in an airtight thermos bottle.

Over-extraction can also cause bitterness. To avoid this, make sure your coffee grind size is not too small and don’t brew it for too long.

If you are brewing coffee on a French press, the worst thing you can do is to let coffee sit in the press for far too long.

Your coffee will continue to brew even after you have pressed the plunger down. It will turn bitter within a few minutes. As soon as the coffee is done, pour it into a mug or a cup.

Don’t brew stale coffee grounds

Like any food item, coffee doesn’t last forever.

Old coffee grounds are more likely to have experienced oxidization. Coffee made with old grounds will taste bitter even if it is freshly brewed.

Coffee doesn’t go bad the same way milk does. Stale coffee grounds don’t have a foul smell. They are characterized by the absence of scent. Click To Tweet

Stale coffee isn’t harmful to drink. It just tastes horrible. However, if you add milk to it, you shouldn’t consume it after two hours.

How to keep brewed coffee fresh

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A good thermos will help prolong the life of your coffee if you make too much.

Use fresh coffee beans whenever possible and only grind them before you brew.

These tips will make sure you don’t have to drink stale coffee again.

Can you have day-old coffee?

We don’t recommend drinking coffee that is more than a day old, especially if it is rancid or has an unpleasant taste. Brewed coffee also tends to develop molds, especially if it is not kept in the fridge.

If you have milk in your day-old coffee, do not consume it unless it is kept in the refrigerator.

How long does brewed coffee last in the fridge?

Although brewed coffee can be kept in the fridge for up to a week, it won’t taste or smell as good as when it was freshly brewed.

Make sure to cover the cup or carafe to prevent your drink from absorbing the aroma and scents of other foods and beverages in the fridge.

Conclusion

Although it’s nice to know how long is brewed coffee good for, we recommend that you do not let coffee sit for too long. It may not go bad even after a week in the fridge, but it won’t taste fresh or pleasant, either.