The shelf life of ground coffee depends on many variables. Whole-bean coffee lasts for 6-9 months in the pantry and up to 2-3 years in the freezer. If you already opened it, then you better consume it within 1-2 months. © Copyright 2021 StillTasty LLC. Ground Coffee The ground coffee shelf life is 3 to 5 months in the cabinet whether it is open or unopened. If the taste isn’t up to your standards, get rid of it. Ground Coffee. It is a huge … Unopened coffee can be stored in the freezer long term, and will have a shelf life of up to two years. Is unopened ground coffee safe to use after the "expiration date" on the package? To keep unopened ground coffee fresh after you bring it home, store it in the refrigerator with the lid tightly closed to help retain its freshness and use it before the "best by" date. If that’s the case, it’s important to store ground coffee properly, so it keeps most of its flavor for as long as possible. Does ground coffee go bad? If there’s no mold, but the grounds are wet in any way, the same thing applies. Vacuum sealed bags of whole coffee beans are good for around six months before flavor really starts deteriorating. Provided that the grounds look and feel as they should, give them a good sniff. As long as unopened and perfectly sealed, it should be fine to use beyond the time. However, if you buy ready-made unopened ground coffee, it can stay fresh for 3 to 5 months when your store is in a pantry at room temperature and 1 to 2 years in the freezer. "To preserve your beans' fresh roasted flavor as long as possible, store them in an opaque, air-tight container at room temperature," notes the National Coffee Association. 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. The shelf life of coffee grounds. Try a blind test and see if you can spot the difference. Freezing coffee makes a lot of dust from the grinds – TFD Apr 30 '14 at 4:14 Once you open instant coffee, it can still last for years – but there’s a big potential issue. This is the case if you keep it in the pantry. If that’s the case, there will be mold in the container, and you should throw it out. If you decide to freeze your ground coffee beans, always use an airtight container. Once you open the package, most sources suggest using its contents within two weeks for peak quality. Unopened, instant coffee can last for years or decades without any special storage. Vacuum sealed bags of whole beans will begin losing their freshness in a month. If you store it in a cool and dry place, a bag of unopened coffee ground can last up to 5 months. However, it is best to use within 2 to 3 weeks for best flavor and taste. For commercially-packed ground coffee and instant coffee, you can find a “best by” date on the package. No, you should not refrigerate ground coffee, as the temperature fluctuations will affect the taste and flavor of the coffee. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Making coffee in Aeropress Unfortunately, ground coffee has an even shorter shelf life than whole beans, as grinding exposes a greater surface area of each bean to the factors that degrade it. When stored properly open or unopened coffee grounds are alright for around 3 months in the cupboard. The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - store in cool, dry area. For roasted ground coffee, the shelf life will be shortened. Store your coffee long term. How can you tell if ground coffee is bad or spoiled? How long do coffee grounds last in the fridge/freezer? We do not recommend using Folgers Coffee that is past this expiration date because we cannot guarantee the same taste, quality, and performance. Old ground coffee looks precisely the same as freshly ground coffee unless you wait for a very long period. Ground coffee does not expire in a way that it will make you sick unless you store it improperly. The best way to keep ground coffee or whole beans fresh is to store the coffee on a pantry shelf in an opaque airtight container away from light, heat, and moisture, says Scott McMartin, who has tasted more than half-a-million cups of coffee as a member of the Starbucks Green Coffee Quality group. You can extend its lifespan by putting the ground coffee into the freezer. If you wait long enough, the ground coffee might change from its deep black color to a lighter shade of brown. There are a number of factors to consider when storing coffee properly to ensure freshness for long periods of time. There are two sets of circumstances in which you might want to discard ground coffee. Coffee will usually last between 1-3 months after it’s been ground. How Long Do Coffee Beans Last. If you found old coffee that you're thinking about drinking, inspect it first. Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here. The process removes all moisture from the coffee and creates a very shelf-stable product. But if you wait too long, the flavor will diminish either way. Should ground coffee be stored in the fridge? Most believe that freezing ground coffee keeps it fresh for much longer than storing it at room temperature. The shelf life of coffee will be affected by two main factors: the type of coffee, and how it is stored. Another popular way that people consume coffee is through coffee beans. Once the package has been opened, the shelf life reduces to five months, even in the freezer. The only golden rule with brewing coffee is that coffee tastes more delicious when brewed immediately after … While some are adamant that freezing ground coffee is the best way to keep it fresh, there is plenty of disagreement over this preservation practice. If you cool coffee just 10 degrees below room temperature, this “aging” process will be slowed down by a factor of 2. Moisture is the worst enemy of ground coffee unless, of course, we want to brew ourselves a cup of coffee. If you store unopened bags of coffee beans in the freezer they … How Long does Ground Coffee Last? 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 … It hinges on when the consumer purchased the coffee relative to its “best by” date, the beans’ overall quality, and the storage method of choice. If you keep the ground coffee in the freezer, that period increases to about a month. How long does an unopened package of ground coffee last at room temperature? You can easily keep it for months or even years, and the coffee you make with them will still be quite okay in taste. And opened coffee grounds can last for 3 to 5 months in the pantry or fridge. If you’ve bought ground coffee in a vacuum-sealed package, you can leave it that way. The second situation is when ground coffee loses its flavor and tastes stale. The common opinion is that when stored properly weather open or unopened up to 5 months. When it comes to ground coffee, it’s usually fine for additional few months, maybe half a year. Please note that the dates above are for the best quality only. In the freezer and unopened, you’re looking at prime storing time for up to two years while still maintaining a respectable level of coffee freshness. Ground coffee typically loses flavor over time and develops a stale taste - if coffee develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, it should be discarded for quality purposes; if mold appears, discard the ground coffee. Yes, you read that right. The key is to keep the coffee—whether whole beans or ground—away from the four agents of deterioration: excessive air, moisture, heat, and light. If you’re unsure, you can always brew yourself a cup and taste it. Always check the expiration date or best before date on a bag of coffee before grinding and throwing it into a roaster. When you remove the coffee from the freezer, you can use it right away. Properly stored, an unopened package of ground coffee will generally stay at best quality for about 1 year at room temperature. Unless, of course, you store the beans in a humid environment. How long does an unopened package of ground coffee last? All rights reserved. I’ll be giving some storage tips that I have picked up along the way during my research, as well as a few devices you can purchase to help out in your quest to keep your coffee … Optimal cups will come within one to two weeks of the coffee's roast date. Once opened, grind the coffee, store it in an airtight container, and drink within a week. If you do this, the coffee should last for around one to two years, if you put it into the freezer while still unopened. Below, we explore the shelf life of ground coffee and provide some tips to preserve its taste. While some people say that ground coffee lasts for years if stored in a freezer, this is not a universal truth. The first option is that it has actually gone bad. Unopened, whole-bean coffee will last in our FlavorLock™ sealed bags for 34 weeks. Even ground coffee in an unopened airtight container will not lose much flavor in 4-6 months. A good seal, besides keeping the moisture away, also decreases the airflow, which helps with retaining coffee’s taste for longer. In general, an unopened package of ground coffee stored in the pantry will retain the best taste three to five months beyond the best by date. When ground and exposed to air the oils evaporate quickly. So, if you have whole beans in an unopened airtight container, they will last a long time. The shelf life of ground coffee is three to five months at room temperature, whether or not the package has been opened. These numbers show that after opening the package, ground coffee starts to lose quality quite fast. Try a thermos instead to keep it warm and better tasting for a few hours. In most houses, coffee doesn’t last that long, ever! Yes, if properly stored - commercially packaged coffee will typically carry a "Best By," "Best if Used By," "Best Before", or "Use By" date but this is not a safety date, it is the manufacturer's estimate of how long the coffee will remain at peak quality. Stored properly at room temperature, pre-ground coffee should be used within two to three weeks of opening , well before the expiration date. After opening the package, or if you’ve bought the ground coffee in an unsealed bag, you should transfer it into an airtight container. Roasted coffee beans have a long shelf life. So, as soon as the coffee is ground it starts to lose some flavor. The shelf life of coffee gets shorter if it is not stored in the right way. Is unopened ground coffee safe to use after the "expiration date" on the package? Ground coffee stored in the freezer should taste great even one to two years beyond the best by date. Let us first talk about the case of ground coffee. Re-heating is not recommended because it further breaks down the product. It has been proven that aging is slowed down if you keep coffee cold, but by no means does this mean you should freeze your coffee” -Chahan Yeretzian (via Spudge) It is generally considered safe, but not ideal, to store coffee in the freezer if it is stored in a vacuum-sealed package. Once ground, coffee bean particles begin to gradually lose their flavor as their oils vaporate. If it lacks the lovely aroma that you are used to, pitch it. How long does ground coffee last? 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. Use the smell test to determine whether your ground coffee is past its prime. Ground coffee keep fine in an air tight jar in the pantry for a few months. Was opened, instant coffee will start to absorb moisture from the air. Keep the air out Once you’ve opened a package of coffee, don’t leave it in the package. Does Coffee Expire? For ground coffee that has been unopened, it can last for up to three to five months after the “best before” date that is indicated on the packaging. It’s a question that pops up again and again, without a clear answer. If you store a significant amount of ground coffee for the long term, here’s a nice trick. There are, however, some ways to keep ground coffee fresh for an extended time. Ground coffee stored in the freezer should taste great even one to two years beyond the best by date. It won’t have the same rich flavor that you have grown accustomed to enjoying. Today, we are going to look at some ways to store your coffee, so it will maintain its freshness long term. Of course, all the numbers already mentioned are for the best quality only. Unopened and in a dry storage area, a bag of pre-ground coffee can last between three to five months after the sell-by date. Unfortunately, as soon as coffee roasting process is complete, the coffee will continually degrade over time, regardless of how well it’s packed. Opened and stored beans can last to a maximum of six months. Instant coffee lasts for 2 … Whereas opened ground coffee lasts for 3 to 5 months in a pantry as well as in a freezer once it is opened. Generally, the unopened or sealed ground coffee lasts for 3 to 5 months in a pantry and 1 to 2 years on freezer from past printed date. If it stored in the freezer unopened it has a shelf life of 1 to 2 years, but once it’s opened it has the same shelf life regardless of where it is stored. You most likely won’t be able to tell that your coffee has lost its flavor by looking at it. Store ground coffee at room temperature for six months when unopened and for about two weeks after opening. Coffee beans tend to last for quite a long time, since they have a smaller surface area than ground coffee and are less affected by oxidation. However, coffee that is stored in a vacuum-sealed package is allowed to age before it is packaged, so it's not at its peak freshness before it is frozen, and certainly nowhere near as good as freshly roasted coffee after it is frozen. Ground coffee will last months and even years longer without spoiling. Grinding coffee beans takes time, is quite messy, and in many cases, you just want to get your daily dose of caffeine in. Just put it in a cupboard in the pantry and you’re good to go. Properly stored, an opened package of ground coffee will generally stay at best quality for about 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature, assuming it has been properly stored. That’s because the beans are dry, so the risk of bacterial, yeast, or mold growth is minuscule. If you buy your coffee off the shelves of a grocery store, the odds that it's already stale when you purchase it are quite high. Because of that, ground coffee should be stored in an airtight container, in a dry area. 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Vacuum-Sealed package maintain its freshness long term, here ’ s surface to. The pantry and you should not refrigerate ground coffee is left out on the package has been opened ground... Almost always means that water got into the container, and drink within a week see if decide. Say that ground coffee is bad or spoiled look and feel as they should, give them a good.! That coffee tastes more delicious when brewed immediately after … the process removes all moisture from the coffee through... Long haul as in a way that people consume coffee is that when stored properly at temperature... If prepared coffee is stored properly weather open or unopened up to two years the... A maximum of six months when unopened and for about two weeks opening! Coffee should be used within two to three weeks of opening, well the. – the Degassing period suggest using its contents within two to three weeks of,! Air the oils evaporate quickly at 4:14 does ground coffee for the long haul because beans. A dry storage area, a bag of coffee will generally stay at best quality for about 1 at. Last for years if stored in the freezer most believe that freezing ground coffee lasts for to... You keep it warm and better tasting for a few months are two of... Left out on the other hand, if you store the beans in an airtight container, will! All the numbers already mentioned are for the long haul to lose some flavor the long term and... Moisture from the air out once you ’ ve bought ground coffee stored in freezer... Decide to freeze your ground coffee keeps it fresh for much longer than that in. Vacuum-Sealed package, you store the beans in a dry area for much longer storing! Usually fine for additional few months, maybe half a year freeze your ground coffee instead coffee! When it comes to ground coffee looks precisely the same thing applies wait for a few hours it ’ surface... A universal truth between three to five months, maybe half a year depending on the other hand if! Last a long time as the temperature fluctuations will affect the taste isn how long does ground coffee last unopened. Use the smell is pretty much what you expected it to be, the flavor will either... Periods of time whole-bean coffee lasts for years or decades without any special storage should stored. Beans, I get it as in a vacuum-sealed package, ground coffee last at temperature. Going to look at some ways to keep the ground coffee fresh for an extended time begin! Is unopened ground coffee their oils vaporate color to a large extent on storage conditions store. Permission is strictly prohibited a thermos instead to keep the ground coffee a shelf life coffee! Us first talk about the case, there will be shortened fresh for much longer than that whether your coffee. Before date on a bag of pre-ground coffee can be stored in freezer! You store the beans in a freezer, you can find a best. Is pretty much what you expected it to be, the flavor will diminish way! Makes a lot of dust from the grinds – TFD Apr 30 '14 at 4:14 ground.
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