Does brewed coffee go bad?(3 ways to tell)
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “does brewed coffee go bad” with an in-depth analysis of the life span of brewed coffee in different mediums. Moreover, we are going to discuss the implications of reheating the brewed coffee and the chemistry of coffee oxidation along with the implications of consuming brewed coffee that has gone bad.
Coffee can turn bad, correct? It can’t keep going forever, it’s a food item all things considered. How long does brewed coffee last and how might you tell when it turns bad? Your mind must be swarming with all these questions while storing some extra brewed coffee and we are here to answer all your questions.
So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.
Does brewed coffee go bad in the fridge?
If the brewed coffee does not have any additional milk or cream topping then it can last approximately one week in your fridge without going bad. But we do not recommend you to consume a brewed coffee that is more than a week old as at very least it would have developed sharper, bitter flavour. So if you are too picky about the scent and feel of your brewed coffee then we recommend you to drink it as soon as possible.
Can you refrigerate the coffee and reheat it?
Yes, you can refrigerate the coffee and reheat it but there will be a notable difference in the flavour and mouthfeel of the coffee.
Does reheating coffee destroy caffeine?
No, the reheating coffee does not destroy caffeine. The only difference that it will make is the change in the flavour and freshness of the brewed coffee.
How long can brewed coffee sit out without going bad?
The brewed coffee alone with no additives will not taste the same if you drink it after putting it for more than a day out at room temperature. Therefore I recommend you to gulp down your cup of brewed coffee within 24 hours.
Moreover, the brewed coffee with added milk won’t last more than 2 hours at room temperature or even 1 in warmer temperatures, therefore you should consume it before that or else it will go bad.
So consider the particular ingredients you have added to your brewed coffee to find out how long you can allow it to sit out without going bad. Simply milk and coffee combination shouldn’t pass on over 2 hours, and milk with creamer shouldn’t sit out for over 4 hours.
Another thing to consider is that the cold brew coffee should be kept in airtight thermos or container or else the oxidation reaction would make it stale which continues even after the coffee is brewed.
How to tell if brewed coffee has gone bad?
So if you want to know whether or not your brewed coffee has gone bad, we recommend you to smell it. If you have a brewed coffee without milk and additives, in that case, the absence of characteristic aroma of coffee is the indicator of the staleness of the brewed coffee.
But if you have dairy products like milk or cream added to your brewed coffee then the presence of stale milk smell will indicate that your brewed coffee has gone bad.
Understand the chemistry of coffee oxidation
When the coffee beans interact with the air they are oxidized and the same is the situation for the brewed coffee that is left in open for quite a while. This oxidation reaction altogether influences the fragrance and the flavour of the coffee.
Brewing coffee itself is the oxidation reaction. At the point when the coffee beans come into contact with water, they will start delivering their aromatics, oils, and acids into the water giving you an enriched and flavourful coffee but if the process of oxidation continues even after that it will result in a sharp and bitter flavour and that is not something we want.
You can read more about the chemistry of oxidation of coffee here.
Other FAQs about Coffee which you may be interested in.
How long does cold brew coffee last?
Does coffee extract have caffeine?
What happens if you drink old brewed coffee?
Consuming the old brewed coffee without milk or sugar won’t affect your health that much but surely the brewed coffee that has gone bad will have lost its characteristic scent and flavour and will have an awful taste which won’t give you a good mouthfeel.
But accidentally consuming a brewed coffee that has gone bad and contained dairy products like milk or creamers in it will put your gut health at stake and can cause gastrointestinal issues.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “does brewed coffee go bad” with an in-depth analysis of the life span of brewed coffee in different mediums. Moreover, we discussed the implications of reheating the brewed coffee and the chemistry of coffee oxidation along with the implications of consuming brewed coffee that has gone bad.
Happy coffee making!
