How long does coffee last in fridge (+3 tips to keep coffee fresh)

In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “How long does coffee last in fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the life span of different types of coffee in the fridge. Moreover, we are going to discuss the implications of reheating coffee, the effect of the oxidation reactions taking place in coffee, and three important tips to preserve the freshness of your coffee for quite a long time in the fridge.

So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.

How long does coffee last in the fridge?

If the coffee does not have any additional milk or cream topping then it can last approximately one week in your fridge in an air-tight container without going bad.

How long does coffee last in the fridge if it has milk in it?

The coffee that has milk in it has about the same shelf life as that of the milk. Therefore a coffee with milk will last 4-7 days but I recommend you to use it as soon as possible preferably within 3 days.

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 flavor and mouthfeel of the coffee. 

Does the water in coffee spoil?

Water in the coffee will not spoil for weeks when it is placed in the refrigerator. An important thing to consider is to always use an airtight container or bottle to store the coffee so that it will not pick the smell of other foods placed in your fridge as no one will ever want to consume melon scented brewed coffee, right?

Does reheating a coffee destroy caffeine?

No, reheating coffee does not destroy caffeine. The only difference that it will make is the change in the flavor and freshness of the brewed coffee. Thus you do not have to worry about whether or not the reheated coffee will give you a surge of caffeine or not

How long the ground coffee last in the fridge?

We do not encourage you to store your ground coffee in the fridge as the moisture content of the fridge is quite high and if the humidity finds its way to your ground coffee it can make the coffee lose its flavor and aroma. 

Other FAQs about Coffee which you may be interested in.

How long does fresh ground coffee last?

The chemistry of coffee oxidation

When the coffee beans come in contact with the air they are oxidized and the same is the case for the cold brew coffee that is left in open for some time. This oxidation reaction significantly affects the aroma and the flavor of the coffee with no significant change in the color 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 flavor and that is not something we want.

Why does coffee turn bitter?

At the point when you leave your cold brew coffee to sit for a long time, the reaction among hydrogen and oxygen will raise its pH level, making it taste bitter or stale. therefore you should never let your cold brew sit for too long in the open.

Stale grounds make for stale coffee

The older your coffee beans are, the more are they subjected to oxidation and the less is their shelf life. Thus you won’t be able to get that characteristic coffee aroma and flavor with old coffee grounds.

How to keep your coffee fresh in the fridge?

You can keep your coffee fresh in the fridge by considering the following quick tips

  1. You should not add anything to the coffee if you want to save it for some time in the fridge. The addition of milk or creamers significantly lessens the life of coffee. Therefore you should add them after reheating the coffee.
  2. Coffee loses its characteristic taste and aroma when it comes in contact with the air owing to the oxidation reaction. Therefore to seal the freshness of coffee for quite a long I recommend you to store it in air-tight containers.
  3. If you want to make your coffee last longer in the fridge then it is advised to store it in the fridge as soon as you brew it to preserve its flavor and aroma.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “How long does coffee last in fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the life span of different types of coffee in the fridge. Moreover, we discussed the implications of reheating coffee, the effect of the oxidation reactions taking place in coffee, and three important tips to preserve the freshness of your coffee for quite a long time in the fridge.

Citations

https://www.coffeedetective.com/how-long-can-i-keep-coffee-in-the-fridge.html