Does Cold Brew Need to be Refrigerated?

Does Cold Brew Need to be Refrigerated

Every morning, caffeine addicts everywhere reach for their favorite cup of coffee.

Cold brew coffee has recently been gaining fans as a welcome alternative to its hot-brewed counterpart.

But if you are new to this and you have leftover cold brew, you might be wondering whether you can store it in the fridge.

So, does cold brew need to be refrigerated?

The answer is probably yes. Cold-brew is a type of iced coffee, so it goes without saying that you have to store your cold brew in the refrigerator. This is to ensure the best taste possible.

Cold-brew takes about 12 hours to make, so it’s also important to drink your cold brew within that time frame.

It has a shorter shelf-life than hot brewed coffee, but that’s probably why it tastes so good.
Does cold brew go bad if not refrigerated?

Unrefrigerated cold brew will not necessarily go bad. However, refrigerating the cold brew will extend its shelf-life from 1 week to about 16 days.

Refrigerating cold brew is very important in extending the shelf life of your cold brew.

For most people, there are many different reasons to not refrigerate the cold brew.

But the most common reason is that refrigerating cold brew can improve the taste of the cold brew by slowing down oxidation.

Refrigerating the cold brew can also reduce some of the acidity that builds up during the brewing process, which allows you to have a better tasting cold brew.

How long does cold brew need to be refrigerated?

Cold-brew can be refrigerated for up to two weeks.

Refrigerating it soon after brewing will keep all the delicious coffee flavor in your iced coffee drink.

However, if you want to drink it later or prepare it ahead of time, then refrigerating the cold-brew coffee concentrate is your best bet.

It will give it a shelf life of approximately two weeks.

Since the process of cold-brewing locks in the caffeine content, you can enjoy iced coffee any time of the day or night.

Also, refrigerating it soon after brewing also preserves the delicious coffee flavor in your iced coffee drink.

Refrigerate your cold brew for up to two weeks, depending on which method you use and how much coffee you brew.

Can you store cold brew at room temperature?

Yes, you can store cold brews at room temperature, but only if you live in a hot environment and the cold brew is kept in a cool, dry location.

Refrigerating your cold brew will keep the drink cool and delicious for longer.

The refrigeration process will also help keep away fruit flies, which love fermenting food.

If you do not live in a hot environment, I recommend keeping a cold brew in the refrigerator.

Refrigerating cold brew will help keep the drink cool and will taste great for several days.

How long can cold brew last at room temp?

Cold brew can last at room temperature for up to two weeks, but the taste could potentially change within that time frame.

This is the reason why refrigerating the coffee is important.

Refrigerating cold brew can extend its shelf life for up to six months.

However, refrigerated cold brew will separate into two layers, a top layer of coffee oils and a bottom layer of water – it’s best to shake the bottle before drinking.

If you’re ready to drink cold brew and don’t want to wait for it to refrigerate, there’s a quick fix.

Pour the cold brew into a container and place that container in ice water for five minutes.

This should help to fix the issue in your favorite coffee.

Can you drink cold brew the next day?

Most people assume that it isn’t possible to drink cold brew the next day after it’s been sitting in the refrigerator.

However, this is not always the case.

If you enjoy cold brew coffee, it’s important to know if you can drink it the next day or not.

The answer is yes; you can drink cold brew the next day.

The reason it’s not recommended by many is that the coffee has been sitting there for longer than 24 hours.

Refrigerators are not ideal for storing coffee because the moisture gets into the bag, which makes the beans moldy.

However, this won’t happen if you drink it within 24 hours of making the brew.

If your coffee is still good to drink after a day or two, you can always transfer it to an airtight container and put it back in the refrigerator.

If you can’t drink all of your cold brew in 24 hours, the best thing to do is freeze it and drink it later.

After freezing it, you’ll need to let it thaw before opening it.

Can cold brew go bad?

Generally, it can, but not due to bacteria growth.

Refrigerating homemade cold brew coffee will slow down the oxidation process which makes the flavors less volatile.

However, if you are making cold brews at home, it is best to refrigerate your coffee immediately after brewing for maximum freshness.

Refrigerating it will help to preserve the flavor.

It is also not recommended to reheat cold brew as this will create a completely new set of flavors that you may not be a fan of.

Since the oxidation process has been slowed, cold brew will last a bit longer than hot-brewed iced coffee.

The flavor lifespan for cold-brewed coffee is about 7 days.

Enjoy cold-brewed coffee within 7 days of brewing to ensure maximum freshness.

How do you know if cold brew has gone bad?

Refrigerating cold brew is an easy way to keep it fresh longer, but when it’s in the fridge, how do you know if it has gone bad?

There are many indicators that can help you determine if cold brew has gone bad.

Some of the most obvious include:

  • It smells or tastes off
  • The container is bloated or swollen
  • There’s mold growth

When you see some of these signs, then it will not be safe for you to drink the cold brew.

Final Thoughts

To sum this up, cold brews can be stored at room temperature.

However, refrigerating it will allow it to last longer.

In fact, a refrigerated cold brew can last for up to two weeks.

It is totally up to you whether you refrigerate or not your cold brew.

If you decide to put it in the fridge, you can follow the tips on doing shared in this post.

Thank you for stopping by.

Related article: How Long Does Cold-Brewed Coffee Last in the Fridge?