If you like to drink coffee in the morning, but don’t always have time to brew a full pot of it before heading out for work or school, you may be one of many people who opt for using pre-ground beans instead.
The good thing about ground coffee is that it can be refrigerated.
But how long can you keep ground coffee in the fridge?
Depending on the type of coffee, how it’s stored and how long it’s been ground, it can stay flavorful for anywhere from a few days up to four weeks.
If you’re not going to be using your pre-ground coffee right away, storing it in the fridge will help keep it fresh for a little bit longer.
However, if you keep coffee in the fridge for too long, pungent aromas can transfer to nearby foods.
So it’s best to only store coffee in the fridge if you know you won’t be using it for a while.
Does ground coffee go bad in the fridge?
Refrigerating ground coffee will help it stay fresh, but the shelf life of your caffeine fix won’t dramatically improve.
Typically, ground coffee can last for about four weeks in the fridge.
After that, it starts losing its freshness. Even if you can’t tell by its taste, your ground coffee will become less potent. You may even experience a change in flavor.
The best place to store ground coffee is in an airtight container on the counter. The container should be opaque and moisture-resistant.
It’s best to grind your coffee as close to the moment you want to brew it as possible, to get the freshest flavor.
If you don’t have a grinder, most supermarkets sell pre-ground coffee that’s not too old.
You may have to buy a large quantity, but you’re only using a serving at a time, so that’s not really a big deal.
How do you know if ground coffee is bad?
One indicator is that the coffee will smell sour.
Additionally, ground coffee will start to form a solid on the top of the liquid and it may develop a brownish color.
If these signs are present, it is best to discard the coffee and not consume it.
Coffee beans contain a small amount of oil that helps to preserve the flavor and freshness of the coffee.
However, this oil can start to degrade once the beans are ground.
The degradation causes the coffee to lose some of its taste and become stale.
However, because ground coffee starts to degrade much more quickly than whole beans, it is an indicator that the coffee has been exposed to air or moisture and it may have started to degrade.
Refrigerating ground coffee can slow down the degradation. Refrigerating the coffee will also help with some of the taste issues.
Refrigeration slows down chemical changes that happen in food, which is why it is often recommended for perishable items.
If you are unsure if the ground coffee has gone bad or not, it is best to throw it away.
How long can ground coffee stay fresh?
The shelf life of ground coffee depends on the type of bean it is. Generally, coffee beans which are roasted last up to 18 months.
Darker roasts have a longer shelf life than lighter roasts. Once the beans are ground, their shelf life is shortened to 2-3 months.
The best way to preserve ground coffee is to keep it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge.
This will extend the shelf life to up to four weeks.
How to store ground coffee long term?
Storing coffee is an important part of keeping it fresh. When storing ground coffee, you want to make sure to keep it in a cool, dark place.
Refrigerating the coffee is your best option, as it keeps out moisture and oxygen, which will destroy your coffee beans.
It is important to keep your coffee sealed tightly in an airtight container.
You will also want to make sure you never freeze your ground coffee, as it can affect the quality and taste of the coffee.
To keep your beans fresh, you will need to store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
A refrigerator is too moist for storing coffee beans, so you’ll be better off keeping them in an airtight container at room temperature.
As long as the container is airtight, you can store your coffee beans in a pantry or cabinet.
Coffee beans have a shelf life of about one year before they start to lose flavor.
You’ll know when your coffee is nearing the end of its shelf life if it starts to taste bitter, acidic or just completely bland.
Can you store brewed coffee in the fridge?
Yes, you can refrigerate coffee after brewing the beverage for iced coffee or other cold drinks.
Refrigerated brewed coffee will stay fresh for up to seven days.
Brewed coffee can be stored in the refrigerator, but it is not necessary though.
But of course, it is a matter of personal preference.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, ground coffee can be kept in the fridge for up to four weeks.
But you need to make sure that your store it correctly.
Also, put other factors into consideration when refrigerating ground coffee.
This is because there are so many things that could affect the overall quality of ground coffee in the fridge.
But if you follow the tips shared in this post, there’s a high chance that you’ll be able to store coffee in the fridge successfully.
Thanks for reading.
If you want to learn more about refrigerating foods, please feel free to visit my related posts here.