If, like many of our customers, you’re someone that makes coffee from home each morning - you know that there’s nothing better than starting the day off with a fresh brew. However, if you’ve gone to go and make your coffee only to find that the the coffee beans have gone off, it might just ruin the rest of your day.
While coffee has a relatively long shelf life and drinking old coffee is not necessarily going to make you sick - if left too long, your cup of ambition can result in a mediocre and underwhelming stale cup of coffee.
So, how long does coffee last? And what about if the beans or ground coffee are kept in a sealed bag? Let’s jump into coffee shelf life, what you can do to make your coffee beans last longer, and how to tell if your coffee is off (beyond just tasting not quite right).
How long can coffee last in a sealed bag?
Coffee can last up to one year in a sealed bag - however, there are a couple of factors to consider, like the type of coffee (beans or ground coffee), how the coffee is sealed, and whether the bag has been opened or not.
Coffee beans contain natural oils that begin to oxidise when exposed to the air - while all forms of coffee will be affected by this eventually, coffee beans stay fresh for much longer than ground coffee beans.
Coffee beans can stay fresh for up to one year in a sealed bag, while an unopened sealed bag of ground coffee should be used up within one month.
Coffee shelf life
In general, coffee is a consumable that can technically last quite a long time - although it will come down to storage and types of beans.
The quality of your coffee beans can play a large part in how long coffee will stay fresh. If you invest in high-quality, specialty-grade coffee beans - your beans will stay fresher and more flavourful for longer.
Across all types of coffee, we recommend that you buy in smaller batches so you don’t need to store it for a long time. The earlier the coffee is consumed after roasting, the more you’ll be able to enjoy the fragrant notes of the beans and roasting process.
Coffee beans
In a sealed bag, coffee beans can last up to one year. Once opened, the beans will last from one week to a month, depending on how you’re storing the beans.
Keeping the beans away from direct sunlight and in a dry area will give your beans the best chance for longer-lasting and aromatic coffee. As mentioned - although they can last a long time, coffee beans will provide a better brew when consumed within a week of roasting.
Ground coffee
Ground coffee beans in an unopened sealed package will stay fresh two to three months - however, once the seal is open, the ground coffee will lose its freshness, aroma, and tasting notes within 2 weeks.
Ground coffee beans have a smaller and softer surface area than whole coffee beans making the oxidation process act faster, resulting in stale coffee. Just like how a cut apple turns brown when exposed to the air, coffee becomes stale when exposed to air.
Pods
Coffee pods generally have a shelf-life of between one to two years. Thanks to the sealing process, coffee pods tend to stay fresh for longer than whole coffee beans or ground coffee.
Most coffee pods have a “best before” date of around eight months, which is how long the product maker can vouch for its fresh and aromatic flavour - although, if unopened and kept in a cool, dry, and dark place, coffee pods are generally safe to consume. Again, we’re getting repetitive here - but the sooner coffee pods are consumed, the better the coffee will taste!
How to keep coffee from going stale
It’s important to store your coffee beans, ground beans, and pods in a cool, dark and dry place - far away from the things your coffee beans do not like: air, moisture, heat, and light.
While it’s convenient to leave your coffee container on the counter next to your machine, this is the worst place for your coffee’s longevity! Benchtops are subject to the rise and fall of external temperature changes, where your cupboards or pantry will keep your beans protected.
After the original sealed bag, a metal or ceramic airtight container is ideal for your coffee - between keeping the beans and grind safe from oxygen and the non-absorbing material of metal and ceramic, we’re also preserving all the glorious aromatics.
Once the sealed bag is opened, store the remaining coffee in an airtight container and find a home for it in a cupboard or pantry - remember, the darker and drier the environment, the better!
Can you freeze coffee?
If you’re concerned about not consuming your coffee beans or grounds within the best before period, yes, you can technically keep coffee in the freezer - however, it does expose the beans to moisture, which can dull the tasting notes.
The National Coffee Association doesn’t recommend freezing coffee beans, grounds, or pods due to the high chance of impact on flavour - and neither do we. You’re better off buying smaller batches of beans and storing beans in an airtight coffee container.