Of course, the shelf life is shorter if it is not stored properly. However, in terms of the shelf life of coffee, how long coffee lasts, and if coffee expires - it does not matter whether it has caffeine or is decaffeinated. Like a lot of other drinks, it usually has a best before date or a sell by date and not a use by date or expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use it to compliment your favorite meals even after the date has lapsed according to the above table if it has been stored properly.

How to tell if Coffee is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Since coffee basically looks the same with age, many ask does coffee go bad? The best way to tell if it has gone bad is to use your nose. If coffee has gone bad, the pleasant aroma will be gone and with it much of the taste. Using this coffee will not harm you, but will just not have much flavor if the smell is gone. It may also lose its deep dark color and appear a lighter brown.

Coffee beans begin to slowly lose their flavor soon after grinding as the oils begin to evaporate. How long you choose to use your coffee after the best by date really depends on how particular you are about the taste of your coffee. Some prefer not to use it at all and some may use it even after the eat by date (not recommended) but use an increased amount in order to try and regain a stronger coffee taste.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled drinks so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your drinks before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Coffee to extend its shelf life?

Coffee does degrade over time and degrades faster depending on the surface area - which means that whole beans will keep longer than ground coffee. This is the same concept as with spices. So, it is best to buy whole beans and then grind them as needed for maximum freshness and coffee flavor. The best way to store these beans is to place them in a tightly closed container in the freezer and grind fresh only the amount you plan to use that day. Storing coffee in this way will keep out moisture and other contaminants.

The best way to store ground coffee to keep it fresh longer is by also storing it in your freezer immediately after use. Storing coffee in the freezer does not actually freeze the coffee, so it is always ready for use without any defrosting.

Instant coffee, especially freeze dried since it is so dry, can keep fresh for extended amounts of time if vacuum sealed and kept away from moisture and heat.

If prepared coffee is left out on the counter, it should be used within 4-6 hours of brewing.

Re-heating is not recommended because it further breaks down the product. Try a thermos instead to keep it warm and better tasting for a few hours.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Coffee:

How to use extra before your Coffee goes bad?

If you made too much this morning and don't want to toss it down the drain try one of these ideas.

How long is Coffee good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does coffee last? That depends. How long does milk last? In general, drinks lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Coffee lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Coffee.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Coffee shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please drink responsibly!