Coffee has been a staple to everyone’s drinking culture throughout the world. I personally love coffee, and I don’t think I can start the day without it. But is there any way to keep coffee in the fridge? If so, for how long?
Good question for coffee lovers out there!
Yes, you can store coffee in the fridge for a few days. At least three to four days is acceptable, but this depends on the coffee preparation method.
For coffee benders, let’s find out more about how long you can store your coffee in the fridge, and other important things that we need to know.
What Is Coffee?
Coffee, in a nutshell, is about you and me. No kidding. Who doesn’t love coffee though?
But on a serious note, the word coffee is derived from the Dutch word koffie, which is borrowed from the Turkish term kahve that’s also borrowed from the Arabic word qahwah. That’s a lot of borrowed names, but seriously, it’s coffee, and we all love it.
The coffee that we drink is from roasted beans, which are the green fruits in the Coffea genus. Ground into fine particles, it creates a bitter, dark, a little acidic effect, and is also a stimulant because of its caffeine content. It’s worthy to note that drinking coffee is best when your cortisol levels are significantly low from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon, or at least until 3:00 P.M.
With its caffeine content, the Food and Drug Administration recommended limiting up to 400 mg of coffee intake per day if you’re a healthy adult. This is equal to four to five cups of coffee a day, which is an amount that’s not linked to any adverse health effects in the human body.
Coffee Shelf Life In The Fridge
The shelf life of coffee depends on how it was prepared such as brewed coffee versus the ones that haven’t been brewed, roasted, or the whole coffee beans among others. It also depends on how or where you store it. Here are things that you should know about coffee storage, or at least when you store it in the fridge, and how long it lasts.
- Whole Coffee Beans Shelf Life
- In a sealed or airtight container, you can store your whole coffee beans in the freezer for up to three or four months. You need to make sure that there’s no water in the container where you’re storing the beans so they don’t get destroyed before the end of their shelf life. The only wrinkle to this is that there might a slight difference in quality and taste when they are stored in the freezer for a long time.
- Ground Coffee
- Like the whole coffee beans, keep your ground coffee in sealed containers and store it in the fridge or freezer. Ground coffee stays up to one month in the freezer and one to two weeks in the fridge.
- Instant coffee, for example, has a longer storage life that can last up to 20 years provided that you keep it in a dry, cool, and dark place.
- Coffee pods maintain their freshness until their best-by date. If you need to store them, keep them in a sealed or airtight container and place them far from heat and light.
- Brewed Espresso and Brewed Hot Coffee
- Brewed hot coffee is still the best when consumed as soon as possible, or at least in four hours post brewing process. If you add creamer or any sweetener to it, it’s best to drink your coffee in two hours. However, if you store it in the fridge, make sure to put it in a sealed container. It lasts up to three or four days, and a day or two if you add milk or a creamer although the quality and taste will not be the same.
- Just like brewed coffee, espresso is of its great state when consumed immediately or in two to four hours shortly after it’s prepared. If you need to keep it in the fridge, make sure to place it in a tightly sealed container and consume it for three to four days. But bear in mind that the taste will be different.
- Brewed Cold Coffee
- The cold-brew concentrate can stay in the fridge for up to ten days if you place it in a sealed container. Adding water to the concentrate before storing it in the fridge, it’s best to use it in three to four days.
- For cold brew with milk or creamer, you can have it stored in the fridge for up to two days. Just make sure that you place it in an airtight container, and always check for signs of spoiled drinks.
- If you need to put brewed cold coffee in a freezer, you can freeze the ice cubes filled with the coffee for at least two hours and put them in a sealed container. In the freezer, you can use the coffee within two weeks.
- Roasted Coffee Beans
- Unopened roasted coffee beans can last up to three years while the ones that have been opened need to be consumed within two years if they’re stored in the freezer.
- Iced Coffee
- Seriously though. An iced coffee in the fridge? But yes, you can do it if you need to. The best thing to do is to take out the ice cubes before placing the iced coffee in a sealed container to store in the fridge. Consume it within two days, especially when milk or creamer is added to it.
Pro Tip: Always watch out for molds as well as foul smell and taste as soon as you decide to consume your coffee from the fridge. It might still be safe within the indicated timeframe above, but it’s always better to be extra careful than never. Take it from me.
Best Coffee Containers
Storing your coffee in the fridge is easy, but you will need sealed or airtight containers of the best quality to ensure that the coffee can maintain its aroma over time. While it’s recommended not to store coffee in the fridge, others may badly need to do it to prolong its shelf life.
So for the coffee aficionados, here are our recommended coffee containers that you can buy from supermarkets and online.
- OXO Steel POP Coffee Container with Scoop. For those who are on a budget, this is the best deal for us. It’s of great quality and can store up to one pound of coffee beans or ground coffee. The lid is only for handwashing, but the silicone gasket and container itself are both safe in a dishwasher. It’s only $21 on Amazon.
- Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister. This one gives a modern touch to your pantry or kitchen and comes in small, medium, and large sizes. For only $35 on Amazon, you can store your coffee beans safely in here to maintain their aroma.
- DecoBros K-cup Storage Drawer Holder For Coffee Pods. This is a sliding drawer that can hold up to 36 coffee pods. It’s only $33 on Amazon.
- Airscape Coffee Storage Canister. For $41 on Amazon, this gives you extra large storage for your coffee beans. The galvanized steel is very durable and its lid removes all air to create airless storage.
- Barnyard Designs Decorative Nesting Kitchen Canister Jars with Lids. This design is perfect for farmhouses or those who have a thing for vintage. For $35 on Amazon, you can have four beautiful coffee storage. Its silicone seal protects your coffee inside maintaining its freshness and taste.
- Coffee Gator Coffee Canister. For $27 on Amazon, this gives you a great deal and can store beans or ground coffee to keep its aroma and taste. The stainless steel body can store up to 1.3 liters of coffee.
- Old Dutch International Canister Set. This beautiful copper-plated canister is available on Amazon for $114 but is often on sale for only $40. So you may have to check every now and then for the best deal. The set of four canisters is available in two quarts and four quarts that can store from four to five pounds of coffee.
- Le Creuset Stoneware Canister with Wood Lid. At $62, you can have this stylish coffee canister with a wood lid and comes in seven different colors. It’s also safe in the dishwasher.
The Bottom Line
While most coffee connoisseurs don’t recommend storing coffee in the fridge, sometimes we really need to, especially when we can’t consume it on time. Coffee can last for years when stored the right way and this also depends on how it was prepared.
Also, it’s important to check for spoiled coffee signs such as mold or foul smell as soon as you take it out from the fridge. Make sure to use good-quality containers to keep your coffee fresh and quality. It may not be as fresh as when it’s newly prepared, but it’s good enough if you badly need to store it in the fridge.