How long does it take for coffee to expire? How can you use expired coffee beans?

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Coffee is an agricultural crop and will spoil like any other food.

I believe many people may have a question: "How long does it take for coffee to be expired and taste bad?"

There are two ways to interpret this question:

One is when will my coffee be past its peak tasting time (i.e. peak flavor period)?

One is the coffee that is stored in the kitchen cabinet. Is it still drinkable now? (That is, the shelf life)

Here is a brief introduction to what happens after coffee is roasted, and practical information to help you solve your problems.

Fresh coffee lasts two to three weeks

Freshly roasted coffee will maintain its peak flavor for about two to three weeks. Once roasted, the beans will need several days to release the gases (carbon dioxide) before they can be brewed and consumed.

About a week after roasting, the coffee flavor is at its peak, with the aroma and flavor characteristics of the brewed coffee being the strongest, and also showing the best mellowness and acidity of the coffee. But once it is left for a few more weeks, most coffees will no longer be fresh.

How to tell whether the beans are fresh or not?

1. Aroma

If the coffee you get has no aroma at all, or has an offensive smell or a burnt smell, then your coffee is most likely no longer fresh. Of course, if it is roasted with spices, you cannot tell by aroma, so you need to taste it to help you tell the freshness.

2. Taste

The way to tell freshness from the taste is to first check whether there is any foreign or oily taste when drinking it. Then check whether the bitterness of the coffee is too strong to make people feel uncomfortable. In addition to the influence of commercial beans, stale beans can also make people feel the above.

Coffee's "safe drinking period" is several months

Although the coffee brewed from these coffee beans, which have been stored for several months, no longer has the rich flavors of flowers, fruits and caramel when they are fresh, it is still safe to drink .

In fact, many places sell coffee without indicating the roasting/manufacturing date, only the expiration date. When such coffee is sold, it is often coffee beans that have been stored for several months after roasting, but these coffee beans may be placed on air-conditioned and dry shelves, so there is no problem of deterioration, and it is safe to drink.

Although these coffees are not as delicious as when they are fresh, drinking them will not cause harm to the body, provided that the storage environment is not hot and humid, which will cause the coffee to deteriorate.

It is usually not recommended to drink coffee beans that have been stored for more than six months and are not kept in a stable environment, as they may produce toxins that are harmful to the human body.

Of course, you don’t have to choose to drink old beans like this. Here are some creative ways to help you use up coffee beans that have been sitting around for months:

1. Use these coffee beans to make coffee ice cream

2. Use brewed coffee to bake pastries

3. Place it directly in the shoe cabinet, wardrobe and car as an odor absorber

4. Use it to make coffee bean chocolate (wrapped in chocolate)

5. Use these beans to practice different hand brewing tools/techniques

Do not refrigerate or freeze your coffee

To increase the life of coffee, some people put it in the refrigerator or freezer to prevent spoilage. This sounds reasonable, but it actually has the opposite effect.

Storing coffee in the refrigerator or freezer does not extend its freshness because coffee continues to release aromas. They release these gases whether they are at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Keeping coffee cold won't extend its six-month shelf life any further, since it doesn't need to be kept below freezing. In fact, storing coffee in the refrigerator or freezer may shorten its shelf life. When you put coffee in the fridge or freezer, the sudden temperature change usually causes moisture to form inside the bag, just like when you take a drink out of the fridge, moisture forms on the bottle. Even if it's kept cold, the packaging will become damp and the beans will spoil.

To preserve coffee beans, just follow these principles:

1. After opening the coffee beans, be sure to seal them with a sealed can or sealing clip. When buying, choose small packages, do not hoard beans, buy as much as you drink, and try to speed up the turnover.

2. Regardless of whether the beans are opened or not, please place them in a cool, dry place without sunlight, light, and where the temperature and humidity are stable.

3. Coffee beans are just like other foods. No matter how well the storage conditions are controlled, it is best to drink them as soon as possible. Love should be enjoyed in time!

Use up old coffee beans!

No matter how hard we try to consume the fresh coffee we have, there will always be some coffee that has not been finished for several months. As long as it is properly stored, this coffee is still safe to drink. After all, these beans are hard to come by and can still be used in cooking, roasting and practicing hand brewing.