How Long Does Ground Coffee Stay Fresh?

By Lina November 8, 2017

coffee-powder-in-a-spoon

It may sound cliché, but coffee is my life. As a veteran coffee lover, I understand the importance of good coffee storage. If you love coffee, it simply follows that you must have coffee readily available whenever you want it: this means that you store coffee within your home(the 7 best ways to make coffee at home).

If you are anything like me, then you carefully choose what coffee you drink. Now, I care about my coffee; so, I must know how to store it properly. No one wants to wake up and drink out of date coffee – trust me.

What we are interested in is, how long does Ground coffee last? Does Ground coffee Expire?

The Shelf Life of coffee depends on various factors such as the Best Before Date, Preparation Method and Storage Method. When coffee is stored properly the expiration date is approximately as follows:

(Unopened/Sealed)	Pantry	Freezer
	Past Printed Date	Past Printed Date
Ground Coffee lasts for	3-5 Months	1-2 Years
Whole Bean Coffee lasts for	6-9 Months	2-3 Years
Instant Coffee lasts for	2-20 Years	Indefinite
(Opened)	Pantry	Freezer
	Once Opened	Once Opened
Ground Coffee lasts for	3-5 Months	3-5 Months
Coffee Beans last for	6 Months	2 Years
Instant Coffee (freeze dried) lasts for	2-20 Years	Indefinite

If it is not stored properly, then the coffee will not last as long. It is important to note that it does not matter if the coffee is decaffeinated or caffeinated – this does not influence the Shelf Life of Coffee.

How do I know if my coffee is bad, rotten or spoiled?

pouring-coffee-from-a-french-press

It is always recommended that you follow good food hygiene practices. This will help you avoid food related illnesses.

Even long time coffee drinkers struggle to tell if their coffee has gone bad – this is because coffee looks the same whether it is good or bad. The number one technique for testing whether coffee has gone bad is using your nose: the pleasant aroma will be absent and much of the taste too. The coffee may also seem to be a lighter shade of brown than before.

How do I store ground coffee to extend its shelf life?

whole-coffee-beans

Unfortunately, whole bean coffee lasts much longer than ground coffee. If you want to buy your coffee based upon how long it will last, then whole bean coffee is for you.

To maximize the shelf life of ground coffee and keep it fresh, put your ground coffee in your freezer immediately after you use it. Keep the coffee in a tight container so that it will keep out moisture among other contaminants. Do not worry, the freezer will not freeze your coffee; you do not need to defrost your ground coffee before use.

A Ziplock bag test to check if your beans are still fresh.