With coffee being one of the world’s most popular drinks it’s probably not surprising that many of us have had moments of hanging onto coffee that has reached its expiration date. But is it safe to drink coffee after its best before date has passed?
The short answer is, yes it is safe to drink coffee after the expiration date, however it may not taste as good. Coffee is an amazingly versatile plant and its beans can last for many years if stored correctly. For example, experts suggest a shelf life of one to two years for unopened ground coffee, or three to five years for unopened whole-bean coffee. That being said, the nuances of coffee are so complex that its quality will eventually start to degrade over time, and will eventually become unpalatable – usually no more than a few months after the best-by date.
In addition to time, external factors can have an adverse effect on coffee’s shelf life. For instance, if you store your coffee in a container that’s not tightly sealed or if you store it in the fridge or freezer you can expect the beans to break down more quickly. It is also important to remember that when you buy pre-ground coffee, it has already been exposed to oxygen, which starts to damage the beans instantly, meaning you should use or buy ground coffee within two weeks of purchasing it.
That being said, it is not uncommon to find stale coffee in the back of your cupboard and while it may no longer be good to drink, it still has many other purposes. For example, old coffee can be used to make compost in much the same way as tea leaves, or could be used as an effective natural dye. Moreover, it can also be used as a marinade for steaks, used to make beauty products such as coffee scrubs or soap, and ground coffee can even be used to reduce puffy eyes. As for making coffee, there is no harm in making coffee with old beans – but it generally will not be as enjoyable to drink.
Finally, it is important to remember that the ‘best-by’ date on coffee is a guideline and not necessarily a definitive recommendation for the quality of your coffee. After all, some coffees may remain palatable for months past the best-by date, and some may not have kept their peak flavour even directly after it.
Storing Coffee
Coffee aficionados will tell you that proper storage of your beans is just as important as the actual music of brewing it. Ideal storage should involve keeping your beans in an airtight container at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. It is worth noting that the bags your beans come in are not necessarily airtight, which is why it is important to store them in a Mason Jar or other airtight container. Additionally, consider buying less coffee at a time and freezing it, rather than buying large amounts and letting it sit in the cupboard. This way, you can take your beans out to defrost only when you are ready to make your coffee, avoiding wastage and making sure you extract the best flavours from each bean.
Above all, the success of your coffee ultimately comes down to the quality and freshness of your beans. If a coffee tastes stale and dull, the cause is most likely poor-quality beans that have been sitting in the cupboard for too long. So when in doubt, it is probably best to avoid drinking expired coffee and buy some fresh beans instead.
Brewing Methods
Given that the quality of coffee beans begins to diminish over time, it is important to consider the brewing method and select one that is right for the beans you are using. For example, if you are using beans that are little past their best before date, you should opt for a brewing method that is less sensitive to the quality of the beans, such as French Press or Cold Brew. This way, you can still enjoy the coffee but at a lower cost then buying fresh beans.
It is also worth noting that, although the quality of the beans diminishes over time, the flavour is relatively stable. This means that, by brewing your coffee through a suitable method, you can still enjoy a decent cup of coffee, even if it does not have the same aromatic scent or sweetness as fresh beans.
Different Roasts
Regardless of whether you are using fresh beans or expired beans, it is important to consider the roast of your coffee. It is a generalisation but the lighter the roast, the stronger the coffee can taste, whereas darker roasts can taste more mellow. Also, lighter roasts tend to release more caffeine and may make your coffee taste more acidic.
With this in mind, you should always select the roast of your beans based on your personal preference and the type of coffee you are trying to make. For instance, if you are looking for a strong and flavoursome cup of coffee, you should go for a light or medium roast, while dark roasts will generally make your coffee taste more mellow and sweet.
Grinding Your Beans
In general, it is not recommended to grind coffee beans that are past the best before date. Reason being, the oils and flavours present in the beans deteriorate over time, and for this reason, you should always grind coffee beans just before brewing. However, if you do find yourself with a bag of beans that have expired, you can still use them – but do so cautiously and always taste your coffee to make sure it still tastes good.
When it comes to grinding your beans, the coarser the grind, the longer it will take to extract flavour from the beans. This is because with a coarse grind, less of the oils and flavours are released when the water passes through the beans.
On the other hand, if you use a finer grind, you can extract the coffee’s flavour quicker. Therefore, if you are using expired coffee beans, it is best to use a fine grind so that the flavour is released faster. However, bear in mind that this will likely result in a more bitter-tasting coffee.
Related Drinks
Ultimately, when it comes to expired coffee, it is not recommended to use it for beverages such as espresso or cappuccino. It is particularly important to avoid espresso as the fine grind used for brewing means that the beans will quickly break down and will not produce the same quality of coffee as fresh beans. On the other hand, expired coffee can still be used to make drinks such as iced coffee or Vietnamese style drip coffee.
Iced coffee is brewed using cold water and should generally be made with cold brewed coffee as it produces a smoother, less acidic taste. On the other hand, Vietnamese style drip coffee is made using hot water and usually requires a longer brew time. This means that it is ideal for using with past-its-best-by date beans as it allows the flavours to be extracted more slowly.
Leftover Coffee
If you find yourself with a large amount of coffee that is past its best before date, you can try to repurpose it into other dishes. For instance, old coffee can be used to add depth of flavour to sauces, stews and marinades. It can also be used in desserts such as tiramisu, cakes and cookies, as the combination of sugar and coffee can enhance the flavour of the dish.
Also, if you have a large amount of grounds and you don’t want to use them in other recipes, you could try to grow mushrooms. In much the same way as composting, you can use grounds as a substrate for growing mushrooms. Doing so is an environmentally friendly and economical way to repurpose leftover coffee, and you can also eat the mushrooms you have grown, if you wish.
In conclusion, it is perfectly safe to drink expired coffee, however it is not always recommended. Above all, the most important thing is to focus on buying, storing and choosing the best roast for your beans, as this will help you to get the most out of your coffee.
