Coffee is a perishable product, which means it can and does go bad. Coffee beans contain natural oils that begin to oxidise when exposed to air. Even if you keep your coffee beans away from oxygen, i.e. in the sealed bag they came in, coffee beans will become stale with time.
Yes, you can drink expired coffee without getting sick, as long as it does not have any mold on it, or any spoiled additions like milk. Even if you do have expired coffee that is safe to drink, the drink will not have the aromas and flavors that you normally would expect.
Can Coffee Go Bad? Coffee doesn't necessarily go bad, and a “bad” cup of coffee won't make you sick. Like most dry, packaged foods and goods, there is no firm expiration date to keep in mind. That's because coffee doesn't go bad in the same way that some foods do.
The answer is no, coffee does not actually go bad, and a “bad” cup of coffee won't make you sick. But, if coffee grounds or beans get wet, then yes, they can't be reused and need to be tossed. Coffee is a dry, packaged food and like most dry goods, there is no firm expiration date to keep in mind.
Ground coffee lasts for 3-5 months when kept in a pantry at room temperature, but it can last 1-2 years in the freezer. Whole-bean coffee lasts for 6-9 months in the pantry and up to 2-3 years in the freezer. Instant coffee lasts for 2-20 years in the pantry, depending on the packaging.
If unopened, coffee grounds last around five months. After opening, exposure to the air speeds up the oxidation process – around 3-4 months. These same rules apply to coffee bags. Therefore, keep opened ground coffee in an airtight container.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no caffeinated coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks or other products for children under the age of 12, while adolescents between the ages of age 12 and 18 should limit their intake to less than 100 milligrams per day -- about the size of an old-fashioned cup of coffee.
The good news: No, coffee doesn't really “go bad” in the way that bread grows mold or a banana slowly rots on your countertop. And drinking coffee made from old beans won't make you sick, even if the expiration date has passed. (We can't vouch for the taste, though.)
The best way to detect an off taste is to brew a cup and leave it to cool for an hour. Take a sip, and if you pick up on more sour and bitter tastes than usual, the contents of your coffee bag might be bad.
Can You Drink The Expired Instant Coffee? You may find some unpleasant taste, but you are safe to drink coffee that is past the best before date.
Though coffee beans last and can taste okay for a year from the roast date if left unopened, they still lose their flavour and freshness over time and will begin to go stale. We always recommend only buying what you need so you know your coffee will taste fresh with each brew.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no caffeinated coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks or other products for children under the age of 12, while adolescents between the ages of age 12 and 18 should limit their intake to less than 100 milligrams per day – about the size of an old-fashioned cup of coffee.
Fresh coffee is best, period.
If it looks or smells a bit "off" (rancid, moldy, or mildewy), throw it out. If it just smells flat, it's going to taste flat, since the smell of coffee is such an important part of its flavor profile.
Coffee's Safe to Drink for Several Months
Assuming it's kept in a cool, dry place, coffee is usually safe to drink for six months after roasting. It won't taste as good as it originally did, but you can still brew it. Of course, you don't have to drink old coffee.
Just as coffee beans go rancid after about two weeks, brewed coffee can start to taste bad after about 30 minutes, or the time it takes for the coffee to cool. Then you have about a 4-hour window before the oils in the coffee start to go bad, which further alters the taste.
“The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating canteen guide recommends that coffee-style products (including flavoured), and coffee-style milk drinks are avoided until high school. It is best to also avoid caffeinated drinks in adolescents while they are growing and bones are developing.
The flavor will start to deteriorate the longer they are kept as the compounds break down due to oxidation, but caffeine levels will stay the same.
The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages children and young adults from drinking caffeine. 1 For most healthy adults, up to 400mg of caffeine per day appears to be safe.
It is not a expiration date. If the original container is unopened, it will probably be just fine. If the container has been opened, the taste might be a little flat but otherwise OK. Unless there is mold or rot in the coffee there is no danger to you.
You could feel sick (but not for long)
Those who stop consuming coffee have reported side effects like depression, anxiety, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, and sluggishness. Here's the good news: you won't feel this way forever.
Caffeine acts as a stimulant. If your child is already taking stimulant medication for ADHD, caffeine can heighten the effects and lead to the child feeling jittery or having even more trouble winding down at night. 5. Caffeine is OK to use in moderation, but that can be tricky when it comes to teenagers with ADHD.
Commercial sugars (granular, syrup, and honey) have an indefinite shelf life due to their resistance to microbial growth. However, sugars have a best-if-used by date of approximately 2 years for quality concerns.
Coffee grounds can contain nutrients and micronutrients like nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and other trace minerals. Recycling your old coffee grounds is an easy way to fertilize plants and help reduce your household waste.
Adding coffee grounds directly to the soil as a fertiliser can be a good option. Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen. They also have some amount of other nutrients like potassium and phosphorous. Overall, this means that adding coffee grounds to your garden can work fairly well as a fertiliser.