What does coffee go bad and what can you do to prevent it? Most coffee lovers are probably like you when they hear the question, “Do coffee beans dry out?” The answer is yes, coffee doesn’t really go bad, however a wet, soggy cup of coffee can make you very ill. However, even if the coffee is a dried, canned product like most other dried products, there’s no firm shelf date for it. Instead, here are some coffee tips to help preserve your morning or nightly cup of Joe:
First off, contrary to what you may think, it’s not recommended you store your coffee in your freezer. Although some coffee beans do benefit from freezing, it’s best to leave it up to the pros. Freezing coffee beans is expensive, time consuming and inefficient, resulting in a loss of flavor and aroma as well as a waste of money and energy. Coffee that has been frozen will generally have less aroma than coffee that’s been ground up and stored in the freezer. Freezing coffee will also leave the coffee bitter, which isn’t what anyone wants while brewing a great cup.
On the flip side, you can’t keep coffee that’s been recently-brewed in your refrigerator. Coffee freshens with time, but that means it has lost much of its original flavor. And while you can refrigerate some canned coffee in its original package, it’s still best left fresh at room temperature. For freshness, coffee should be kept in a warm place, away from direct sunlight and away from other items that could cause it to lose moisture faster. A coffee basket is a good storage solution for coffee that’s been freshly-brewed. It keeps the coffee fresh and allows you to brew more without worry about it losing its flavor.
Many coffee aficionados will simply purchase an expensive coffee maker and use it whenever they would like a cup of coffee. There are advantages to this strategy, including saving money. But coffee also benefits from being kept in the fridge to retain its freshness. Using coffee fresheners on-board may prevent stale coffee beans from brewing, but if it’s not used properly, it could also result in sour coffee. So it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions in order to maintain the freshest coffee beans.
You might be tempted to use bottled coffee in order to retain the freshest taste. Although canned beverages can sometimes boast a bit longer shelf life than fresh coffee, it is not advisable to use these once a week. Use only coffee that was brewed fresh and never reuse it for brewing purposes. The flavor can change slightly but the aroma is not likely to become noticeably different.
Once coffee has been harvested, it must be roasted until it reaches the proper strength to release its full flavor. Roasting coffee only takes a short period of time, and it can significantly alter the taste of the finished product. If coffee isn’t roasted to the proper strength or to the correct flavor, the result will be bitter or off-tasting coffee. A better question might be, does whole beans go bad?
Whole beans have been stripped of their surface intact. They can still retain their natural flavor and aroma, but most commercial beans are already processed. While some companies process the beans to enhance their shelf life, it is not necessary to process whole beans in order to retain their freshness. If the coffee is not thoroughly processed, the natural flavor and aroma will be lost along the way. Only after the proper storage and brewing processes do whole beans start to lose their freshness.
Following these simple, yet effective, tips will ensure that you’re able to enjoy a fresh, bright cup of coffee. You’ll be able to serve guests with a fresh cup every time, because it won’t have a strong odor. It’s important not to worry about preserving your stash for later, or if you should accidentally purchase too much at once. These tips will help you make sure you’re always able to find the freshest cup of coffee.