Can Espresso Powder Go Bad?

Can Espresso Powder Go Bad? Here’s a reason not to purchase your favorite espresso powder in bulk. I’m sorry to inform you but those grounds may taste very different today compared to a few days or weeks from now.

This is why you get coffee in such unique, sealed packages. The best way is of course to buy coffee in beans and grind at every use if you can make it.

Coffee beans and granules are very sensitive to their environment. Manufacturers do their best to help you prevent them from going stale.

Below you’ll see many of the factors that play a role and how you manage those aspects determine how long your beans will last. There’s no definite answer to how many days do roasted coffee beans last. But it’s inevitable that eventually, you may have to throw them away.

Let’s help you understand the concept so you can upgrade your coffee storage system.

Why Does Coffee Go Bad?

Firstly it helps if you understand why your coffee will go stale.

It’s a bit of science but bear with us because this will help you enjoy your coffee more.

Coffee contains many particles that will react to their environment.

These chemical reactions determine the flavor and strength of your coffee:

• The carbohydrates in coffee can go stale after a while
• Coffee contains lipids that become rancid
• You’ll lose some organic compounds when coffee is exposed to air because they evaporate
• Certain chemicals undergo oxidation
• Any moisture in the air can affect particles

So can espresso powder go bad?

The good news is that you can prevent some of these reactions from taking place quickly.

But the reality is that sooner or later you’ll have to get some fresh beans or grounds.

How Long Does it Take to Go Bad?

Of course, you’d like to plan for your future cups of coffee. So how often should you replace your old espresso grounds?

Once again your answer is complex. One of the major role players is the type of your coffee you’re storing.

Which one do you prefer?

How Long will Beans and Powder Keep?

Your espresso powder will unfortunately not last as long as beans or the capsules discussed below.

While coffee beans may keep at best their flavor up to a year, the moment you grind them up you’re creating more surfaces that can react to moisture, air, and light.

The grounds will now react much faster to the surrounding elements than the beans.

That’s one more motivation to purchase that grinder you’ve been thinking of adding to your kitchen appliances.

So powder will go stale quicker than your beans or pods. A sealed bag will keep it flavorful for longer and manufacturers add nitrogen as a preservative. In this form, you can keep beans up to a year from their roasting date (shown on most coffee packaging) even if you don’t put them in the freezer.

Powder last for shorter periods:

• An unopened bag can keep coffee fresh for up to five months
• If placed in a freezer an unopened bag can keep up to two years
• The maximum time you’ll enjoy the flavor from an opened bag is five months but could be as little as two

Remember, the moment you open the bag for the first time the process of going stale will quicken. Storing it in airtight containers will limit the oxidation though.

Are you using the right containers in your kitchen?

How Long Will Your Capsules Keep?

There’s a reason why Nespresso pods and K-Cups are so popular.

It’s also part of the reason it’s worth paying a little extra for these units. With capsules, you’re lucky because the pod locks out all air and moisture while locking in the flavor.

The espresso inside can still give you optimum aroma up to eight months after the pod was manufactured.

Note: Timelines differ for pods with tea and hot chocolate.

Here are a Few Storage Tips

So what is the ideal place to put your coffee? You’re looking for:

• Cool places
• Dark places
• Dry places

Above we mentioned placing coffee—or beans—in the freezer. This will help keep it fresh, yes. How long does coffee last in the fridge? Your coffee may last up to four times longer in there than on your counter or in your cupboard.

However, note that you should only take out what you’re planning on using immediately.

When it thaws an extraction process will start, so keep it inside until you’re ready to use or grind it.

How to Tell If Coffee is Bad

Since the timelines are arbitrary and influenced by so many factors, how do you know when it’s time to throw out those beans you love?

Here’s where you need to develop your palate. It’s like tasting wine. Only by comparison do you identify the small nuances that tell you whether it’s a good or a bad bottle.

With coffee you need to teach your senses to pick up the tell-tale signs:

• Your taste buds do not lie. If your coffee is tasting less flavorful than usual, it’s possible it’s past its expiration date.
• Even before you make your cup, give the beans or grounds a sniff. If you don’t pick up on any of your favorite aromas, the coffee should probably be replaced.
• If you’re using pods a gentle push on the silver covering is all you need. If the air pressure inside is still high enough that it resists your push, you’ll still enjoy amazing coffee.

If you’re storing rancid coffee, bad smells or tastes will eventually become more prominent than the flavors you love so much.

An important fact: Does expired coffee lose caffeine? Despite oxidation, coffee may not lose its caffeine levels, even when it’s going stale. Therefore you’ll still get your energizing drink, even if it’s not tasting so well anymore.

Is Expired Coffee Bad for Your Health?

But we’re all different, right?

Your senses may still pick up some aromas while your partner no longer enjoys the brews you make. Therefore the coffee may start going off, but you still find value in it for the time being.

But is it dangerous to keep on drinking stale—or partly stale—coffee? And, can expired coffee make you sick?

Let’s start off by saying drinking coffee is not a life or death situation.

Furthermore coffee as old as 50 years has been brewed and enjoyed without many after effects.

However there is a reason most stores remove coffee from their shelves when it reaches certain expiry dates (usually two months after roasting).

There is a chance you may experience head aches. This isn’t a huge side effect, but isn’t it wiser to simply get yourself some new, fresh grounds?

Note that the above pertains to coffee that has been stored properly.

Therefore no moisture entered the container.

If this does happen your coffee can develop mould or mildew. In such a case, please dispose of your old coffee beans and grounds. Mildew can result in minor effects such as throat irritations but even cause allergic reactions and disorders in extreme cases.

Don’t take that chance simply to get your next coffee fix. Rather make sure you regularly stock up on beans and grounds.

This is an excellent reason to get in the habit of purchasing coffee regularly:

• Determine how much coffee you use per month
• Purchase enough to last you two months
• Since two months is well below the average time an opened bag’s coffee will still taste good, you can get new stock every eight weeks

If you love your coffee enough you’ll put effort into learning new habits.

Conclusion

So how would you rate your coffee storage options at the moment? If you love your morning—and evening—brew you should ensure you always have access to quality coffee. And now you know how to make it happen.

This is not only a taste issue. There’s no reason you should waste money on beans, pods, and ground that you’ll never be able to use. A quick audit regarding your usage rates will help you plan more dynamically in the future.

Make sure you and each person that visits your home get the best cup of coffee. You know coffee can be the best part of your day. Don’t ruin any moments in the future.