Is it possible to drink expired coffee?

coffee "

True connoisseurs of natural coffee never drink it in instant form. Coffee lovers talk about the drink like a good wine, distinguishing subtle shades of taste, acidity, sweetness, bitterness, notes of berries, chocolate, nuts and tobacco. To prepare different varieties and types, certain dishes are used, which enhance the taste and aroma of the drink. You can talk endlessly about the taste of coffee.

From picking berries from a tree to roasting aromatic grains, there is a long, interesting, complex path. The taste and aroma of the drink are given by essential oils - volatile compounds that evaporate over time. Therefore, when stored for a long time, coffee loses its richness.

Is it possible to drink expired coffee beans?

Coffee beans are collected and brought to Russia from America, Vietnam, Africa and India. The shelf life is determined by GOSTs. It can reach 18 months. The product is not perishable. It is stored for quite a long time, but over time it loses its taste. Therefore, if the coffee is not covered with mold, the storage conditions were optimal, and the taste does not matter at all, then the drink can be consumed after the expiration date.

Green grain

Coffee from producers arrives to roasters in raw form. Green and raw grains are roasted, thereby revealing their taste and aroma. After this point, its qualities begin to deteriorate.

Berries collected from trees undergo a process of fermentation and drying in the country of origin. The grain concentrates, seals and preserves its properties and flavor qualities. This is quite a long process. For example, “aged coffee” beans are produced in India, so they are processed for years to give them a special aroma. Therefore, green grain can be stored for a long time in good conditions. The humidity percentage in the storage area should be 10-12%. Manufacturers believe that properly dried green coffee does not lose its properties for 1-2 years.

Roasted grain

Green fruits are fried on special ovens called roasters. At high temperatures, moisture is rapidly lost, cells are destroyed, and esters begin to evaporate. And the chemical reactions that take place reveal the taste.

The fruit becomes porous and absorbs foreign odors and moisture. After roasting, it is recommended to consume coffee within 2 months. In order for the drink to have the richest taste and aroma, the grains must always be freshly roasted.

Therefore, a product from supermarkets, despite the expiration date printed on the packaging, will not bring joy to a true lover.

When choosing coffee, packaging matters. It should be opaque, with a degassing valve. There should be no more than 3-14 days after the roasting date. You should not buy if more than 2 months have passed since the roasting date.

To drink or not to drink

Introduction

No episodes of poisoning after drinking coffee drinks have been diagnosed in the world. However, this does not mean that you can ignore expiration dates. Expiration of beans, ground or instant coffee has nuances when used.

Let's find out whether you can drink expired coffee in different forms.

Soluble

It is impossible to determine by external criteria that instant coffee has gone bad. The shelf life reaches 2 years. Follow the recommendations on the packaging.

If stored properly, expired instant coffee will not harm your health. However, its quality will suffer. You probably don't want to drink a tasteless drink yourself.

Keep instant powder in an airtight container in a dark, dry place. If the conditions are not met, oxygen atoms penetrate into the powder. This creates a favorable environment for the growth of fungi or mold. Formaldehyde and mycotoxins may also be formed.

Regular consumption of such a drink has a detrimental effect on the functioning of the liver, brain, cardiovascular and nervous systems and causes disruptions in their functioning.

Ground

If the integrity of the packaging is not violated, the ground powder can be stored for 36 months. It is recommended to empty the opened package within 2 weeks.

Interesting! At what age can children drink coffee, its effect on the body

The time will increase if you keep the ground powder in an airtight container, away from sunlight and foods with strong odors.

Even after the expiration date, the drink does not change its taste much. Therefore, if you don’t remember when the deadline expires, check the contents for bugs. This living creature starts due to high humidity and feeds on grains. Insects penetrate inside and lay up to 50 eggs there.

If the rules are followed, expired ground coffee can be used without fear of harm to health.

Cereal raw

Long-term storage and low cost are attractive qualities for the buyer. With proper maintenance, the period reaches 10 years. A kilogram of bean coffee costs on average 400-500 rubles.

Useful information can be found in the article “How many cups of coffee will be produced from 1 kg of beans.”

When buying grains by weight, pay attention to the appearance. Based on their condition, you can determine whether the product is fresh or has been in storage for many years.

Determining freshness

The quality of green grains is determined by the following criteria:

• the structure is matte, homogeneous, silky to the touch, there is a longitudinal groove;
• there is the smell of green tea or freshly cut grass, the coffee aroma appears only after roasting;
• the grain is easily bitten, but does not crumble;
• the size and color are the same, different grains in one package indicate that it is a mixture of different years;
• the fact that these are leftovers from last year's sales is evidenced by garbage or sand;
• expired food has no smell.

It is not recommended to drink expired coffee beans. There will be no harm to the body, but you will not get pleasure from the drink.

Roasted grain

Can be used for a year and consumed with peace of mind for another six months after the expiration date.

After 2 years, the grains lose their invigorating properties and aroma, and this is why they are valued. Delay can be determined by the following criteria:

• strong oiliness of grains;
• darkening;
• rancid smell.

Interesting! What are coffee pods?

Of course, they don't go bad in one day. Whether you can drink expired coffee beans is up to you. But if you notice an unpleasant bitterness in the taste, you will probably run for a fresh package.

In capsules

The capsule system is sealed and easy to use. The shelf life depends on the manufacturer and is 9-24 months.

The sealing of the packaging helps preserve the powder from sunlight, moisture and oxygen. Thanks to this, you can safely use the capsules even after the expiration date.

Coffee capsules

Designed for brewing in special capsule coffee machines. One capsule is intended for one serving. Coffee is used natural, ground, roasted, sometimes with the addition of spices. Sealed packaging preserves taste and aroma for a longer time. Manufacturers have set a shelf life of one to 2 years. Naturally, like any natural drink, it also loses its properties during storage. But you can use it after the expiration date.

Is it possible to return the taste to expired food?

Adding spices and frying

You can try to breathe new life into the delay. But keep in mind that the taste and aroma will not be the same.

Try roasting green beans with some spices. A strong amber of cinnamon or cloves will eliminate the unpleasant odor.

Spices have antibacterial properties that will help neutralize bacterial growth.

The freshest drink is also drunk with syrups. Sweetness mutes the taste of expired food. More tips in the article “What else is added to coffee for taste and aroma.”

If you don’t like oriental notes, try frying it in a hot frying pan without additional ingredients. This will help release the natural flavors hidden within the beans.

If roasted grains have spoiled, it is better not to experiment with restoring quality. But don’t rush to throw away the expired items. There are other ways to use coffee beans.

Alternative uses

Roasted coffee beans are useful in interior decor. For example, for decorating photo frames, flower pots, vases, bottles.

You can make Christmas decorations, scented candles or coffee topiaries. There is a lot of information on this topic on the Internet, with step-by-step instructions.

Often roasted and ground grains are used in cosmetology in beauty salons and at home.

Face masks and scrubs based on ground powder will help refresh and tighten the skin.

Interesting! Calorie content of coffee with milk, sugar and other additives for different volumes

Hair masks will restore shine and smoothness to your hair.

Cosmetic coffee wraps remove excess fluid from the body and help fight cellulite. The skin after the procedure is smoothed and softened.

Instant coffee

This is a chemical product. For its preparation, any raw materials are used, without any claims to quality. Saturation is achieved through flavor enhancers and flavorings.

Types of instant coffee:

• powder - soluble substances are removed from crushed grain under pressure into hot water. The resulting extract is filtered and dried with hot air;
• granules - pressed soluble powder;
• freeze-dried - coffee infusion is frozen at low temperatures, and then the water from the crystals is evaporated.

During the production process, aromatic oils evaporate from the coffee beans. The requirements for such a product are greatly reduced. Therefore, the shelf life in a closed jar reaches 2 years. After opening the jar, it is advisable to consume it within 3 weeks. When moisture gets into the product, lumps form and the taste deteriorates. Store only in a tightly closed glass jar.

If the product is stored under optimal conditions and there is no moisture or mold in the jar, if you really want to, the expired drink can be consumed.

Different types of storage containers

There are several types of packaging in which coffee is usually kept:

• Paper bags;
• Containers made of plastic or metal;
• Foil packaging with check valve;
• Glass or ceramic containers with a tight-fitting lid.

Each type has its pros and cons, which are worth considering in more detail.

Coffee is most often sold in bags made of paper in stores. But this is not the best packaging for the product. It is quite thin and does not protect well from environmental influences. Therefore, after purchasing, when you come home, it is advisable to pour the coffee into another, more suitable container for storage.

Metal and plastic containers are separated into a single group, since both are poorly suited for storing coffee in them for a long time. The reason for this is that these materials tend to give the product an unpleasant aftertaste, and can themselves become saturated with its odor, which is difficult to remove.

You will be wondering: What happens if you drink a lot of coffee and is it possible to overdose?

Very often glass or ceramic jars are used for this purpose. It is advisable that the lid be equipped with a silicone seal to ensure the tightness of the package. If the container is transparent, then it is advisable to place it in a dark place to prevent exposure to sunlight. The disadvantage of such containers is that there is no possibility of removing carbon dioxide from it.

Therefore, grains that have been roasted independently can be transferred to a jar only after a day. During this time, gases and excess moisture will come out of them.

The best storage option is foil bags equipped with a special clasp and valve. They significantly increase the shelf life of coffee. The opaque material prevents sunlight from reaching the product, and the non-return valve allows excess gas to escape freely from the packaging.

The dangers of expired coffee

What threatens the daredevil who dares to try expired coffee?

1. There is no direct or immediate health hazard. There is no confirmed evidence of poisoning or negative health after drinking expired coffee of any kind.
2. Grains or powder whose expiration date has passed lose their taste and aroma, but this does not happen all at once, but gradually. Slower for beans, faster for ground coffee.
3. The older the coffee, the less caffeine it contains, so the invigorating properties of an expired drink are reduced or completely eliminated.

It is better to drink expired coffee with additives - spices, sugar, milk, honey, cream - this will slightly revive the flavor range.

Expired coffee is not dangerous to humans, but it is not very tasty either. Therefore, try not to lose packs of grains in the depths of your cupboards and drink only a fresh drink.

In the article about storing coffee, we already described in detail how to preserve the properties of beans and ground coffee longer after opening the pack. Let us remind you once again that we recommend buying coffee in such a way that the opened pack can be consumed within the next week, maximum two. For example, if you brew coffee only twice a day, then a 250 gram pack will be enough for you for a week. If your family appreciates, loves and actively drinks coffee, then you can buy large packages. When stocking up for future use, try to buy several small packages, this makes it easier to store coffee.

The shelf life of unopened, unopened coffee varies from one to three years. Coffee beans last longer. If your coffee turns out to be stitched, do not be upset, because you can drink it, but its taste and aroma will differ from the original. Such a drink will not tone the body, will not invigorate it and is unlikely to bring you any pleasure.

The consequences of drinking stitched coffee are unknown, but no confirmed evidence of poisoning has been presented. Many experts say that it is very difficult to get poisoned with this drink. It all depends on the specific characteristics of each person.

If you don’t want to drink coffee that has been stitched, and it’s a pity to throw it away, you can try making a beautiful craft out of it or framing a photo frame with the beans. The main thing is to use your imagination.