Shelf life of instant coffee and ways to extend it

Shelf life of coffee beans

How long they can be stored without deteriorating or losing their properties depends on the type. The shelf life of coffee beans, if they have not been roasted, is on average 1 year. This is most often indicated by the manufacturer directly on the packaging. If green beans have been processed properly, this period of time can increase to two or even two and a half years.

If the grains were packaged incorrectly, then the shelf life may, on the contrary, be greatly reduced. When purchasing, it is advisable to be able to evaluate the appearance of the grains. They should have a rich greenish tint, which indicates freshness. If the grains are pale, it means that they have been lying around for a long time and could lose their properties. It is also important to pay attention to the integrity of the packaging.

Roasted coffee beans retain their quality much worse. If you store it incorrectly, it will lose its taste and aroma in just a week. Roasted grains have one feature - they easily absorb moisture and foreign odors, which seriously affects their own properties. Therefore, the choice of packaging for their storage must be approached with special care.

In a paper bag, the shelf life is about two weeks; foil packaging allows you to preserve the quality of coffee beans for up to three months. The best type are special tightly closed containers in which coffee can be easily stored for six months.

Duration of storage of ground grains

Most lovers of the aromatic invigorating drink prefer to purchase it in whole grains. This is due to the fact that it is very difficult to store it in crushed form; it quickly loses its properties. If you purchased ground coffee in vacuum packaging, then after opening it can be stored for no more than two weeks. The essential oils contained in it evaporate very quickly. The shelf life of ground coffee, if it was ground yourself, does not exceed three days.

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Coffee lovers advise:

Purchase exclusively whole grains and grind them in a coffee grinder immediately before preparing the drink.
If you still decide to buy ground coffee, then you should not buy it for future use; it is better to opt for a small amount.
It is best to store it in a tightly sealed container, as far as possible from any strong-smelling products.
Avoid exposure to moisture and direct sunlight.

Best before date

The shelf life of ground coffee slightly exceeds the recommended shelf life.

The maximum period for freshly ground coffee is considered to be 55-60 days, that is, two months. In this case, it is necessary to take care of observing at least the simplest rules for preserving a delicate product. For example, first pack it in food foil and a glass or ceramic jar. The lid should fit tightly; it is better if it is equipped with a silicone or rubber clamping ring.
Ground coffee from an open pack has approximately the same shelf life - 2 months. It should be stored in foil packaging and the neck should be tightly closed after each use. If there is a vent valve, you can use it to remove excess air from the package.
Ground coffee in a sealed package will be preserved for consumption much longer than the standard year or half a year. Different sources indicate different shelf life of the product, provided it is stored airtight. We can rely on personal experience, when vacuum packaging of ground coffee once lasted 3 years, after which it was safely put into use. The resulting coffee was certainly inferior to freshly ground coffee, however, it retained quite a large part of the taste and invigorating effect. But the aroma was still there when unsealed, but literally disappeared the next day.

What happens if you consume ground coffee that has expired and expired? We were unable to find information about poisoning from expired coffee or other negative effects on human health. So, the maximum that threatens you is a tasteless drink, devoid of a characteristic aroma and an invigorating effect.

Shelf life of ground coffee in vacuum packaging

A long shelf life of ground coffee is ensured by modern vacuum packaging. The technology makes it possible to produce packs of product in sizes of 125, 250, 500 grams. How is the ground powder packaged?

Freshly ground coffee is placed in foil or metal film bags. They are installed vertically in the packer.
Then the lid of the device is closed, powerful pumps pump out the air, and the neck is sealed.
The output is a dense “brick” that is hard to the touch. The air is completely pumped out of it, and light does not penetrate through the thick foil, so the two main “enemies” of the aroma of ground coffee - light and oxygen - are practically neutralized.

Ground coffee in vacuum packaging has a shelf life of up to 18 months. The main condition is that the seal of the pack is not broken.

As we already wrote above, the expiration of the specified shelf life does not mean that ground coffee from such a package cannot be drunk.

Our personal wholesaler says the shelf life of vacuum-packed coffee is up to 3 years. However, we have come across materials that indicate that such coffee can be safely consumed even after 5 years. True, the aroma and taste of the drink are unlikely to be bright and rich, but you can warm up and invigorate if nothing else is at hand. We cannot confirm or refute this period, so we present it for the information of readers.

Storage duration of instant drink

With this variety the situation is much simpler. The shelf life of instant coffee is usually 2 years. This is due to the fact that during production it is subjected to processing using high temperatures. At the same time, most of the essential oils contained in natural coffee simply disappear from the product.

They are being replaced by artificial analogues, which remain in the product longer. However, once opened, the packaging should be stored for no more than three weeks. During this time, the remaining natural substances disappear. You can extend this period by placing the coffee in a hermetically sealed container. In such packaging it can retain its properties for up to two months.

Conclusion

Let's summarize.

In sealed packaging, instant coffee has a shelf life of 2 to 3 years. Shelf life – up to 5 years.
An open can of coffee can be stored for 2 months with minimal loss to the aroma and taste of the drink. After 3-4 months of storing the unsealed jar, the product will significantly lose its organoleptic properties, as they say, “fade out”.

Store cans and packages of instant coffee in a dark and dry place, and it will always be at your service when you need it.

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.

Rules for bean coffee

According to all the rules, a real invigorating drink can only be prepared from grains. Many connoisseurs try to find rare varieties of the highest quality. Therefore, the question often arises of how to properly store coffee beans. To do this, it is worth remembering the main factors:

Fresh, unroasted beans can be stored for a whole year. To do this, they must be placed in small containers with a hermetically sealed lid. Put them in a cool place where the sun's rays do not reach.
Storing roasted beans is a little more complicated. The shelf life of coffee in this case will not exceed two weeks. Place it in airtight containers and put it in a dark place. Keep containers away from strong-smelling items and food preparation areas.

Selection of storage containers. There are several options for containers in which all the original properties of the grains can be properly preserved. Among them, the following can be particularly highlighted:

Glass jars. This option is the simplest. Such containers will probably be found in every housewife’s home. The main thing is that the jar is equipped with a tight-fitting lid.
Cans. The disadvantage of such containers is that their lids, as a rule, do not provide the necessary tightness.
Ceramic jars. They can become not only a functional storage place, but also a part of the interior, thanks to their various design options.
In modern stores you can purchase specialized containers. They are dense bags equipped with valves. With their help, the gas that is released during storage will escape. At the same time, foreign odors and harmful bacteria will not get inside.

Can I drink coffee if the expiration date has expired?

Like any other product, it is better not to use it after the storage time has expired. Spoiled coffee can be identified by several signs:

The appearance of rancid taste;
Lack of aroma of the drink;
The appearance of mold (this happens if moisture gets into the packaging);
Formation of foreign odors.

What happens if you drink expired coffee? Even one cup of this drink can cause food poisoning. The main danger comes from the fats present in the grains, which seriously deteriorate over time. Instant coffee is unlikely to lead to dire consequences, since it does not contain such substances. But one way or another, you won’t get a tasty drink from a product that has expired.

If you hate to throw away expired coffee beans, you can use them to make crafts. They are often used to create topiaries, panels and decorate photo frames. Using imagination and creativity, you can make an interesting decoration for your interior.