How bad is it really to drink stale coffee?
The average American drinks just over three cups of coffee a day, according to the National Coffee Association — and that’s understandable, considering it tastes good, provides much-needed energy, and even offers some health benefits.
Many return to the coffee maker in the afternoon for a midday pick-me-up. Some coffee machines have a function that keeps the coffee hot for a short time, making it easy to return visits and refill the cup.
After a certain amount of time, you may start to wonder when your coffee will go bad. Brewing a new pot can help you avoid a bad taste, but if it’s black, it probably poses little risk to your health. Here, we take a deep dive into how long you have until your brewed coffee stops drinking.
Will the brewed coffee go bad?
After brewing a cup of coffee, you may be surprised that the clock starts ticking. Leaving it on the coffee maker will buy you some time. Your coffee maker can have a feature that keeps the coffee hot for a predetermined amount of time.
Once this time has passed, it slowly starts to cool and lose its freshness, which changes the taste of the coffee. After about 30 minutes at room temperature, the taste will be greatly impaired. But if you don’t care about the taste, there’s probably nothing to worry about.
If you are a coffee connoisseur and enjoy the taste of coffee, you should try to drink your coffee as soon as possible before it cools down to room temperature.
Day-old coffee will taste significantly different, and not in a good way. But it’s still relatively safe to drink. “You can drink day-old coffee as long as it’s black and dairy-free,”
How long is it safe to drink stale coffee?
Stale coffee is probably not dangerous, the National Coffee Association says. Before drinking a cup of coffee, use your best judgment – how does the coffee look and smell?
If you haven’t brewed coffee yourself, you might want to be more careful. Coffee served in restaurants or coffee shops should be served steamed, according to the CDC. Avoid warm or room coffee that has been weaned as there is a higher risk of contamination.
There isn’t much scientific research to indicate how long you have before brewed coffee goes bad. Most of the evidence is anecdotal. Some sources say you have 24 hours, while others recommend drinking the coffee within four hours at room temperature, or several days if refrigerated.
As a general rule of thumb, according to the USDA, you have two hours to eat food at room temperature, but it’s unclear if that applies to brewed coffee.
What about coffee with milk?
“If your coffee contains ingredients such as milk or other dairy products, it should be properly refrigerated and warmed before drinking to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
Milk can last up to seven days in the refrigerator. Coffee with milk or coffee creamer may be safe to drink for up to a week when refrigerated, but may not be as pleasant as freshly brewed coffee.
If you leave your mug of coffee with milk on the counter or table, you have much less time to finish it. Drink milk or coffee with milk within two hours of skipping at room temperature,
How long does coffee last in the fridge?
Chilling the coffee changes the rules a bit. When it comes to making your brewed coffee last in the fridge, make sure you store it properly.
” You must Store your own brewed coffee in a sealed container and keep it in the refrigerator. “Drink it within 72 hours to ensure freshness and quality.”
So, how bad is it really to drink stale coffee?
Drinking coffee a day isn’t ideal, but if it’s your only option, go ahead. There isn’t a lot of scientific research on the shelf life and expiration of brewed coffee, so use your best judgment and throw it out when in doubt.