Coffee Aeterna

Dried coffee, if stored correctly, can last for a rather long time. The table below shows the typical shelf life of coffee.

While coffee can be stored for a long time, it can go bad. Using old coffee isn't harmful to you, but it can lose a lot of flavor and aroma. Sometimes the color will lighten too.

 One way to preserve this is to store whole beans in an air-tight container in the freezer and grind only what is needed. Grounds can be stored in the freezer as well, but do not store as long. They can be used immediately and do not need to be thawed.

Storing opened coffee in the freezer however, can pickup unusual tastes and smells if stored incorrectly and some argue it ruins a good cup of coffee. Storing whole beans in the cupboard or pantry and freshly grinding them right before brewing can produce a fresher cup of coffee.