Storing Cold Brew: How Long Does Cold Brew Last?
If you are a frequent coffee shop visitor, you have undoubtedly heard of cold brew coffee. Maybe you have even ventured into making a serving or bought a bottle. Now that you have the product, you may be wondering how long does it last?
Keep reading to find out cold brew shelf life.
How Long Is Cold Brew Coffee Good For?
So you learned how to make cold brew coffee at home. The next question is: how long is this drink good for?
Cold brew coffee lasts longer than your regular hot coffee. The longer shelf life is one of the most exceptional qualities of this beverage. You can enjoy it for days and the best part? Cold brew comes with a few health benefits, too.
Also, hot coffee’s flavour quality starts to degrade 30 minutes after the water touched the ground coffee beans. This is also true for iced coffee since iced coffee is just hot coffee cooled down. Cold brew keeps much better. It also has higher flavour stability (1); some cold brew methods can last up to 10 days.
Storing Cold Brew Coffee
You need to make a cold brew to be able to store it. You should also know the ideal coffee to water ratio and steeping time.
Why not make it with an Aeropress?
Once you have your cold brew concentrate or diluted ready-to-drink beverage, you need to store it in a properly sealed container. This prolongs the yummy flavour components and slows down degradation.
As soon as your brew is ready, you should immediately refrigerate the coffee you are not drinking.
You can keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks (2). It is always best to store your cold brew in its concentrated form. You can freshly dilute your morning pick-me-up with cold water to whatever strength you prefer when you are ready to drink it.
The concentrated form increases its shelf life. Of course, you can immediately dilute your coffee and store it in a ready to drink state; however, it will only last 2-3 days in the refrigerator this way.
Does Cold Brew Go Bad?
Like any edible food or beverage, cold brew coffee can spoil, but how long can it last in the fridge? Not too long, I’m afraid:
Even in a fridge, it will break down at that temperature. Nothing stays fresh forever. Taste is going to change over time. Fresher is better.
Just like with using coffee beans for brewing, FRESHER IS ALWAYS BETTER. Sure, you can store your leftover-coffee in the fridge. But don’t make it a habit.
Now that you know how long this type of coffee drink lasts, you should know the signs to look for to see if your beloved brew has expired.
- Little aroma
- Caffeine kick has disappeared
- Noticeably less flavour
- Extremely acidic taste
- Mould or rancid smell
Extending Cold Brew Shelf Life
Properly storing cold brew coffee is the best way to extend its freshness. You can keep it in glass or plastic, but glass is the best option.
Plastic is porous, so important flavours can become oxidized at a faster rate. Also, some of the chemicals found in plastic affect the taste of the coffee. With glass, no chemicals interact with flavour profiles, and glass containers can be sealed tighter. Mason jars or coffee press beakers are both great options for fridge storage.
DIY Mason Jar brewing:
A French Press? Yes.
You can even freeze this drink. Keep in mind freezing changes certain chemical components and tastes. But, it will last up to two months this way. All you have to do is thaw it overnight in the fridge, and you can wake up to a cold brew.
Final Thoughts
Cold brew is a coffee trend that is here to stay. Now that you know how long this drink lasts, you can start brewing to get ready for the days ahead.
FAQs
You don’t need a cold brew coffee maker to brew this delicious beverage. There are different ways to make it. You can use a simple Mason Jar, French press, Aeropress, or filter. However, if you wish to get a cold-brew coffee maker for yourself, you can check out a Toddy cold brew system designed precisely for cold-brew-making.
No, you do not have to steep coffee grinds in the fridge for cold brew. You can simply do it at room temperature. However, if you choose to steep your cold brew in the fridge, let it brew for more time than you would at room temperature.
If you add anything to your cold brew concentrate, such as sweeteners or even plain water, your cold brew’s shelf life decreases. Best practice is to store the cold brew concentrate. When you’re ready to drink it, add water and anything else you need. It is always best to add extras right before consumption.
References
- Lopane, Samuel Nicholas, (2018). An Investigation of the Shelf Life of Cold Brew Coffee and the Influence of Extraction Temperature Using Chemical Microbial and Sensory Analysis. All Theses. 2899.
- Wroclawski D. (2020, January 16). Cold Brew Coffee For Hot Days. Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/cold-brew-coffee/cold-brew-coffee-for-hot-days/
