There’s nothing more suitable to starting the week on a good note than a strong cup of coffee. For most people, the taste is just as important as the caffeine boost.
When you pour that first cup and take an indulgent sip, the last thing you want is an off taste, but if something is amiss, what does that mean for your coffee?
Your coffee may be moldy if it has an unusual taste, smell, or texture. You can also inspect your coffee before brewing to observe any fuzzy spots or spores, which would indicate mold growth.
There are many factors to consider when evaluating the freshness of your coffee, how long it remains safe to consume, and how less-than-fresh (or moldy) coffee may affect you. We’ll discuss these factors in-depth so you can sip without a worry.
How Fast Does Coffee Form Mold?
First, it’s important to understand the type of mold that affects coffee, and how it may affect you. The fungi that commonly form on coffee and other crops, called mycotoxins, are in fact toxic when ingested in large quantities, as their name would suggest.
No matter what type of coffee beans you buy on shelf, there is likely some degree of mycotoxins present.
However, there are strict regulations set forth by food safety authorities that ensure the mycotoxin levels found in common food products, such as coffee, are safe for consumption.
This means that there is no immediate concern for whole bean or ground coffee from the store being moldy. Brewed coffee, on the other hand, requires a more careful eye.
The fungi that forms the mold on coffee thrives in warmth and moisture, two conditions that brewed coffee can provide in spades. If left to sit after brewing, mold generally appears on room temperature coffee within just a few days – potentially sooner if you keep your home warmer.
To be safe, make sure to only brew as much as you plan to drink that day. If you need to save some for later, stick your brewed coffee in the refrigerator to keep it safe and fresh for another few days.
What Happens if You Drink Moldy Coffee?
We all have mornings when we find ourselves in a rush, and maybe you’ve chugged your leftover, room-temp brewed coffee without thinking. Perhaps after the fact, you’ve glanced at the coffee pot and seen traces of mold – yuck! How is this going to affect you?
If you do happen to drink brewed coffee that has grown mold, you may not be affected at all. Stomach acid is often strong enough to kill any pathogens that are consumed via mold.
However, it is not uncommon to experience allergy-like upper respiratory symptoms, such as sneezing, headache, congestion, and coughing after ingesting moldy coffee.
If these symptoms onset suddenly after your morning cup and were not previously presenting themselves, your coffee may be the culprit.
It is also possible that, similar to food poisoning, you will experience GI symptoms such as nausea, cramping, diarrhea and vomiting after ingesting moldy coffee.
As with the upper respiratory symptoms, these will likely onset soon after ingestion and may be indicative of mold in your coffee.
In general, the trace amounts of mold that you may consume accidentally are not cause for concern other than some potential discomfort. No need to panic – but next time, make sure to properly store your coffee if you plan to continue drinking past your morning fix!
How Long Is Coffee Good For?
Coffee, in general, is quite a shelf-stable product. The best way to preserve your coffee is to store your whole bean and ground coffee at room temperature in an airtight container, as oxygen exposure deteriorates the freshness and quality.
Depending on the type of coffee, it will stay fresh for a varying length of time – whole beans, ground coffee, and brewed coffee all respond at different paces to the elements around them.
- Whole Roasted Bean
Whole bean coffee is the most stable and protected from oxygen and moisture absorption, and can last up to 9 months if the package is unopened. Once you’ve opened the package and properly stored the coffee, it can last up to 6 months.
- Ground Coffee
Ground coffee does not have the same extended shelf life as whole bean coffee, as once it is ground it is more vulnerable to retaining oxygen and moisture. It will generally last 3-5 months when properly stored.
- Brewed Coffee
If you’ve already brewed your coffee, be sure to drink the same day – for best flavor, within 4 hours, but up to 8 hours at most. If you need it to keep longer, refrigerate to best preserve flavor and texture. Brewed coffee can keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
A common misconception is that coffee can be stored in the freezer to further extend its life. However, it is important to note that being stored at freezing temperatures causes coffee to lose much of its flavor and significantly diminishes the quality.
If you buy whole coffee beans in bulk and need to store them, it is okay to keep them in the freezer for up to a couple of months. You may want to portion out to ensure you don’t thaw and re-freeze any of the beans, as this process increases the risk of mold and other bacteria to form.
Can You Drink Coffee That Has Expired?
Usually, the expiration date printed on a new bag of coffee is one year from the date it was roasted. This timeframe guarantees the best flavor and quality, as the more coffee is exposed to oxygen, the more its quality deteriorates.
If coffee reaches the expiration date printed on the package, that doesn’t mean the coffee has gone bad, but it is a reliable indicator that you will notice a reduction in flavor and quality.
It is perfectly safe to drink coffee that is past its expiration date – when unopened, ground coffee can last a few months past, whole bean coffee can last up to nine months past, and instant coffee up to twenty years!
As long as the smell has not become unpleasant and there are no observable mold spores, your coffee is safe to continue brewing.
In general, coffee is quite resistant to mold before it is brewed. However, if the flavor or smell becomes unpleasant, or you develop upper respiratory or GI symptoms after consuming, your coffee may have become moldy.
Be sure to store your coffee properly away from heat, moisture, and oxygen, and you will ensure the best quality and mold-free coffee possible.