No time to finish your favorite drink? No problem! Whether it’s from the grocery store, homemade, or a coffee shop, we will answer the question “Does Iced Coffee Go Bad?” by tackling each type of coffee and how to store it for the best results. You might be surprised by how long old iced coffee can last!

Photo of espresso being poured over ice with "does iced coffee go bad?" in a banner.

⌛ How long does coffee last in the fridge?

With all of these types of coffee, make you store them in a sealed container. If they are hot, allow them to cool to room temperature before storing them.

Black Iced Coffee

Whether it’s a Starbucks coffee (or another coffee shop) or you made it yourself at home, iced coffee can keep in the fridge (without the ice!) for up to 2 weeks. That’s quite a long time!

Cold-Brewed Coffee (+ Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate)

This cold coffee keeps well in the fridge for 7-10 days. Cold brew concentrate should be diluted 1:2 parts cold water. It’s strong!

Espresso

Espresso has the best taste right after brewing. However, if you have too much on hand and need to store it for later, it’ll last for about a week before it really tastes bad. Check out my French Press Espresso recipe for an easy way to make espresso at home!

French Press Coffee

Just like espresso, french press black coffee tastes best right after making, it but can easily be stored for up to a week in the refrigerator.

Instant Coffee

Although it probably won’t taste great, instant coffee can stay in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Iced coffee in a sealed bottle

Firstly, check the coffee expiration date on the bottle. If it’s still in date and sealed, then it can last until the expiration date. If it is an opened bottle, check the label. The general rule of thumb for black coffee lasts a week and milky coffee lasts 2 days.

🫙 How to store iced coffee in the fridge

  1. Begin by removing all of the ice. If you leave the ice in your coffee the ice melts and makes the coffee taste watery, so it’s best to take it out.
  2. Pour the coffee into an airtight container. Mason jars are an excellent choice here.
  3. Store it in the fridge. It’s best to drink it within 2-3 days, however, it can last up to 1-2 weeks before it gets too bitter.

🔥 How to store hot coffee in the fridge

Although nothing beats a fresh pot of coffee, you can absolutely save extra coffee for later.

  1. To do this, allow the leftover coffee to cool completely to room temperature. This is essential for food hygiene because if you place something warm in the fridge, it raises the temperature of the fridge creating the best conditions for bad bacteria to grow which can lead to food poisoning.
  2. Transfer the coffee to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

🥛 What about coffee with milk?

Whether it’s an iced latte or a hot coffee with dairy milk or similar non-dairy products, you can easily store either of these in the fridge.

  • For an iced latte, remove the ice before placing it in an airtight container. Seal the container and consume it within 2-3 days.
  • For hot coffee drinks, allow the coffee to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. You can reheat it in the microwave or in a pot on the stove if desired.
  • An open Starbucks frappuccino on the other hand doesn’t have a long shelf life. If you’d still like it to be icy it’s best to drink it that day. You can store it in the fridge for up to 2 days, but it will completely melt and may taste watery.
An Iced Latte on a table with a white cloth.

🥡 Other ways to store coffee

Room temperature

Fresh, regular coffee made with hot water in either a french press or drip coffee maker keeps really well at room temperature. You can just leave it on the counter in its pot until the next morning and it will taste just fine.

Freeze it

This is such a great hack. Adding frozen coffee ice cubes to iced drinks keeps the coffee both cold and strong. See below for my tips on freezing coffee.

Thermos

A thermos is a great way to store coffee for up to 24 hours. It’s an airtight container that can retain heat or cold (depending on whether you put a hot or cold drink in it). My yeti thermos keeps my coffee a little too hot sometimes!

🧊 Can you freeze coffee?

Absolutely! Coffee is a great drink to freeze, and it lasts for up to a month in the freezer. The best way to freeze it is in an ice cube tray. When the coffee is frozen you can either keep it in the ice tray or move the cubes to a freezer bag. Coffee ice cubes can be added to a coffee iced drink to keep it cold without watering it down. Perfect for any hot day!

🫘 How to store coffee beans

Green coffee beans

Green coffee beans (i.e. coffee that hasn’t been roasted yet) can be stored in a cool dark place. We keep our green coffee beans in the garage.

Roasted coffee beans

For the best flavor, roasted coffee beans can be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for 1 month. Although the coffee beans don’t go “off” after 2 weeks per se, they lose some of their flavor and start to turn a bit stale. Nobody enjoys stale coffee!

☕ How to store coffee grounds

For best results, coffee grounds should be stored in either the fridge or freezer, especially if you live in a humid environment. Store coffee grounds in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, and in the freezer for up to a month.

Oat milk over coffee and ice in a tall glass.

🤔 How can you tell if coffee is off?

One of the first signs that coffee has gone bad is the flavor. It tends to have a sour taste or unpleasant taste. It’s also possible for it to have a little bit of mold on the top surface area, the texture can change, and it can also separate. Separation is a natural process and not necessarily bad, but if your coffee has some of the other signs of decay it’s best to toss it away.

❓ Why is storing coffee in the fridge a good idea?

I personally love easy mornings. Roll out of bed and grab an iced coffee drink from the fridge first thing, particularly on a hot summer day – nothing beats it! I make 2-3 fresh pots of coffee at a time, allow it to cool, and store it in an airtight jar or two in the refrigerator. This lasts our family 1-2 days. Then all I have to do the next day is fill a cup up with ice (or ice coffee), add the cold coffee, and a splash of milk.

🤷‍♀️ The bottom line: Does iced coffee go bad?

Everything has an expiry date. Black coffee can generally last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, and can also be frozen for up to a month. If the fresh coffee has milk or a milk alternative in it, it’s best to drink it within a day or two. The absolute best way for coffee lovers to enjoy their cuppa is fresh!

🧋 Iced Coffee Recipes to try

Pouring espresso over ice in a tall glass.

😋 More coffee posts you will love

What’s your favorite kind of coffee? I’d love to know <3 Tag me (@makehealthyrecipes) on Facebook and InstagramPin it on Pinterest, and please leave a star rating review below! Don’t forget to subscribe to the email list (top right of this page) for sparkly new recipes in your inbox.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *