Does Cold Brew Go Bad At Room Temperature?

On a hot summer’s day few coffees go down as enjoyable as a nice fresh cold brew. I’m a stickler for not only storing cold-brewed coffee in the refrigerator I insist that you brew it in your fridge with cold water, or water as cold as you can possibly find, almost iced water. This, I guess, provoked the question – does cold brew go bad at room temperature?

Rather than beat around the bush and drag this out I’ll give you the answer straight away.

Cold brew does go bad at room temperature. It also goes bad in your fridge. The difference is how long it will stay fresh at both room temperature and in the refrigerator, and which keeps it fresher for longer.

The answer is, it stays fresher for longer while in your fridge. That brings up the following question…

Can Cold Brew Be Stored At Room Temperature?

There are very few rules and norms to stick to when brewing cold brew coffee. The general solid rule is do not brew with hot water.

This rule can be broken if you’re making double brewed cold brew coffee, and you want to extract the high temperature flavor compounds from your expensive coffee beans and get the low temperature ones with your second round of brewing.

Coffee is a beautiful mix of art and science where you can get creative and experiment. To get all the cold and low temperature flavor profiles and good flavor stability, you need to brew cold brew with water that is as cold as possible and brew it in your fridge.

The intense flavor notes from those high quality coffee beans will only start to extract after a very long brewing time. This time is extended due to using cold water. The benefit is that your coffee will also stay fresher for longer.

Because you are brewing your beans in water that is cold, as cold as you can get, it is perfectly fine to store and brew your cold brew coffee at room temperature.

There is just one hard rule to comply with if you’re storing it at an ambient room temperature. That is to simply keep your Cuppa Joe, your beloved Java, away from bright lights and strong scents to prevent a loss of flavor.

The flavor quality of coffee, regardless of where it is stored, is lost when stored next to strong scents and bright lights. This is the same be they whole beans, grounds or in a brewed format.

I strongly advise you to store your brewed coffee and your beans in containers that are airtight and preferably block out all light from getting in. Better still is to store your beans in an airtight vacuum coffee canister that has a one way valve and then keep that canister in your freezer for maximum freshness.

Your brewed coffee, keep it in the type of contained I described and store it in your fridge for the maximum freshness. When both are in airtight containers, the scents of the foods in your fridge or freezer will not spoil your coffee and neither will bright lights.

Read: Coffee cup size chart

How Do You Know If Your Cold Brew Coffee Has Gone Bad?

Like any food item or product, your cold brew coffee can go bad and go off. How you know if it has gone bad or rancid is easy. Look for the typical signs, which are the same regardless of which type of coffee drink, which are as follows:

• 1. The caffeine kick has gone.
• 2. Little to no aroma.
• 3. A very acidic taste
• 4. The flavor has all but gone.
• 5. There is a rancid smell and possibly mold.

If you use your senses, you will know if your cold brew is off or not. Look for visual signs like mold. Give it a quick sniff if it smells rancid or the aroma has gone and do a taste test. If it tastes off after a quick sip, it is certainly off.

Read: How to make Starbucks cold brew!

How Long Does Cold Brew Last Unrefrigerated?

Cold brewed coffee will stay fresh for 5 to 7 days at room temperature and still hold all the great yummy flavor components and quality. After the 7-day mark, it will slowly start to taste off. By day 10, it is still drinkable, but you will notice a slight degradation in the flavor, and it will not taste as great as it used to.

Still, rather than throwing it down the drain, use it to water your house plants.

A cold brew concentrate will be able to last much longer while unrefrigerated, typically 2 weeks before it starts to lose its fresh taste. It depends on how concentrated it is.

Does Store Bought Cold Brew Need To Be Refrigerated?

Yes,

I suggest that you store your cold brew coffee or cold brew concentrate in your fridge if you have bought it from a coffee shop, cafeteria or your local 7-Eleven store. You do not know how it was brewed, cared for or when the batch was made or at what concentrate, unless stated on the label.

To be safe, please store any coffee you have not consumed in an airtight container and keep it in your fridge.

It is better to be cautious.

How Long Does Unopened Cold Brew Last?

Your cold brewed cup of coffee will last longer in your fridge than it would if you kept it at room temperature before the coffee oils and various compounds start to go off.

It can stay fresh for as long as 14 days, giving you an extra week when compared to storing at room temperature. Some coffee lovers and coffee enthusiasts will tell you that it can last for much longer and for up to 3 weeks. While they are correct, it all depends on how fresh you want your coffee.

For me, and Latte Love Brew, we encourage you to get into the habit of enjoying your coffee while it is at peak freshness and flavor.

It is the policy of this website to encourage and promote the enjoyment of coffee while it is at peak freshness and flavor.

How Long Does Cold Brew Last In The Fridge?

Your cold brewed cup of coffee will last longer in your fridge than it would if you kept it at room temperature before the coffee oils and various compounds start to go off.

It can stay fresh for as long as 14 days, giving you an extra week when compared to storing at room temperature. Some coffee lovers and coffee enthusiasts will tell you that it can last for much longer and for up to 3 weeks. While they are correct, it all depends on how fresh you want your coffee.

For me, and Latte Love Brew, we encourage you to get into the habit of enjoying your coffee while it is at peak freshness and flavor.

It is the policy of this website to encourage and promote the enjoyment of coffee while it is at peak freshness and flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions About Does Cold Brew Go Bad?

Is It Okay To Drink Expired Cold Brew?

Store purchased cold brew has an expiration date and a brew date listed on the packaging. As a general rule, these coffees are okay to drink for 4 to 6 months after the brew date.

What Does Spoiled Cold Brew Taste Like?

Spoiled cold brew can taste bitter, stale or sour. Before you taste it check it for a change in the aroma and scents. Check for mold too. Any sign of mold or off smells forget the taste test and discard the coffee. 

The taste test, just take a few sips to find out if it tastes off, if it does, discard it. 

Can Bacteria Grow In Cold Brew?

Yes, bacteria can grow in cold brew coffee. The temperature range in which bacteria can grow is 5C to 60C (41F to 140F). This is one of the reasons I like to brew my cold brew in the fridge and store it in these low temperatures once brewed. The other reason is a better extraction of the low temperature flavor compounds.

Can Cold Brew Coffee Get Moldy?

Yes, mold spores can appear in cold brew coffee. To avert the problem, keep your cold brew coffee stored below 41F (5C). If you are brewing your coffee, use water that is ice-cold and brew it in your fridge, while ensuring your fridge is set to store coffee below 41F (5C).

Is Week Old Cold Brew Safe?

Unlike hot coffee, which can only stay well for a few hours, cold brew coffee stays well in your fridge for 7 to 10 days and for up to two weeks if it is a cold brew concentrate. As a rule I tend to assume the shelf life is 5 days for regular cold brew and 10 days for a cold brew concentrate.

What Is The White Film On Top Of Cold Brew?

The technical name and proper name for the oil that gathers and looks like a white film has an unfortunate name, and quite frankly an inaccurate one “coffee scum”. It is the coffee oils from the coffee beans. Nothing to be concerned about. 

Frappé-Ing It All Up – Does Cold Brew Go Bad?

The answer to the questions, does cold brew go bad, if you missed it, is yes. Cold brewed coffee is the same as any great cup of coffee or just a regular cup of coffee and can go bad. If you keep it at room temperature or in your fridge, store it properly and, above all, check it before you drink it by performing a simple sniff and sip test.

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location