How Long Does Unopened Cold Brew Last? Safety Tips!

If you’ve just rediscovered a can of cold brew in the back of your fridge or found a couple of bottles that were left out for a few days, you may be wondering how long does unopened cold brew last.

In general, shelf-stable cold brew coffee can last up to a year if it’s unopened. These coffees are processed to survive long periods at room temperature without spoiling. By comparison, cold brew coffee that isn’t shelf-stable must be refrigerated and typically lasts for around 3 to 5 months.

However, keep in mind that this typically applies to 100% black coffee. If dairy or other ingredients are added to the cold brew, it may not last as long.

In addition to this, manufacturers have different processes that affect how long their coffee lasts. If you want to learn more about this and the lifespan of the different coffees out there, keep reading!

How Long Does Unopened Cold Brew Last?

Unopened shelf-stable coffees usually last for about a year, while coffees that aren’t shelf-stable last for about 3 to 5 months.

By shelf-stable, we’re referring to coffees that are kept on store shelves at room temperature. These coffees are able to survive so long because they’ve gone through a preservation process.

By contrast, coffees that aren’t shelf-stable don’t undergo this same process so they’re typically kept in the refrigerated section.

These coffees can usually be purchased as

cold brew on tap
shelf-stable cans and bottles
refrigerated bottles

Let’s quickly talk about each type.

Cold Brew On Tap

Cold-brew on tap is coffee that’s been packaged in a box with a dispenser attached. (If you want to see what this looks like you can check out Java House or Wandering Bear Cold Brew on Amazon.)

This type of coffee usually undergoes thermal processing before packaging to kill off any bacteria. They’re heated to ultra-high temperatures (280°-300°F) for a few seconds and then packaged in pre-sterilized bags.

This is why cold brew on tap can last up to a year at room temperature if it’s unopened.

However, once it’s opened it should be kept in the refrigerator and consumed within 1 month.

Recommended Cold Brews On Tap

Shelf-Stable Cans of Cold Brew

You’ll find these cans on the grocery store shelf at room temperature. Since the cans are usually a single serving they don’t need to last as long as a box of cold brew on tap.

In general, a can of cold brew will last between 3 to 5 months unopened. However, this could vary depending on how fast the coffee gets from the manufacturer to the grocery store.

Cans of coffee also undergo thermal processing to make them shelf-stable. But they don’t go through the ultra-high temperatures like cold brew on tap.

Instead, they go through a process called retort. With this process, the coffee is sealed in the can and the can is heated to 160°-175°F using steam and water.

After opening, a can of cold brew should last one week.

FYI: There’s a relatively new process called RAIN (Reverse Atmospheric Infusion) that’s being used to can cold brew coffee. It promises to produce a coffee that’s shelf-stable and maintains its nuanced flavor profile for 6 months.

Refrigerated Bottles Of Cold Brew

The coffees you find in the store’s refrigerated section are processed as well. So, their “best by” date will usually be 3 to 5 months out.

However, they’re refrigerated for a reason, and shouldn’t be kept at room temperature after buying. And once opened, they should be kept refrigerated and consumed by the “best by” date.

Does Nitro Cold Brew Last Longer

Nitrogen is a preservative, so Nitro Cold brew does last longer than regular cold brews.

However, the best by date shown on your can may not be much different from regular cold brews.

For example, my can of Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew showed a date 5 months out from the time of purchase. This is about the same I’ll see on regular cold brews whether they’re shelf-stable or refrigerated.

(If you’re interested in trying Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew, you can find them in a local store or on Amazon.)

Recommended Cold Brews

Can I Drink Cold Brew Coffee That’s Expired?

The dates listed on cold brew are “best by dates”. This means the coffee’s quality is best before that date.

Fortunately, coffee doesn’t generally go bad. So even if it’s past the date an unopened cold brew should still be ok if it was stored reasonably.

If you’re not sure about it, open up your cold brew and examine it first. Take note of the smell, appearance, and texture of your coffee before you give it a taste.

How Long Does Homemade Cold Brew Last?

Homemade cold brew can last for 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge.

This is much shorter than the cold brews you’ll find in the store because commercial coffees undergo preservation processes.

How long your homemade cold brew lasts depends on several factors, including:

the quality of the coffee you use and if there are any mold spores in the beans
how you prepare your cold brew and whether you sanitized your containers
whether you added milk or other ingredients to your cold brew
if there’s any spoiled food in your refrigerator that can contaminate your cold brew

Since there’s a much greater risk of homemade cold brew being contaminated than commercial cold brew, you should always store your homemade coffee in the fridge and drink it within 1-2 weeks.

How Can I Preserve My Cold Brew Longer?

By storing your homemade cold brew in the refrigerator, it should last for 1-2 weeks. That’s normally the longest cold brew will last. But if you want to preserve it even longer you can try pasteurizing it or freezing it.

Pasteurizing Homemade Cold Brew

Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend pasteurizing cold brew coffee because the heating process will destroy a lot of the nuanced flavors cold brew is known for.

It’s also a lot of work to preserve coffee that you could easily brew as needed.

Freezing Homemade Cold Brew

The other option is freezing your cold brew coffee. To do this seal your cold brew in an airtight container or plastic bag and store it in the freezer.

Alternatively, you can freeze your cold brew in an ice cube tray and store it for later.

If you choose to go this route your cold brew can last up to 6 months in the freezer.

Related Posts:

How Do I Know If My Cold Brew Is Bad?

There are three main ways to test if your cold brew coffee has gone bad:

smell
taste
appearance

Cold brew coffee isn’t normally aromatic, but a change in smell may mean it’s gone bad. If your coffee smells stale, moldy, or rancid don’t drink it.

When it comes to taste, your cold brew should be smooth, nuanced, and less acidic than regular coffee. So, if it tastes vinegary, moldy, or even stale, you should throw it away.

Lastly, take a good look at your coffee. If you see any mold growths or spots, you should throw it away.

Key Takeaways:

Cold Brew on tap can last up to a year if it’s unopened
Canned or bottled coffees last up to 5 months unopened
Opened cold brews should be kept in the fridge
Homemade cold brews last 2 weeks in the fridge

Cheers Coffee Lovers!

KEEP READING

Oliver Holmes

Oliver is co-owner of Coffee Break Lovers. The only thing he loves more than the process of brewing coffee is drinking it.

Brand	Description	Image
Wandering Bear Cold Brew	Strong, Smooth, And Delicious
Java House Cold Brew Coffee	Dark and robust with a chocolate finish
Jordan’s Skinny Cold Brew	Sweet with Salted Caramel Finish

Brand	Description	Image
Starbucks Nitro Cold Brew	Infused with nitrogen creamy texture and smooth taste
Chameleon Cold-Brew Concentrate	Strong, dark, and rich
Java House Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate	Bold flavor, smooth. No bitter aftertaste
High Brew Coffee- Nitro Cold Brew	Infused with nitrogen. Foamy texture and sweet taste