There are days when you’re too busy to finish a hot cup of espresso in the morning. As an avid coffee lover, you won’t want to give up this drink.
Many people worry that leaving espresso in the fridge may ruin its flavor and nutrient content. So, can you refrigerate espresso?
What are the best ways to store coffee while retaining its taste and quality?
If you are wondering about these questions, don’t miss out on my post. I will discuss the characteristics of espresso and give you an in-depth explanation.
Can Espresso Go Bad?
Like all types of food and consumable drinks, espresso can definitely go stale with deteriorated quality after a long time. Yet, the degrading process will take longer than you think.
The main reason many people drink espresso immediately is that its flavor will go bad over time. More oil will build up on the coffee beans’ surface while the drink’s flavor goes stale.
When an espresso gives a stale flavor or an intense bitterness, it’s no longer flavorful. Yet, the coffee is still safe for consumption as long as it retains a fresh smell and unmolded texture.
For these reasons, learning how to store and drink your coffee is very critical. If you consider refrigerating espresso, the following sections are a must-read.
Can You Refrigerate Espresso?
The short answer is Yes. A cold-brewed and fresh espresso can last for 10 to 12 hours in the fridge without losing its quality or flavor.
Yet, you should not refrigerate coffee blended with milk or any dairy products.
Keep following the sections below, and I will show you how to store coffee in the fridge and avoid ruining the drink’s flavors.
It Is Not An Ideal Solution
While espresso can last for around half a day in the fridge, it’s not the most excellent way to store your coffee. Through the oxidation process, the flavors of your espresso will degrade over time.
Ardent coffee lovers can easily notice the change in flavor. Trying refrigerated espresso for many times and you will notice its more intense bitterness. Besides, it also lacks the smooth, sharp, and citrusy flavors that brewed coffee gives.
Cold espresso won’t deliver as many flavors as the ones pulled from hot water. You cannot reheat refrigerated espresso because it will ruin the drink’s flavors.
It Can Last Up To 10 Hours
In my recommendation, you should only refrigerate espresso and coffee for 10 hours at the largest. The coffee’s flavors will go stale and too unpalatable to drink, plus the lack of organic aroma.
Furthermore, cold temperatures in the fridge will slowly oxidate the coffee’s components. It will also increase the drink’s bitter flavor. There is a substance called tannin presented in espresso, which stands behind this change in flavor.
I have experienced refrigeration of my cold-brewed espresso many times. The bitterness of espresso will increase just a few hours stored in the fridge.
The flavor of coffee is still good after 8 to 9 hours, though its aroma has decreased. After one day, the espresso is no longer flavorful with an unpleasant taste and a lack of aroma.
The largest time to refrigerate your espresso should be 10 to 12 hours. The drink is still consumable after 15 hours to one day, but its flavor profile has degraded.
Don’t Reheat Espresso
If your espresso is too cold, consider reheating it a bit and blending it with milk or cream to serve. Yet, I don’t recommend reheating refrigerated espresso because it will make your drink astringent and bitter.
What Happens When You Pull Espresso?
It’s hard to deny that espresso gives the finest flavors and smell when it’s freshly brewed. The hot cup of espresso with steam and the fabulous aroma spreading around your room is a gift for many coffee lovers.
Yet, most coffee shops and people prefer mixing freshly brewed coffee with milk. They also sugar to enhance its flavors and create a sweet undertone.
With the addition of sugar, cream, and milk, the espresso’s components will oxygenate. It will also release a substance called chlorogenic acid.
If you leave this cup of coffee for a few minutes, the shot will start breaking down as the crema blends and dissipates. For this reason, you should drink a pulled espresso immediately to achieve the finest flavors.
Besides, it’s not advisable to reheat or refrigerate any pulled espresso because its flavors and quality will deteriorate.
The Taste Of Refrigerated Espresso
So you decided to prepare ahead your fresh cold-brewed coffee and store it in the fridge overnight. It would save you a lot of time brewing coffee because you just need to pull the drink and serve it.
I am a busy person and I try this practice a lot, which works out pretty fine with decent flavors. Yet, the shot’s flavors will depend largely on the type and quality of beans you use to make espresso.
In general, refrigerated espresso gives nearly identical flavors to freshly brewed ones. Yet, the bitterness of refrigerated coffee is more intense the longer you store it in the fridge.
A stale espresso is very unpleasant to drink with its harsh flavor.
If you cannot tolerate the bitterness of refrigerated espresso, consider adding more milk and sugar to dilute the taste.
Effective Ways To Store Your Coffee For Longer
The quality of the coffee beans is the main factor that affects the drink’s flavors. Therefore, it’s critical to store coffee in proper conditions.
Here are some practical tips and safety requirements to store your espresso for longer in good conditions.
Put It In The Fridge
Coffee beans and ground coffee are prone to moisture and changes in temperature. Therefore, it’s not advisable to refrigerate coffee beans because the temperature will vary every time you open and close the fridge door.
If you have no choice but to leave coffee beans in the fridge, ensure to follow these rules.
- You must seal the coffee beans hermetically to protect them from moisture and air.
- The container’s surface should not allow light to penetrate through.
- The container must be dry and clean.
- Espresso’s flavors will go bad after many days. So you should consume it as soon as possible after storing the drink in the fridge. The flavor will get worse the longer you store it.
Storing coffee beans in the fridge is an excellent option for the hot summer.
It can keep your coffee beans cool and fresh while protecting their quality from moisture and hot temperature.
The Best Way To Store Coffee Beans
Coffee is an abundant source of fat, which builds up on the coffee beans outside when roasting them. The fats are susceptible to oxidation, making them rancid.
So, you need to store your coffee beans in an airtight container and put them in a dry place. The sealed container should be able to block all sunlight, air, and moisture, thus avoiding condensation.
You should limit the air and free space inside your container as much as possible. Use a small container for a small number of coffee beans and vice versa.
Remember to wash and dry the container completely before putting in the coffee beans. The surrounding temperature where you put your coffee should be around 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.
FAQs
There are many tips about preparing and storing espresso you may need to learn. Check out the sections below and discover more interesting information.
Can You Prepare Espresso Ahead Of Time And Freeze It?
The answer is yes. A brewed cup of espresso can stay in good condition for one day at room temperature and up to two days in the fridge. Yet, the espresso will lose its crema when you refrigerate it.
After one or two days, the flavors and quality of the espresso will slowly deteriorate. Therefore, you should not prepare espresso ahead of time if you want to enjoy the finest flavor.
How Long Can Coffee Last After Brewing?
Cold-brewed coffee can last up to two weeks in the fridge, but the espresso can only retain its quality for two days. Besides, coffee mixed with milk can only last for a few hours in the same storage conditions.
What Should I Do With The Leftover Espresso?
You can reheat the leftover espresso for a later drink or use it as an ingredient for other dishes and sweet treats. For example, you can blend leftover coffee with oatmeal and chocolate or use it to make ice cream.
Is It Safe To Drink Day-Old Espresso?
No, you should not drink day-old espresso because its quality and flavors have deteriorated. Besides, avoid leftover espresso that has developed an unpleasant smell or taste because it’s no longer safe for consumption.
Can Coffee Sit Out For Hours?
Coffee can last for around 4 to 5 hours at room temperature without the need for covering. Yet, coffee mixed with milk, sugar, or any dairy-based product can last only 2 hours before its quality deteriorates.
Can You Reheat The Espresso?
You should only reheat espresso on the first day after brewing it. Reheating will change the chemical components of the drink, thus affecting its original flavor.
Final Thoughts
In summary, a fresh and cold-brewed espresso can last for 10 to 12 hours in the fridge before its flavor deteriorates.
Yet, a creamy espresso mixed with milk and sugar will go bad very fast, and you should not refrigerate it.
It’s not an excellent idea to get a creamy cup of refrigerated espresso with milk and cream. The drink will develop an unpleasant smell and flavor. It will generate unsafe properties after a few hours in the fridge.
If you are too busy in the morning, feel free to prepare a cold-brewed and fresh espresso before putting it in the fridge. It will save you time and effort.
Thank you for reading!