If you have a big love for coffee, you may have leftover coffee that you wish to keep for later. Adding milk to your coffee can enhance its flavor, but it could raise concerns about how long it can be kept in refrigeration. We’ll look at the answer to the topic, “How long does coffee with milk last in the fridge?” in this blog post.
How long does coffee with milk last in the fridge?
Each cup of coffee prepared differently will have a varied refrigerator shelf life. To prevent expired coffee during fridge storage, users must pay attention to the kind of coffee they are using and storing. The following is guidance on how long coffee with milk lasts in the fridge:
Cold brew
Cold brew will keep much longer in the freezer than brewed hot coffee.
The cold brew concentrate can be kept in the freezer for 7-10 days if kept in a sealed container. If you add water to the concentrate before actually storing it, or if you store a cold brew from a coffee establishment in the fridge, drink it within 3-4 days.
Cold brew with milk or creamer should be enjoyed in less than 2 hours, but it can also be kept in the refrigerator in a sealed container. However, it will only keep in the freezer for 1-2 days. Before tasting, look for indications of spoilage, such as mold or foul odors. Finally, cold brew or even brewed coffee can be stored in the freezer, but not in the manner you might think.
Pour your cold brew (or your cooled brewed coffee) into an ice cube dish. Allow the cubes to freeze for a few hours until solid, then place them in an airtight bag. Drink within 2 weeks, either as a new cold brew addition or melted down.
Espresso & Cappuccino
You shouldn’t store these 2 kinds of beverages in the refrigerator. Instead, you should only prepare a small quantity of them because the storage procedure will make the coffee taste inferior to the first. Refrigerate and warm as needed if necessary. Milk in these kinds has a refrigerated shelf life of just 2 days. The milk is easily rancid and smelly after 2 days.
Mr. Coffee Espresso and Cappuccino Machine
Ice coffee
For the delicious flavor, you should use iced coffee before it has fully thawed. However, if you haven’t drunk it all and haven’t kept it in the fridge, it’s still acceptable and safe. To avoid flavors from mixing, eliminate all ice before storing. This coffee can be kept in the fridge for 5-6 days.
See “What Happens When You Add Milk to Your Coffee”
How to keep your coffee last longer in the fridge?
We don’t want to waste coffee, so we grasp the desire to save your coffee pot for later. However, it is critical to ensure that the brewed coffee is correctly stored to prevent spoilage and further issues in the long run.
Here are some tips to help you keep your coffee freshest for longer:
Let coffee cool completely
Never place hot coffee in the fridge. It’s not only bad for the coffee, but also unhygienic and a waste of energy.
When putting something hot in a refrigerator, the temperature within the appliance rises. It requires more energy to bring the temperature back down. Also, everything in the fridge will warm up, which is how germs spread.
Keep the coffee in a tightly sealed container
This will prevent the coffee from absorbing any smells from the fridge and from becoming contaminated by any dust or germs contained within the refrigerator.
Try to avoid storing coffee with milk or sweetener
It’s best to consume your coffee within a few hours of adding products like milk or creamer to it. If you attempt to store it in refrigeration, it will go bad much faster, and drinking spoiled coffee with milk can make you sick.
Enjoy your coffee as quickly as possible
While coffee can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days before the flavor and smell begin to fade, it is best to consume it as soon as possible to avoid it expiring.
Refrigerate iced coffee without first removing the ice
Because ice can and will melt in the fridge, iced coffee can become watered down and therefore not as strong as it once was. If you intend to keep your iced coffee, remove the ice, store it in an airtight container, and afterward add fresh ice when serving.
Further reading: Should You Keep Ground Coffee in the Fridge?
How can you tell if your coffee is expired?
If stored correctly, black coffee will last a lot longer, but there are a few tell-tale indications that it has gone bad. If it smells or tastes like cardboard, the atmospheric oxygen has gotten to it and led it to turn more acidic. Furthermore, if the coffee is a distinct color than it was previously or has begun to mold, it’s time to throw it out.
You might also observe that the black coffee is thicker than usual, or that sediment from the coffee grinds has sunk to the bottom of the container, leaving the top watery. If the coffee is old enough, the natural ingredients in it may start splitting from the water and become rancid.
Remember to believe your instincts if you’re uncertain, and toss the coffee if you’re doubtful about its shelf life. We can inform you how long coffee can be stored in the fridge, however, if the color or flavor of the coffee is off, it’s safer to take precautions than sorry.
Can you drink coffee with milk from the refrigerator overnight?
Even superb brew coffee, that needs to be brewed and refrigerated, can be safely stored for 2 weeks. Coffee will go rancid if placed in the refrigerator for too long, whereas milk will only last a week after it has expired.
Although we recommend consuming coffee right away, it could still be sipped after staying overnight in the fridge. Before consuming, check to see if the coffee is bad, smells sour, or tastes terrible. Mold growth can be prevented by storing it in the refrigerator, prolonging the shelf life.
Although milk in coffee can sour and deteriorate even when refrigerated, its optimum usage time is only one day, so keep it in mind if you blend coffee and milk before refrigerating.
In the freezer, coffee can still spoil. Be cautious when preparing freshly brewed coffee to prevent mold. Sanitize and clean your coffee appliances to prevent mold growth. This is especially essential if you use multiple coffee grinders, as debris can easily accumulate in machine parts if not washed.
Many factors influence milky coffee as well as its time in the fridge. It’s typically stored for two days, so if you didn’t taste it after storing it in the fridge overnight, do not add milk.
What is the best temperature to store coffee with cream or milk?
For optimal quality, the temperature to store coffee with milk in the refrigerator is around 40 degrees F or below. It is proved that between 40F and 140F, coffee with milk can spoil and bacteria grow quickly.
Conclusion
Finally, the shelf life of coffee with milk in the fridge is affected by several variables, including the sort of milk utilized, the storage conditions, and the container used. Coffee with milk can be kept in the fridge for a maximum of 2 days. However, it’s best to use your feelings to identify if it’s gone bad. To ensure the quality and flavor of your milky coffee, keep it in a tidy, airtight container and use safe food handling practices.
Reference
How Long Does Coffee Last? Ground, Brewed, Cold Brew and More, healthline.com, Retrieved on Apr. 3, 2023
How Long Does Coffee With Milk Last, baristabetter.com, Retrieved on Apr. 2, 2023
