How long does brewed coffee last?

by Gary Gray
(Newcastle NSW)

QUESTION:

How long does brewed coffee last? Does putting it in the fridge lengthen life?

ANSWER:

Coffee isn't the kind of drink where you can make a large pot, keep it in the fridge and then heat up a cup of coffee or two each day.

There's nothing to stop you doing that, but you lose a lot of the taste. If you can tell the difference between fresh-brewed coffee and coffee that has been sitting around for an hour or two, you'll definitely notice a difference if you keep it overnight.

You’re better off brewing smaller amount of coffee – just enough for an hour or two. If you want coffee again later in the day, simply make a fresh brew.

If you really want only one or two cups of coffee each day, you may want to consider getting a single-serve coffee maker.(More on single serve coffee makers here...)