How Long Does Cold Brewed Coffee Last In The Fridge

Cold brew is cold, so that means it can go in the fridge, right?

A lot of cold brew enthusiasts have always wondered if cold brew can be kept in the fridge, and for how long. Given how long it takes to make, surely you don’t want to drink it all in one go. 

Luckily there are multiple things you can do to keep your cold brew fresh.

Let’s get started.

How Long Can You Store Cold Brew Coffee In The Fridge?

It depends, store-bought cold brew coffee should be consumed within 2 – 3 days of brewing.

But if you brew your own cold brew coffee at home, ideally it can be kept in the fridge for 7 – 10 days, even up to 14 days. But remember that the flavor quality will degrade after the first week.

I personally like to keep my cold brew in the fridge for up to 7 days. It all comes down to personal preference.

So far, I have been talking about regular, diluted, cold brew coffee. If you have the pure concentrate cold brew coffee, it can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 months! Which I’m sure you’re happy to read.

You should never add additives such as sugar or milk to your massive batch of cold brew and then put it in the fridge. If you do this then it’s only consumable for 2 – 3 days.

Always trust your instincts though, if your cold brew coffee starts to taste a bit off then it’s better to pour it down the sink.

Related: Best Coffee Grinders For Cold Brew

Tips For Keeping Cold Brew Coffee Fresh

Cold brew is my favorite way of consuming coffee, but how do you keep it fresh?

One of the best ways to keep cold brew coffee fresh is by using an airtight container. I like to use airtight mason jars but you can use whatever you want, as long as air can’t get to it.

This is going to make it last a lot longer than leaving it out in the open in the fridge.

Benefits Of Cold Brew Coffee

Cold brew coffee actually has some impressive benefits that you may like.

Here are some of my favorite ones:

• Extra caffeine kick
• Mood booster
• Good for a sensitive stomach
• Boosts metabolism
• Very easy to make

Cold Brew VS Iced Coffee

People like to get this wrong all the time, but it’s actually plain and simple.

• Cold brew steeps grounds, slowly, in cold water for a long amount of time. This results in less acidity and a smoother coffee.

• Iced Coffee is brewed hot, like regular coffee. Then cooled and served over ice. This enhances flavors that you can only get when coffee grounds get in contact with hot water. It also comes with a sharper and more acidic flavor.

How To Make Cold Brew Coffee At Home

Making cold brew coffee at home isn’t only tasty, it’s also straightforward and efficient!

This is the way how I make my cold brew coffee, but you can adjust it as needed.

Requirements: 

• Medium-roasted coffee beans
• A coarse grind
• Cheesecloth & elastic rubber band
• 2 Half-gallon mason jars

Now let’s get brewing!

1. Give your medium-roasted coffee beans a nice and coarse grind.
2. Add 11 tablespoons (or 164 grams) of your medium-roasted coarse-ground coffee into the mason jar.
3. Add 32 ounces (or 907 grams) of cold water to the jar.
4. Use a wooden spoon or something similar to mix the coffee grounds and water, and make sure that all the coffee grounds are wet.
5. Cover the top with cheesecloth and an elastic rubber band to keep it secure.
6. Let it cold brew in the fridge for 16 – 20 hours.
7. Get your second half-gallon mason jar and pour the cold brew over into the clean jar (with the cheesecloth and rubber band still on it, this prevents any grounds to get into the new jar).
8. Now you can store this diluted cold brew in the fridge with a lid on it for up to 14 days and use it whenever you want!

Keep in mind that cold brew has a lot more caffeine than regular coffee, so I recommend going for a concentrate-to-water ratio between 2:1 and 1:1. If you like stronger coffee, use the 2:1 ratio, if you want it a little less intense then go for 1:1.

That’s it! Pour it over some ice and add some additives such as sugar or milk if you’re into that.

The Bottom Line

Your cold brew and fridge are pretty good friends, after diluting your cold brew you can store it in the fridge for up to 7 – 10 days. Meanwhile, store-bought or homemade cold brew with additives such as sugar & milk should be consumed within 2 – 3 days.

I personally recommend not keeping it longer than 7 days as a lot of the flavors degrade after the first week and even some of my cold brews have tasted funny after 7 days.

Trust your instinct and pour it down in the sink if something tastes off.

Happy caffeinating!