Can you leave bottled coffee unrefrigerated?

If you are a coffee lover, you probably have bought bottled coffee to store in the house in case of any coffee cravings. However, you have probably wondered how best to store them; can you leave bottled coffee unrefrigerated?

Yes, bottled coffee can be left unrefrigerated if unopened. However, if opened, you should drink bottled coffee at a go or, if refrigerated, within 8 to 12 hours. I always have bottled coffee in my house as I am a huge fan of coffee. I love waking up to coffee, whether or not I am leaving the house. I always refrigerate my coffee as I believe this helps it retain flavor. However, one day I opened a bottle of coffee and forgot to refrigerate it as I was rushing somewhere. Coming back, it was bitter and had lost its flavor. If you want to know more about how to store bottled coffee, read on.

Table of Contents

How long can bottled coffee sit out?

Bottled coffee is good for up to 12 hours. Past that, it will start losing its flavor and probably go bad. However, your opened bottle of coffee will only reach 12 hours if refrigerated. Opened bottled coffee should be drunk at a go as its shelf life deteriorates drastically. However, if unopened and refrigerated, your coffee can sit for months before starting to lose flavor.

Does Starbucks bottled cold brew need to be refrigerated?

If you want to enjoy this coffee and retain its flavor for a long, then refrigerating it will help. This is mostly key if the bottle is opened, as refrigerating will keep it cool and allow you to enjoy it the way it is supposed to. However, you do not have to refrigerate Starbucks iced coffee that is unopened, as the cold brew is stable if the seal is not broken. An opened bottle of cold brew coffee should be consumed at one go to enjoy its freshness; however, if that is not the case, you can refrigerate it for up to 12 hours to enjoy the drink. On the other hand, you can still enjoy the fantastic taste of an unopened bottle of coffee even without refrigerating it.

Does refrigerating bottled coffee affect its flavor?

Yes, refrigerating bottled coffee helps the coffee retain most of its flavor to allow you to enjoy it the way it was meant to be. This is mostly for opened bottles of coffee, as they tend to lose flavor fast. Therefore, if your bottled coffee is open and you want to enjoy its taste, consider refrigerating it.

Final thoughts

Bottled coffee has a long shelf life, whether refrigerated or not, if unopened. However, once opened, its shelf life drops drastically, and you should consume it at a go, or if not, refrigerate it for up to 12 hours.

FAQ Section

Is leftover coffee good for the next day?

No, though it won’t affect your health, leftover coffee becomes much more bitter if left overnight and unrefrigerated.

How long can you refrigerate bottled coffee?

If unopened, bottled coffee can last in the fridge for 4 to 6 months, and after then, it will start losing flavor. However, once opened, its shelf life drops drastically and should be consumed within 8 hours and stored in the fridge.

How long is bottled coffee good after its expiration date?

There is no definite time that your coffee will be good after the best-by date; this will depend on how you store it. However, your coffee will not be fresh and will lose some flavor after the best-by date.