Coffee offers many health benefits. But have you ever wondered what time period you should drink coffee? Because many people make one mistake that robs this drink of its properties.

Many people are unable to function without their morning dose during the day. But drinking coffee in a hurry, or on the contrary, neglecting to drink it, can backfire on you. Not to mention the prolonged steeping, which affects not only the taste, but also the aroma or health benefits. Whether you brew a single cup or a whole pot, it’s important to know what processes can take place in coffee.

Coffee has its limits once brewed

Fresh coffee offers a pleasant aroma and taste. But every minute counts from the moment it is brewed, and even every second as time passes. If you have a habit of putting your cup of coffee down and letting it cool, try to limit this. After about 30 minutes, it loses its intensity, which affects the taste. You are also making a mistake if you leave it to infuse for a long time. At high temperature it starts to oxidise and the taste becomes more sour.

Can coffee really go bad?

Does coffee spoil or not? This question may come to mind if you let it sit for a long time and drink it afterwards. The good news is that coffee cannot spoil in the same way as milk or other products that depend on freshness and expiry date. However, the fact is that the quality of coffee deteriorates with the passage of time. A chemical process called oxidation takes place, during which the lipids contained in the coffee begin to break down. The result is a sour or bitter taste. Oxidation can also affect the composition of antioxidants, the health benefits of which have been confirmed in many studies. A bigger problem arises if you drink it with milk. If left untainted for a long time, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

If you let the coffee cool for a long time, the taste can become more bitter and sour. ━━ If you let the coffee cool for a long time, the taste can become more bitter and sour. ( Source: Malik Evren /  iStockphoto )

How to store brewed coffee?

The most common practice is to drink coffee soon after brewing. However, many people brew larger quantities in order to drink it later. Nowadays, it is also a trend to take it to work with you. The ideal solution is to pour the coffee into a stainless steel thermos to minimise contact with air and maintain the temperature.

At room temperature, the coffee should be consumed within 12 hours. If it contains milk, the time is reduced to 2 hours. It will then keep in the fridge for about three days, but it is not recommended to reheat it, so drink it as iced coffee instead.

You think it’s a shame to spill the coffee, so you’d rather heat it up? This solution may look convenient and practical, but unfortunately it will promote the negative consequences already mentioned. Repeated heating causes acidity and more bitterness. So prefer freshly brewed coffee. Not only for better taste, but also for your health.

Drinking coffee can have a positive effect on health

Coffee is a popular drink for boosting energy and alertness thanks to its caffeine content, but it also has several proven health benefits. Some studies suggest that regular consumption could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and protect against neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Other research confirms that drinking coffee affects fat storage and promotes gut health, which may be helpful for weight loss.