No, they don’t die but might taste bad if not stored properly. Pods stored in cool, air-tight, dark locations has shown to retain aroma and strength even after a year.
If you are unsure, check the date on the sleeve of the Nespresso pod. There are two dates written, ‘best-before’ and ‘packaging date’. As a rule of thumb, pods consumed within 12-15 months from the packaging date are good and don’t show a difference in taste.
If you are using a non-Nespresso pod, the date of packing will be present on the box, if not check if the aluminum cover is puffed and not flat. Plastic pod covers might have a lower shelf life, so always prefer good aluminum pods for longer life.
Personally, I have noticed a change in taste when using old pods. Typically, anything after the ‘best-before date’ written on the sleeve tends to lose its strength and aroma.
Many don’t know how to detect an expired pod if you have thrown the box away, or the sleeve is removed. So, in this article, I lay out all the steps to check for an expired Nespresso pod.
How to detect an expired Nespresso pod?
Every sleeve of a Nespresso pod has the production date printed on the exterior. This is the day that the capsules were hermetically sealed with fresh coffee grounds inside. The ‘best-before’ date acts as a limit to consuming the coffee to get the same aroma and strength.
If you don’t know the date of the pod, but want to identify an expired pod then,
- Check for any mold, sometimes, the pod can be consumed for years. The pods are nitrogen sealed, therefore no light or oxygen should enter. If there is a mold, then it is better to not use it.
- Check if the silver membrane is puffed, pushing it should have resistance. If not, the seal is leaking/broken and I wouldn’t personally use it in that state.
- Is the coffee ground still dry? Take it closer to your ears and shake it gently. You will hear a distinct sound like sand moving around. This means the coffee grounds are still dry and haven’t clumped up or gone wrong.
How to prevent pods from going bad?
If you are a bulk purchaser, like me! The best way to improve the longevity of the pod is to do the following.
- Freezing the pods helps, as it would eventually slow down the development of fungi or spores that may inadvertently enter the capsule before it is sealed.
Freezing the capsules won’t hurt, but be aware that you’ll need to leave them at room temperature long enough for the coffee inside to defrost before you can brew them.
- A research article on the taste and aroma of coffee stored in the freezer proves that the coffee won’t lose much aroma or strength if stored for a longer duration. Source: Wiley Online Library
- Heat and bright light conditions can affect the quality of the coffee. Even if it is hermetically sealed, an increase in temperature can lead to a loss of aroma and increased acidity. Source: Climate and Coffee
- I prefer air-tight canisters and dark places to maintain aroma and strength for a long time. This is a proven method to maintain the acidity of the coffee grounds/pods, even those hermetically sealed ones. Source: Science Direct
Is a one-year-old pod good to consume?
If you are wondering if an expired coffee makes you sick? The answer is no, it doesn’t. Even if consume a bad-tasting coffee, it is not going to have any health effects.
The official Nespresso Coffee and Health say that the coffee grounds don’t expire and the phenolic acid levels don’t affect your health if consumed in smaller quantity.
What next?
To answer the question, Nespresso pods don’t expire but will taste bad if consumed years after the ‘best-before’ date. If you are unsure do the following
- Check the silver membrane to see if the pod is still puffed. If not, the hermetic seal is broken and the coffee might taste bad
- Check for mold or black spots on the outer layer of the pod.
- Prefer keeping the pod in a dark and cool location to prevent mold growth.
- Prefer air-tight canisters if the pod seal is broken or otherwise to improve longevity.
