How Long Does It Take For An Espresso Shot To 'Die'?

The world of coffee can include some puzzling jargon, especially if you only think of coffee as morning fuel to get through the day. For those who don't care much for the intricacies of brewing coffee, the concept of an espresso shot "dying" can seem baffling at the very least.

According to Bean Ground, espresso is a drink that's meant to be consumed quickly after it's pulled because like most other foods and drinks that go bad due to the process of oxidation, so does coffee. A dead espresso simply means that it is stale or has been sitting out and exposed to oxygen for too long (via Coffee Affection). But that doesn't mean that an espresso that's been left out for a few minutes longer than usual is undrinkable.

Bean Ground finds that the weariness toward dead espressos is likely fueled by certain coffee chains that incorrectly teach that an espresso shot dies within 10 seconds, and should be thrown away if kept out for longer. On the contrary, it takes at least a minute for an espresso shot to wane, technically. 

While there's a noticeable difference in taste between a fresh cup of espresso and a dead one, it's nowhere near enough to throw the latter away.

Coffee Affection explains that the key to espresso dying is the link between oxidation and the espresso's crema. As espresso comes in contact with air, oxidation begins and the coffee begins to die — a process that's only accelerated by the heating and grinding of coffee beans. The thick layer of foamy crema that sits on top of a fresh and well-pulled espresso shot protects the coffee underneath from oxidizing too quickly. An espresso dies as its crema dissipates. So essentially, a dead espresso is an espresso that no longer has any crema.

Generally, espresso's crema takes about three minutes to fully disappear, so the Bean Ground finds that espresso should take at least five to seven minutes to be called dead. While the flavor and texture of the espresso may be affected, it can still be enjoyed.

Coffee masters on Reddit, however, have varying opinions. One person called espresso dying a "myth," as another disagreed, arguing that "the difference between fresh and 30-second old shots is night and day." Yet another coffee drinker vouched that while 20-second-old espresso tasted just as good as the fresh ones, they eventually noticed a slight difference as they got older.

All-in-all, the consensus seems to be that dead espresso shots that have been sitting out for a couple of minutes may taste slightly subpar, but they're certainly still drinkable.