If the Roast Date on Coffee Beans Is Older Than This, Don't Buy Them

Great coffee hinges on more than which beans you buy and how you brew them, though the importance of both can't be overstated. What happens in between -- after roasting, before grinding -- matters just as much, and it's the step most people skip entirely.

A bag left open on the counter, beans stored in a clear canister near the stove, coffee ground hours before you're ready to use it. These small habits quietly strip away the aroma and complexity you paid for, leaving you with a cup that's decent but not all that it could be.

If you're serious about coffee, starting with a solid burr grinder for even extraction and nailing the golden ratio when brewing already puts you ahead of most home brewers. But freshness deserves equal attention.

For the truly obsessive -- and if you've read this far, you know who you are -- I...

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