This isn't about lab-grade measurements or cupping scores. The goal is simple: give yourself a repeatable, 30-second check you can use every time you buy coffee, whether it's from a local roaster in Decatur or a supermarket shelf in Buckhead.

A fair benchmark that works for most people:

• Buy beans roasted within the last 14 days.
• Use them within 30 days of the roast date.
• Store them properly so those 30 days aren't wasted.

If you hit that window, you're getting coffee that still has its character. Miss it, and you're drinking something that's lost its personality—flat, bitter, or just 'meh.'