If a coffee IV were possible, I’d never leave my bed. But there was a news brief once about a woman who tried such a task, and well … there may be other ways to indulge in the beauty of the brew.

I am a barista (no, not at Starbucks *insert eye rolling*), I also own a coffee subscription service that works with small roasters (insert cheers for the little guys). But I am no expert – and I’m guessing neither are you (sorry to burst that bubble); however, I have learned a lot from the ever-growing coffee world.

So sit tight my fellow coffee lovers, because I think there is something you are missing in your morning brew.

1. Your coffee is probably too old, those poor beans.

Here’s the thing, you’ll find multiple truths in the matter of coffee freshness. Here’s what you really need to know: coffee noticeably declines in flavor after week two, and should be burned after week four (or however you choose to lay them to rest).

Note: this is for both single-origin and origin-blend roasts. Single-origin roasts (especially dark roasts) do have a longer life of freshness, but they still continue unique flavors that decline while sitting lonely on your shelf.

Knowing this, we should also note that origin-blends, and purely flavored coffees, break down more quickly.

Why does it go bad? Oxygen is a real killer.

2. Save the beans! Store your coffee better.

It’s early in the morning and the last thing you want to do is find another container to store your newly opened bag of coffee. I get it. However, your coffee will not be so forgiving.

You should always keep your coffee stored in a cool, dark, airtight container. My preference? Mason jars.

Note: refrigerating or freezing opening coffee to extend the shelf life is a myth.

3. Cheap coffee does not equate to good coffee, sorry…

Buy the quality coffee. It’s overwhelming sometimes. You walk into Target and their coffee aisle is literally an entire aisle full of choices, and suddenly (like every Target task) an hour has passed and you still don't know what coffee to grab. Sigh. So we grab the cheapest or what’s on sale and hope for the best.

Here’s one option – do research before running to the store.

Or – subscribe to a coffee box (MistoBox, Coffeeism, Angel’s Cup) and have the best coffee dropped at your front door without having to do any of the work.

4. Your grind matters, y'know.

Firstly, do you buy your coffee ground? I recommend buying whole bean and grinding per use. Your coffee will last longer and the fresh taste of the beans will be exponentially better.

Here’s a quick guide of grinding:

French Press: coarse
Drip: medium
Chemex: medium-coarse
Cold Brew: fine
Espresso: fine

5. There's a proper measurement? Say what?

Of course it will always be easier to throw some grounds in that filter and press start, but again, let's rethink this process.

It’s actually pretty simple: exactly TWO tablespoons of ground coffee for each SIX ounces of water.

Like your coffee a little stronger? Give yourself an extra scoop.

6. Your coffee pot is slowing you down.

There are so. many. choices.

First decide what kind of coffee you want to make. How often will you be brewing? Is it just for you?

For now, I will leave you with this: buy to your needs, no matter the price. But on that same spectrum, don’t buy bigger or higher than your needs require.

I’ll have more on this later.

7. Don't even get me started on the Keurig.

I have no other comments.

8. You probably don't need to brew eight cups at a time.

Brew to your needs. The longer your coffee sits, the weaker it gets (obviously), and a microwave is not your brew’s friend.

It may take more time, but brew one cup at a time (no, not the Keurig).

9. Be kind to the beans with some clean water.

The water matters. Try really hard to use filtered/purified water in your coffee.

10. Do you even know what type of coffee you like? Maybe that should be step one…

This deserves its own post, so I’ll get back to you on that.

If you want the full coffee experience, and you do, you may need to change up your morning routine. But hey, (good) coffee is so worth it.