Keeping notes on beans

Every bag gets an index card. It takes a minute per brew and saves me from repeating the same disappointing cup three mornings in a row.

What goes on the card

• Roast date, origin, and processing method, if the bag lists them
• Dose, water weight, and grinder setting
• Water temperature and total brew time
• A few plain words on taste: sweet, sour, bitter, heavy, light

I skip fancy tasting words. "Bright and a little thin" is more useful to me later than a list of fruits I cannot actually pick out.

Freshness and storage

Coffee keeps changing after roasting. Many beans taste better after resting a few days, and most bags I buy stay at their best for roughly two to four weeks after that. I keep beans in an airtight container away from light, heat, and moisture, and grind right before brewing, since ground coffee goes stale much faster than whole beans.