The Rule Of Fifteens Will Make Sure You're Drinking The Freshest Coffee Possible

Coffee is serious business. Whether you savor the flavor or rely on it to survive the nine-to-five grind, coffee is more than just a beverage: It's a daily ritual. For those who take their brew seriously, crafting the perfect coffee is not just about having an excellent machine; it's about sourcing the best coffee beans and roasting them to perfection. That first morning sip, with its rich aroma and comforting warmth, can feel downright heavenly.

According to Jee Choe, the coffee and tea sommelier behind Oh, How Civilized, the secret to drinking the freshest cup of joe lies in following what baristas know as Babbie's Rule of Fifteens, a guideline for how soon coffee should be used. So what's the rule? "Unroasted coffee beans should be used within 15 months of the harvest date, roasted coffee beans should be used within 15 days of the roast date, and ground coffee should be used within 15 minutes of grinding," explains Choe.

It can be hard to implement Babbie's rule if you don't know when your coffee has been roasted, but according to Choe, if a coffee bag doesn't have a roast date stamped on it, skip it. "I find coffee tastes the best after at least a week after the roast date so that the coffee beans [have] had some time to de-gas," she told Tasting Table. However, if you know how to grind your coffee beans evenly, Choe says it's always best to control the process yourself. "It's important to grind coffee just before brewing it to ensure freshness," she explains.

According to Choe, the most golden of Babbie's rules is to always use ground coffee within 15 minutes of grinding. "It's important to grind coffee just before brewing it to ensure freshness," she says. Freshly ground beans deliver the best flavor when brewed immediately, while also giving discerning drinkers a better chance to detect even subtle hints of staleness. The longer it's been since your coffee was ground, the more oxygen strips away its freshness and flavor. That explains why pre-ground coffee beans rarely match the richness and aroma of a cup brewed straight from freshly ground beans. "This is why I always recommend grinding coffee at home instead of buying ground coffee," Choe adds. 

While the origins of Babbie's Rule of Fifteens are uncertain, it's believed "Babbie" is a barista named Chris Babbie (known online as "Psyd") who originally shared the guidelines on the coffee-enthusiast forum Home-Barista back in 2009. Baristas seem universally aligned with the rules. After all, everyone wants a fresh brew, and the 15-rule guidelines are both simple and sensible. So if you want to improve your coffee ritual, think fresh beans and a quick grind-to-brew to enhance the rich aroma and nuanced flavor that comes with every sip. Remember, when it comes to fresh coffee, fifteen is the lucky number.