What is a critical practice to maintain freshness when handling coffee?

Grinding the beans immediately before brewing is essential for maintaining freshness in coffee. When coffee beans are ground, they increase their exposure to air, light, and moisture, which accelerates the oxidation and staling process. By grinding just before brewing, you ensure that the maximum amount of flavor compounds remains intact, resulting in a fresher and more vibrant cup of coffee. This practice minimizes the loss of essential oils and volatile aromas that contribute to the coffee's overall taste and experience, effectively preserving its freshness.

In contrast, storing ground coffee for later use can lead to a significant reduction in flavor quality, as ground coffee loses its freshness much more quickly than whole beans. Keeping coffee exposed to air would increase oxidation and staleness, and maintaining high moisture content is detrimental as moisture can promote mold growth and spoilage. All these factors highlight why grinding just before brewing is the best practice for coffee freshness.