Now the flip side. Here's what should make you put the bag down:

• No roast date at all. Only a 'best by' date that's 12–18 months out. That tells you nothing about freshness.
• A roast date older than 4–6 weeks. Unless it's a special aged coffee, that's old. You'll taste it.
• Beans that look sticky or have a sour smell. A little oil is fine, but stickiness is a sign of rancidity.
• The roaster avoids your question. If you ask 'When was this roasted?' and they give you a vague answer, that's a red flag.

I've seen bags in Georgia that were roasted six months prior sitting on shelves like they were fresh. Don't fall for it.