Why does my coffee taste stale, even when it's freshly brewed? I'm using a decent enough coffee?

Don't, only rinse it with water. Also the filter you use can affect the taste of the coffee. Pay a couple bucks more for good filters and use distilled water to make your coffee with.

Im and ex-barista. There's four things to consider.

Storage of grounds (air-tight container is best).

Thanks, guys. I bet it's that I'm not cleaning good enough. The part that holds the filter has a lot of small grooves in it and it's really hard to get between the ridges.

The dishwasher has died so I'm washing by hand :(.

Northweststarr is right. The water is very important. That will make the biggest difference in taste.

A gold filter should help, also. I prefer freshly ground coffee. You can get a grinder cheap, and then just buy the whole beans.

But, I think the reason the coffee would taste stale is the water.

I find keeping your coffee beans or grains in the fridge or freezer also helps it keep it's freshness.

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