When looking for fine products, look where fine products are sold.  We would not look for fine wine at the local gas station, nor would we look for fine coffee to be stacked on a grocery store shelf.  Coffee is like wine, cheese, beer or any number of other products that are crafted by skilled artists.  On one side we have wonderful and exotic cheeses from all over the world, and on the other side cheese like processed American (which does have a place, albeit a small one).  We also have small brewery crafted beers that stand in stark contrast to the big American breweries.  Again, there is a wonderful selection of wines from the world over, and then there is wine that comes with a screw top or in a box.  There can be comparisons made in many ways, but the important point is that coffee should be looked at in the same light as these other products.  Fine coffee is crafted by skilled artists and needs to stand up to certain criteria.

There are two types of coffee that can be purchased at the grocery store: pre-ground coffee in a can and the more “gourmet,” whole bean options.  The canned coffees are by far the worst of these two options for two main reasons.  First, the cheap price reflects the cheap quality of the coffees.  They are often the South American or Indonesian Robusta variety, which are flat and tasteless even when fresh.  Even a 100% Arabica will often be such a low-grade variety that quality will not be improved.  Secondly, having started with a cheap bean, the coffee was pre-ground, which becomes completely stale long before you purchase it.  No coffee can be “fresh” if you purchase it pre-ground, period.  “Fresh” means that the coffee still contains the critical oils and gases that are found in the bean.  When ground, both the oils and gases escape into the air, resulting in greatly reduced flavor.
 
The whole bean selections do have more potential, but the critical question becomes, “how long ago was the coffee roasted?”  It is, unfortunately, often impossible to answer this question in the grocery aisle.  Since coffee begins to stale right after roasting, it should be in your hands within three or four days so you can enjoy the full flavor.  In addition, with whole bean grocery store coffee, you also have to be aware that coffee absorbs the aromas around it, which may result in your coffee tasting like “hazelnut mocha mint surprise.” Even if your coffee is not “flavored,” it very well may taste that way.

The bottom line is that the best coffee the grocery store carries is the whole bean variety and even then it is a hit or miss.  For your money, you really need to buy your coffee from a specialty roaster who is passionate about the coffee to eliminate any possible disappointment.