Check out this video we made. We refinished a 2-1/4 Red Oak. We stained the floor Coffee Brown.  The finish is 2 coats of Satin Oil-based polyurethane.  One extra step we did on this floor was we wet-wiped/water popped the wood after it was completely prepped.  Water popping allows stain to penetrate equally throughout floor so there are no highs and lows visible.