Coffee is something that everyone is familiar with. But how much do you really know about it, other than that you like it? Finding out more about coffee can really improve the coffee you drink, whether you drink coffee every day or not at all. Here are some tips to help you do that.
The best coffee typically comes from a coffee press. Instant coffee is over-processed and tends to taste awful, while whole bean coffee offers the best aroma and flavor. When you grind it yourself fresh, you’ll be amazed at the difference. Using a press brings out all the best notes, too!
Many people love coffee and enjoy it every morning; however, drinking a plain cup of coffee every day can become boring. To spice up your morning routine try making a beautiful, refreshing latte. Learn how to pour your milk slowly to create beautiful designs on top of your latte. The key to a beautiful latte is practice.
If you like iced coffee, try brewing strong coffee during the evening and refrigerating it. This will give you flavorful iced coffee rather than a brew watered down with ice cubes. You may also want to add sugar or milk before you put it in the refrigerator. By doing this, you can create the perfect iced coffee.
If you loved your coffee on ice, try cold-brewing your own coffee concentrated. There are many recipes available online; Most entail mixing a few cups of water into several ounces of ground coffee, allowing the mixture to sit overnight. When the grounds are strained out, you are left with a smooth, rich concentrate that can be diluted with milk or water and ice.
Remember that coffee is a very absorbent food. So, proper storage is essential. Keep your unused coffee in a place that is dry and cool where it is protected from both sunlight and heat. However, do not store it in your fridge or freezer. Also make sure the container is opaque and air-tight, to prevent coffee from absorbing flavor and aromas from other foods.
Make sure that you are adding the right amount of water into your coffee machine. The coffee might be too strong if not enough water is used. It is also important to realize that if there is too much water, your coffee will not have enough flavor. A good practice is to use two cups water for every desired cup of coffee.
Store your beans and coffee grinds properly. Whole beans and ground beans both lose their flavor rather quickly. To prevent this, get them into a container that is airtight, and place the container in a dry and cool area. For extended storage, you could even freeze the beans for up to three months.
Avoid purchasing beans that come in cans or in vacuum-sealed bags. Coffee beans need to be protected by valve-sealed bags to remain fresh. Besides, valve-sealed bags allow the carbon dioxide that emanates from the beans to escape, which means the beans will retain all their flavor and stay fresh longer.
Never drink coffee in the eight hours prior to going to bed. The half-life of caffeine can range from 30 minutes to 8 hours, so this is the only sure fire way of having it out of your system when it is time to rest. Otherwise, you are going to need even more caffeine the next day. A coffee habit can be a little healthy, but caffeine dependency is bad news.
Although you may be tempted to grab a cup of coffee before the coffee finishes brewing, wait! While it’s possible to do so with some machines, it’s not good for the coffee. Instead, you should buy a machine with a timer. This would allow your coffee to be ready when you arise.
Iced coffee isn’t as simply as making hot coffee and then adding ice. This waters down the coffee. An alternative method that works much better is to brew some coffee, then pour the coffee into the slots of a common ice cube tray. Then, when they are frozen, simply take them out and allow them to melt.
Experiment with varying levels of grind for your coffee. Finely ground coffee often results in a strong flavor, but you can weaken flavor with a more coarse grind. The best time to grind is right before you actually brew. Grinding earlier than that can result in stale tasting coffee once brewed later.
If you frequent a particular coffeehouse often, see if they will give you a discount for bringing in your own cup or mug. These cups can sometimes cost the shop a few pennies at a time, so they can save money too over time. They also get the chance to make a pro-environmental statement with you.
The kind of coffee you enjoy drinking depends on the region in which is brewed. If you prefer coffee that has a mild flavor, go with coffees from Latin America countries, like Brazil. If you like those with an exotic taste, you should drink coffee from African or Asian countries.
Proper measuring of the coffee grounds is necessary to produce the perfect cup of coffee. Measure two-level tablespoons of ground coffee for each cup of coffee you are brewing. A “cup” of coffee contains six ounces of water. If your coffee maker came with a scoop, check to see that it holds two tablespoons before using it.
In order to brew a great cup each time, choose coffee makers carefully. Coffee does not stay fresh for very long in a glass carafe, and a French press makes a strong cup of coffee. Single cup brewers are very popular in single coffee drinker homes.
The tips here can assist you in having great coffee. You might think you’re having great coffee, but until you try all of the tips here, you can never be sure. Use this article to help you make great coffee, cup after cup, day after day, and year after delicious year.
