Ready to learn a little more about being a coffee guru? Even if you are a coffee expert there is always more things that you can learn. Continue reading for helpful advice for expanding your knowledge about coffee in order to make the best cup of joe you’ve ever tasted.
If you are concerned about your coffee staying fresh for a good amount of time, try not to buy so much of it at one time. Many people buy coffee in bulk, but the reality is that the coffee will start to diminish in quality by the time all of it is consumed.
Do not leave your coffee open any longer than necessary. While preparing your coffee, don’t open the can or bag until you are ready to scoop. Immediately after scooping, close the coffee container. This will keep your coffee fresher longer. It also keeps the flavor and aroma from evaporating in the air.
Consider investing in a coffee grinder if you want incredible flavor. Doing so, you will be able to grind your beans as you need them. You will be amazed at the difference between coffee brewed from fresh beans and that made from a canned or bagged grind. You owe it to yourself.
Understand the amount of time that your coffee will be good for, whether it be ground coffee or whole bean. Typically, ground coffee will be good for up to a week to maximize the quality of taste, whereas whole bean coffee can last up to three weeks of time. Learn these time constraints to limit stale coffee in your home.
To get the strongest cup of coffee, only grind your beans immediately before you brew them. While grinding is fun and fills your kitchen with the enticing aroma of fresh coffee, it also immediately releases the flavor of your beans, limiting their shelf life. To get the freshest brew every time, invest in a coffee machine that both grinds and brews.
When brewing your coffee, use bottled or filtered water. Doing so, you will obtain maximum flavor for your brew. However, you do not want to use water that is too soft. The flavor will not be extracted as well. Look for a nice balance. Compare the flavor of your coffee with different brands or types of water.
To control the strength of your coffee, watch the size of your grind. In this case, coffee is a lot like garlic. The tinier you dice (or grind) it, the more potent the flavor you’ll get when cooking or brewing. If you are looking for a milder flavor, then keep your grind rather large.
Though you may be anxious to get your first cup of coffee in the morning, don’t pour your first cup before the pot is finished brewing. Some coffee machines allow you to, but it won’t be a good cup of coffee. Rather, think about getting a machine equipped with a timing mechanism. You can set it to brew a few minutes before you wake up.
If your new baby is consuming so much of your time that you can’t even drink coffee in your own house, pick up some coffee at a nearby coffee house that has a drive through. You could easily go out for a quick drive, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and drink it on your way back home or to work.
Not all coffee should be stored in the freezer because doing so could result in less tasty coffee. Instead, you should divide your weekly stash of beans into equal amounts and keep them in an airtight container at room temperature. The future week amounts can be stored in the freezer.
After cleaning your coffee grinder, grind a bit of coffee and then dump it. Since it is difficult to completely clean a coffee grinder, you can do this to get rid of any remaining old, stale grinds. Doing this should not be a substitute for a proper cleaning, however.
Be certain your water is about 195 to 205 degrees when you are making your coffee. Many coffee makers aren’t that hot. Heat the water yourself when you make coffee. Buying a French press will improve your results, as well.
Do you love espressos and cappuccinos but do not have the time to make these beverages? You should invest in an espresso or cappuccino machine that takes small cups of concentrated coffee. Try different brands and flavors of cups until you find one you love. This is the quickest and cheapest way to get quality espressos or cappuccinos.
Coffee can be addictive as many hard drugs. If you are drinking more than five or six cups a day, you may have a problem. It might be hard to quit cold turkey, but try to avoid withdraw symptoms by tapering off gradually. Reduce your daily intake by one cup a day every week until you are down to a reasonable coffee consumption level.
Don’t pour any coffee before the coffee is completely brewed. The coffee will be very strong at the beginning of the cycle, and when it finishes the cycle it will be the correct strength. As the coffee brews, it mixes and ends up being full flavored when the drip cycle is complete.
A common mistake that people make when brewing coffee is the ratio between water and coffee. A lot of the time people will use too much water and not enough coffee. The correct amount is two tablespoons of grounds for each cup of coffee.
Even if your coffee pot has a “pause and serves” type feature, avoid using it. Let the coffee brew completely before pouring yourself a cup. When you use this feature, the coffee pot needs to wait and let the water heat to the proper temperature before it can start dripping again.
As mentioned before, your prior coffee knowledge probably did have a few gaps. However, since you have reviewed this information, you now know how to make a really good cup of coffee. Maybe you’ll impress your friends too!
