Many people enjoy drinking coffee. Not only can it give you that extra boost of energy in the morning, but it can become a comforting part of your daily routine. While the topic of coffee may seem fairly straightforward, there is actually a lot that you can do to make the process more enjoyable, cost-effective and efficient. Read on to learn more.
It is a bad idea to let coffee sit on a hot burner after brewing. Keeping the heat on will cause your coffee to "cook," and will ruin its freshly-brewed flavor. Instead, unplug your coffee-maker or other appliance, or transfer the coffee to an insulated pot to keep it hot.
Do not use tap water when you are making coffee unless your faucet is fitted with a device that will filter out all of the impurities. There are many people that have no problem with tap water, but the reality is that tap water that tastes bad will make your coffee taste just as bad.
Buy smaller cans of coffee. If you buy coffee in a can, only buy what you will consume in a couple of weeks. It will cost more money than buying a large can and storing it for a while. What you save in money by buying a larger can, you end up sacrificing in taste.
Buying your coffee from a specialty store or coffee hut can be expensive, but it could also be a wonderful treat once in awhile. There are a lot of delicious choices and you can top your treat with whipped cream and chocolate curls, or choose a frothy cup of espresso.
If you really want good coffee, throw away your cheap machine. It isn't going to make you a great beverage and there are other alternatives that are very inexpensive. Just go to the store and locate a pour-over brewer. You will also need some paper filters. Go online and find a tutorial on how to use these products. They will cost you under ten dollars and the coffee will taste much better!
If regular coffee no longer provides you enough caffeine, consider brewing espresso. This does mean you will need a different piece of equipment, as your regular coffee maker likely cannot do it. Espresso machines are typically expensive though, and the intensity of the caffeine levels is too much for some. Try espresso a few times somewhere else before making this commitment for your home.
You should never reheat coffee, as it will just burn the beverage and taste far worse than being cold. Instead, know when you will have your coffee for more than 20 minutes. Have an insulated mug or a thermal carafe handy for these occasions to retain the original heat and warmth.
To get the ideal flavor from your coffee beans, the water needs to be just the right temperature. Boiling water is too hot and as a result will sap the more bitter oils from your beans. Alternately, water that is not hot enough will not brew all the flavor from your beans leaving you with a very bland coffee.
To cut down on acidic coffee, pull out that salt shaker. You can use just a pinch of salt in your coffee grounds when brewing to curb the acidity of the brew. Be careful not to overdo it. Too much salt will obviously change the overall taste of the brew.
Use artificial sweeteners? Artificial sweeteners can give coffee an odd flavor because the heat breaks down the compounds. If taking your coffee black isn't an option, try using a little raw sugar. If you have no choice but to use a sweetener, only use half of one packet and no more.
There are many brands of coffee out there, and it can be hard to decide on a brand. Keep in mind that when it comes to coffee, the more expensive, it is the better it tastes. Avoid buying any coffee that is much to cheap since that means the quality will most likely not be that great.
When brewing coffee that will end up iced, make it extra-strong. Use up to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every four ounces of water. This ensures that your coffee will not taste diluted or watered-down once you pour it over the ice. Never pour hot coffee into a cold glass, however; allow it to cool first.
If you prefer a strong cup of coffee than you should roast your beans from 12 to 14 minutes. The bean sugar caramelizes, giving the beans a slightly oily appearance when taken out of the roaster. This will give your coffee almost a smokey taste, perfect for espressos or those who just love a strong cup of joe.
If your kids have been bugging you for a sip of your coffee, but you do not feel that it is appropriate for them to have it, consider buying coffee flavored syrup for them to add to milk. This gives you the same great coffee flavor without worrying about caffeine.
A clean coffee maker is a great coffee maker. If your coffee maker is not cleaned on a weekly basis, your coffee will suffer. Use a solution of one part vinegar to two parts water to run through the coffee makers system to flush out any dirt and contaminants that could influence the taste of your coffee.
If you find your coffee addiction is costing you an arm and a leg, sign up for a coffee club. This subscription clubs often offer discounts for up to one-third of the retail retail price. In addition, you can find a club that only sends beans when you need them. This way, you will never have stale coffee or run out of beans.
The topic of coffee is more complex than it first appears. If you are a caffeine addict, you probably look forward to drinking at least a cup of coffee each day. By using the tips provided in this article, you will have a better overall coffee experience and be happier with what you drink.