There's nothing like a great cup of coffee to start the morning off right. Brewing coffee is part art and part science. Thankfully, virtually anyone can learn how to create amazing coffee by practicing and some useful knowledge. Apply the tips from this article to make the perfect brew of coffee.
If you tend to drink a lot of coffee, you should invest in a quality coffee machine and make your own coffee at home. Go to a coffee shop only occasionally, for instance on weekends or when you go out with some friends. This should help you save a lot.
Try adding spices to your coffee grounds to create your own "artisan" flavors. Think about things you would add to chocolate if you are having trouble deciding what to try. Start with simple things like cinnamon and nutmeg. You can also do things like adding a little vanilla abstract to your cup to enrich the flavor of your coffee.
Brewed coffee should always be served fresh, never reheated. This will not expel harmful chemicals, as some believe. Certain elements of the coffee will lose its distinction only 30 minutes into the brewing process. A bitter taste may result.
If you've forgotten how much coffee to put in your machine, opt for putting in more rather than less. You can always water down your coffee if it's too strong. But, if it's too weak, you won't be able to make it better. You'll have no choice but to make a new pot.
You can re-use your coffee grounds for many items. Coffee grounds are great for getting rid of smells like garlic and onion on your hands. You can also use them on dishes that refuse to get clean with regular washing. Coffee grounds can even be used in the garden to take care of pests that threaten your plants.
There are many health benefits that have been discovered from drinking coffee. Feel free to indulge in your morning cup without fear. You may want to switch to decaf if the caffeine in the coffee effects other medications you are taking. Reduce or eliminate creamer and sugar to maximize these benefits.
It is very important to properly clean your coffee making equipment. If you do not clean the equipment frequently, the taste of your coffee may suffer. You do not have to clean the equipment fully after ever use, but if you start to notice a slight odor or buildup of any kind, it should be fully cleaned.
Use the correct amount of water when making coffee. If you misjudge and have too little, your coffee will have a very strong flavor. Conversely, too much water can lead to a watery coffee with no taste. It is considered best practice to use 16 ounces of water to each 8 ounces of coffee you plan to brew.
Do not use hot water to make your coffee. Many people think this is the best way to make their coffee hot; the truth is that the only thing this does is diminish its flavor. You should be using water that is not only cold, but charcoal filtered if possible.
Do not buy purchase coffee that has packaged beans and is pre-flavored. These coffees are made using oil that is hard to clean out of a coffee pot. They will also affect future pots of coffee that you make, giving each subsequent cup a funny taste. Furthermore, the flavors these coffees are made with tend not to taste good anyway.
Many people use bacon soda to keep smells from permeating refrigerators, but used coffee grounds have the same effect. Coffee acts like a natural sponge, and it will absorb any odors it comes in contact with. This is why you should place a small dish of them in your refrigerator to keep odors at bay.
When trying a new coffee, do not get a full-size bag of beans or ground coffee. Start small, no matter how much you think you will enjoy the new flavor. That will help you avoid having coffee around that you don't drink because you bought it too hastily and don't like it!
Always use cold water in a drip coffee brewer. Avoid using hot water in this type of machine. The water heats when it brews. If your water is hot to begin with, it will burn the grounds. This will cause your coffee to be bitter and could also be a safety hazard.
Don't get stuck in a routine and buy the same boring coffee all the time. Try out different blends on occasion to broaden your horizons. If you like flavored coffee, try different flavors with different blends.
Make sure your coffee remains sealed in order to keep it fresh. If it's exposed to oxygen, its taste can be altered. This will make your coffee seem flat and not fresh. Have it in a sealed container so oxygen cannot get to it.
Remember that coffee does have calories. While it is true that a good jolt of caffeine right before a workout can enable you to exercise more intensely and hopefully burn more calories, that is not carte blanche to drink as much coffee as you want. Each cup still adds up to your total caloric intake.
Stay away from those open coffee bins at the supermarket. You have no idea how long the coffee has been there, or how fresh it is. It is highly possible that you might end up with stale coffee that makes a mediocre cup of coffee. Try instead to get your coffee straight from the roaster, who knows how fresh the coffee is.
A great tip for those who want to make their own coffee is to use water that is just below boiling temperature. If your water is in the range of 195-205 degrees F, your coffee will end up tasting much better than if it was at a full boil.
As you've read, making delicious coffee can be made by anyone with proper advice. After reading the information in this article, you should have expanded your knowledge about coffee. You'll be able to brew amazing coffee if you work at it a little bit each day.
No comments:
Post a Comment