That morning cup of joe is something million of Americans can’t live without. You might start asking yourself “what more is there to know about coffee”, but do you know what? With all the blends out there and all the different styles, there are some things about coffee you might not know. Here are some tips to make coffee even more palatable to you!
Make sure that you make your coffee in water that you would have no problem drinking alone. This is important because the taste of the water will affect the way that it makes your coffee taste. If you live in an area where the water quality is not that great, use spring water to brew your coffee.
Buy whole coffee beans and grind the coffee yourself. Coffee that is freshly ground is much more flavorful and aromatic than pre-ground coffee. Each day, only grind the amount of coffee that you need for that day. If you have any extra, place the leftover grinds in an airtight container in the fridge.
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.
Buy a coffee grinder, and buy whole bean coffee. There is no substitute for the taste of freshly ground beans. If you can’t afford a coffee grinder, you can still buy whole beans. Most supermarkets have grinders that you can use to grind your coffee purchase before you leave the store.
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.
To get the best possible coffee, look for the ones that are made of 100% Arabica beans. These beans are of top quality and will give you the best taste after you are finished brewing. Furthermore, these beans preserve their freshness longer so that you can have great coffee for a very long time.
You do not need to tip the barista at a coffee shop the same percentage as you do a waitress or a hairdresser. Your hairdresser has to understand precisely what you want and then do it, and a waitress has multiple tables to keep up with exactly everyone’s order. Your barista mixes up one cup at a time, so do not feel guilty for tipping him or her less. Still, do throw a few coins in the tip jar frequently.
Always use the correct amount of water when brewing coffee in a coffee maker. If you don’t use enough water, your coffee will be far too strong. But, using too much liquid results in weak, watery coffee. As a general rule, stick to using about two cups for every single cup of coffee you’d like to make.
Reheated coffee never tastes the same as a fresh cup. Keep extra coffee in a thermos that retains heat. If you cannot do this, it is easy to brew more coffee in order to maximize flavor.
Iced coffee doesn’t taste so great when the ice cubes begin to melt, watering down the flavor. An excellent tip is to make ice cubes out of coffee or milk, and keeping them in the freezer in zippered bags. They will be handy anytime you want a cold drink on a hot day!
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.
Don’t let your coffee stay on the burner for any longer than 20 minutes after you have made it. By letting it sit there; you will find your coffee to have a harsh taste. Furthermore, leaving it on the burner for too long can burn both the pot and the coffee.
If you like the flavor of vanilla sugar in your coffee, but don’t like the price, here’s a great tip. Purchase your own vanilla beans, and bury them in a jar of sugar for at least one week. Then, use the vanilla sugar instead of regular sugar in your coffee for added flavor.
To prevent your iced coffee from becoming watery, try making coffee ice cubes. When regular ice cubes melt in iced coffee, they can water it down. To avoid that, pour some room-temperature coffee into ice cube trays and place them in the freezer. A little later, you’ll have coffee ice cubes that will add more coffee flavor to your iced coffee as they melt.
Even if you cannot afford designer coffee beans, you can get a more flavorful brew by choosing coffee beans or freshly ground coffee over packaged ground coffee. Because grinding the beans instantly releases their flavor, you want to brew ground beans as quickly as possible. Coffee that is already ground when you buy it is probably past its flavor prime.
The water you are using when brewing your coffee maters. Does the water from your tap taste a little funny? If you use it in your coffee, your coffee will taste a bit off as well. If taste is an issue for you, try using filtered water to brew coffee.
Now that you’ve read this article, you should know a lot more about this extremely popular drink. Take the tips in this article and use them to help you get even more enjoyment out of the drink you love so much. In fact, share the information with others and they will appreciate it!
