Your morning coffee can be so revitalizing. Do you appreciate that fabulous odor before you even get out of bed? Come sit and enjoy another tasty cup of joe. Keep reading for an education on coffee.
if you are drinking coffee for the caffeine content, keep in mind that the darker a coffee is, the less caffeine it has in it. This is because the amount of caffeine is diminished when the coffee is roasted for longer. Most people have the misconception that it is the total opposite.
If you want great coffee at home you have a couple choices. You can invest in either an espresso machine, or one of the new single serve coffee makers. The espresso machine will require a bit of a learning curve as you learn to properly brew espresso and steam milk, but can be a great way to impress your friends.
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.
Brewing your own coffee at home can add up to huge savings when you compare it to the costs of going to a coffee shop every day. Invest in a good no-spill travel mug so that you don’t regret your decision. Use that expensive coffee as a way to treat yourself when you achieve one of your goals.
To save money by buying bulk coffee without sacrificing flavor, measure out what you plan to use immediately and store it at room temperature. Coffee tastes best when it is brewed from room temperature grounds. Coffee you plan to use within the next week can go in the refrigerator, and the remaining beans or grounds should go in the freezer.
If you drink your coffee cold, think past just traditional cream and sugar. Mix entire fruits into your coffee. You can add foods like oranges, cherries and strawberries for interesting additions to the flavor. Even think about spicing things up with cinnamon or cardamom. The possibilities for you are nearly endless!
Only use airtight containers to store coffee in your refrigerator. If the container the coffee is kept in is not sufficiently air tight, odors can be absorbed by the coffee. Your coffee can reap moisture if it is stored in the wrong container for an extended period of time.
While your coffee is brewing, try soaking the coffee mugs in hot water. A cold mug will cool off your drink before you can even get it to your lips! When the coffee is ready, simply dry off the mugs and serve. This trick will keep it hot much longer.
If you are making iced coffee with instant coffee grounds, you should add twice as much as you would normally add to a hot cup. This is because adding ice will dilute the coffee and make it weak if you do not make sure that you make it strong enough.
If you grind your own coffee, be sure to only grind the amount you will be using that day. If you grind too much and just leave your coffee around, the elements will take the freshness and taste of it. Contrary to what many believe, storing coffee in the refrigerator does not leave it fresh.
If you brew a large pot of coffee that will not be consumed quickly, take it off of the burner. Place it into a pre-heated storage device. When coffee is left on the burner, the taste will deteriorate quickly. A nice carafe or other storage device will eliminate this concern.
Avoid reheating your coffee at all costs. When you reheat your coffee, it tends to lose a lot of its natural flavors. If you do not plan on drinking your coffee right away, but you want to make sure it stays hot, your best bet is to pour it into an insulated mug.
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.
The longer your coffee sits in a pot on the warmer, the worse it will taste. Fresh brewed coffee always tastes best. The longer it sits, the more bitter it becomes. This is one of the key reasons why many of the larger coffee makers will throw out coffee if it sits longer than 20 minutes.
If you like iced coffee put the French press in the fridge the night before. This helps the machine chill for several hours before the morning. When you use cold water in addition to the chilled press, you will have a cleaner, sweeter iced coffee.
Drink coffee in moderation. Too much coffee, like anything else, can be bad for you. It can give you the shakes and raise your blood pressure. You don’t want that. One or two cups a day is safe for most people. If you’re not sure how much is safe for you to drink, see your physician.
The ratio of coffee to water is very important. If you enjoy coffee from your regular coffee shop, you probably enjoy coffee with a more intense flavor. This means you will likely want two tablespoons of coffee for every six ounces of water you are using to brew it with.
Protect your coffee by putting it into an air-tight container. Keep it away from heat, light and air. This will help your coffee to stay fresh instead of turning rancid, and you will get a better tasting cup of coffee out of it too. Try an opaque container for best results.
After reading this article, you’ll soon see what kinds of coffee you’ve been missing out on. Start your day off tomorrow by making the best coffee you can. Remember the advice you’ve read here as you make your morning coffee.
