Coffee is undoubtedly one of the world’s best-loved beverages and something that can be the subject of serious debate and disagreement. In order to determine what constitutes your perfect cup of coffee, a bit of knowledge and education is key. Apply the tips and information contained below, and you will have what it takes to become a coffee aficionado.
If you are looking for a great way to turn basic, boring drip coffee into a special treat look no further than your own fridge and pantry. Hot chocolate mix or a scoop of vanilla ice cream can be great ways to sweeten up a cup of coffee and make it something special.
Coffee can help reduce cabin fever if you work at home. You can take your laptop or other device that uses WiFi and get some coffee from a coffee house. Consider that many restaurants now do the same thing.
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!
Use fresh and clean water when making coffee. It has a huge impact on the overall taste of your cup. Test out the water first to ascertain it is acceptable before you start brewing.
If you are planning to store coffee beans, keep them in a place that is close to room temperature. This will help to extend the longevity of the beans, so that no flavor is lost providing great-tasting coffee for a very long time. Storing coffee beans in temperatures too hot or cold can cause them to go stale faster.
Don’t throw away your old coffee grounds. They can serve a wide variety of useful purposes in your home. They can help clean your dishes and get rid of backyard pests. In addition, they can be used as compost in your garden. Finally, they even have some beauty uses! It’s amazing what these old coffee grounds can do.
Try to have coffee immediately when you wake up so that you are fresh and energized when you are going to work. Instead of waiting until you arrive at your job, this can help you to stay focused, especially if you are driving on the road and need to be alert at all times.
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.
A big mistake that many people make when brewing coffee is not using the proper amount of coffee. The proper ratio of ground coffee to water is six ounces of water for every two tablespoons of coffee. Any less coffee and you will have a weak and unsatisfying brew that tastes more like water than coffee.
If you notice that you are buying the same type of coffee, try buying in bulk. This will help to maximize your investment, especially if you stick with a particular brand. Check online to see if you can buy a large bag or bucket of coffee beans, which will help reduce your expenses during the year.
The amount of time that you brew your coffee is very important. Around 4 or 5- is all it should take. If you brew for longer than five minutes, the coffee ends up tasting bitter. If you brew for less than four minutes, usually you end up with a weak and flavorless brew.
If you like some variety in your coffee, try adding various syrups or creamers. Doing this means your machine is not going to be contaminated with flavors that do not get along. The great thing about this technique is that you can provide a variety of options to your guests. Since the flavors dissolve, add them before the milk.
If you are grinding your own coffee, the medium grind is preferable for regular purposes. It works great for the home drip brewer. It should be around the consistency of common table salt when you are done. Practice with your own machine until you learn what produces flavors you prefer.
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.
If you want to brew your own espresso, you need to use beans that have been finely ground. You can also use this grind in your regular drip brewer if you like really strong coffee. A good grinder will allow you to control the consistency to suit your preferences.
Experiment with varying levels of grind for your coffee. Finely ground coffee often results in a strong flavor, but you can weaken flavor with a more coarse grind. The best time to grind is right before you actually brew. Grinding earlier than that can result in stale tasting coffee once brewed later.
People all over the globe have loved coffee in all of its variations for centuries. However, not everyone possesses a great deal of knowledge about different varieties, brewing techniques and other relevant subjects. By applying the guidance found above, it is possible to develop into a true coffee expert.
