Not many things are as pleasurable as a great coffee. Brewing delicious coffee involves both skill and art. Luckily, you can learn how with the right information. Get better at brewing coffee by following the advice in this article.
If you are a heavy coffee drinker make lunch you last cup. Drinking caffeine in the afternoon and evening can seriously effect your ability to sleep soundly. As long as you don’t load your coffee up with too many calories it is just fine to have several cups during the morning hours.
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.
Those of you who brew coffee themselves should stir the coffee after it has finished brewing. Stir your coffee for the best taste and smell. This imparts a richer taste and that delightful coffee fragrance that everyone loves.
For coffee brews that are pungent and strong, look into purchasing a simple French press. French presses squeeze out the oils that flavor coffee. Regular coffee machines have paper filters that absorb the flavor-rich oils.
If you really want the freshest coffee with a gourmet taste, avoid pre-packaged coffee that sits on the grocer’s shelves. Purchase your coffee beans directly from the roaster through their website. Most roaster’s will have the coffee on your doorstep in just a couple days. This enables you to enjoy the beans when they are at their most flavorful.
Look at where your coffee originated. Where the coffee was grown makes a big deal to the overall flavor. For instance, Latin American countries tend to grow beans that have a milder taste. If you are looking for more of an exotic taste, you’ll want to consider coffees from Africa.
For the best tasting coffee possible, use freshly roasted beans. Check expiration and roasting dates when buying whole beans. It is best to get your coffee beans from a special store or a coffee shop instead of a grocery store.
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.
You shouldn’t store coffee near an oven. If you coffee is stored near a heat source, it can lose its flavor. Thus, it is necessary to steer clear of counters or cabinets situated in close proximity to the oven.
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.
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.
Keep your coffee in the refrigerator. The best coffee is fresh tasting coffee and keeping it cold is a great way to preserve the freshness of it. Simply store the coffee in the container you buy it in and put it in the fridge. This will ensure the freshest coffee.
For those of you who prefer a more medium cup of coffee, you should roast your beans for between 9 and 11 minutes but no longer than that. When they come out of the roaster they will look dry, but it produces a much sweeter taste than a mild brew.
Did you know you could get addicted to caffeine? If you suffer from headaches or get irritated when you go a whole day without drinking coffee, you might be addicted. Try getting rid of your addiction by reducing the quantity of coffee you drink or by choosing a weaker blend.
The water you use in your coffee is as important as the beans. If you use a drip-brewer, then avoid putting hot water into the drip machine. Instead, start with cold water. Charcoal filters can dramatically improve the taste of local water, but avoid using softening filters on your coffee water. Softened water may not pull the oils from the beans properly.
Try adding coffee to your meat recipes. While coffee is usually used for its “coffee flavor” in dessert dishes, it can make meat dishes taste better. The flavor of the coffee will not overpower meat like it does with sweet items, but it will boost the natural flavors of the meat.
If you have a favorite type of bean, but want to change things up flavor-wise, try adding sweetener, creamer or other extras. Whole milk and creamer can give your coffee varying levels of sweetness. Soy milk, coconut milk or flavored creamer also create different tastes. Many coffee shops employ the use of flavored syrups, and they can be used at home too.
As mentioned earlier, anyone who has the right information can brew a great cup of coffee. These tips, along with a lot of practice, should make you a master brewer. In time you’ll perfect your brew to get the perfect coffee.
