You wake up in the morning, and you start the coffee pot brewing. Only thing is, you have settled into a routine in which you hardly enjoy that first refreshing cup. Shake things up a bit! Continue reading to find out how you can enjoy more options when it comes to your fresh brew.
No matter how attached you are to your favorite blend, don’t be afraid to try a new variety. You don’t need to invest in a large bag to try out something new. Almost all brands will offer a single pot or sampler size to allow you to try out new flavors.
You should make sure to clean your coffee pot every time you use it so that any residual flavors do not tarnish the taste of it. There are oils that will stick to the coffee pot over time. Many people do not notice the difference, but true coffee lovers will be able to tell right away.
Do not store your coffee in a container that is made of plastic or metal. These materials can change the way that coffee tastes. The best thing to do is to store your coffee in a glass jar that is able to be sealed shut with no way for air to get in.
Do not reheat your coffee after you have brewed it. Just buy yourself a mug that will stay hot for a long time. If you are not able to do this, it is best to brew more coffee, as the taste will be better.
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.
You needn’t store coffee in your freezer. As a matter of fact, coffee absorbs smells and flavors from surrounding foods. Your best choice is to store coffee in an opaque, airtight container in an area at or near room temperature. If you want to put it in the freezer, make sure you put it in a bag.
Avoid purchasing beans that come in cans or in vacuum-sealed bags. Coffee beans need to be protected by valve-sealed bags to remain fresh. Besides, valve-sealed bags allow the carbon dioxide that emanates from the beans to escape, which means the beans will retain all their flavor and stay fresh longer.
Never just throw coffee grounds into a coffee maker without measuring first. Match the number of cups you’d like to the right measurement of grounds. Measuring cups are typically eight ounces and a coffee cup is six ounces. The ideal mix is water, six ounces, and coffee, two tablespoons. Avoid a measuring cup unless you want watered down coffee.
Avoid using pre-flavored and packaged coffee beans. These beans are sprayed with extra oils that are very difficult to clean out of grinders and coffee machines. That oil stays in the machines and mixes with later batches causing strange-tasting coffee. They also tend to make the coffee smell better than it tastes.
Never drink coffee in the eight hours prior to going to bed. The half-life of caffeine can range from 30 minutes to 8 hours, so this is the only sure fire way of having it out of your system when it is time to rest. Otherwise, you are going to need even more caffeine the next day. A coffee habit can be a little healthy, but caffeine dependency is bad news.
It’s important to be on the lookout for the caffeine levels in your coffee. Not all coffee has equal amounts of caffeine. For instance, Robusta beans contain two times the coffee that Arabica does. Depending on the type of beans used and the amounts that were used, drip coffee can actually contain more caffeine than espresso. Make sure you keep yourself informed.
Always drink coffee out of a mug that is designed for hot items. Never pour coffee into glass, as this can possibly break your glass and leave you with stains that you do not want. A mug is probably the best option that you can choose when deciding where you want to drink your coffee out of.
When brewing coffee, use fresh, clean water. Since your coffee essentially consists of mostly water, the quality of the water you use will affect the quality of the coffee you drink. Avoid using a water-softening filter for the water you use in your coffee. Super soft water fails to properly extract the coffee oils.
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.
Use different flavors and sweeteners in your coffee. Brown sugar and raw sugar add a distinctive flavor, in comparison to regular white sugar. Other flavors like cinnamon, vanilla extract, cocoa and nutmeg enhance the coffee flavor as well. Alternative milks made from soy and rice can be used as a substitution for regular milk or cream.
Don’t let your coffee sit on the burner for more than 10 minutes. Your coffee will become bitter because of the burn on the bottom of the pot. To keep the coffee warm, put it in an insulated container.
A good tip for cleaning your coffee maker is to run vinegar through it. This helps as the vinegar kills residue and any foul smells that may be found in your coffee maker. To do this, simply pour the vinegar in as you would the water and let it brew.
Now are you excited? It’s time to go coffee shopping! No matter what your flavor, and no matter your budget, there are plenty of options available to you. Keep the tips you’ve read here in mind as you hunt down your next fresh brew. You are sure to be delighted.
