Among life’s simplest, yet most enduring pleasures is a cup of hot coffee. Sadly, not enough coffee drinkers have a great deal of knowledge about their favorite drink, and therefore many miss out on some of its best attributes. Review the tips and information in the article below regularly, and you will always be armed with interesting and useful facts about coffee that you can share with others.
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.
Good coffee requires great water. Coffee tastes much better if you use bottled water instead of tap water for your coffee. If you don’t want to go the bottled route, think about buying a purifier for your faucet. You will not get the same taste as bottled but it will be better than tap water.
The price of ground coffee has increased considerably over the past year, and even if you grind it yourself, the coffee beans have also increased in price. Sometimes the less expensive coffee tastes just as good as the higher priced brands, but it may take some trial and error to find one you like.
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.
Good water is just as important as quality coffee when it comes to brewing a great cup. If the water you are using is not very tasty, you cannot expect to end up with a quality cup of Joes. The best coffee is made with spring water or tap water that has been run through a filter.
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.
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.
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.
If a single brew doesn’t have your preferred flavor profile, try a blended brew made from a mix of various, but complimentary flavors. If you are unsure which flavors to combine, talk with a coffee shop employee and ask for a recommendation. Many stores will offer you samples of the flavored coffees before you purchase a full bag.
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.
You don’t have to go out for fancy coffee. You can easily make lattes and other drinks at home inexpensively. Research how to make your favorite coffee drinks online. You will be surprised at how many of them; you can make without the aid of fancy appliances. Likely, a simple coffee maker is all you’ll need.
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.
Coffee can be used in place of water in many recipes an interesting flavor. Try substituting cooled, brewed coffee for water in cakes, brownies and other baked treats. Coffee has even been known to add an interesting flavor to a pot of chili. Use your imagination and come up with some ideas of your own!
Be sure to clean your coffee machine. Many people just keep making coffee over and over again, but you have got to make sure you clean it regularly. Run a mixture of vinegar and water through your machine to naturally clean the machine instead of using chemicals. When you do this, you can be assured you have the most delicious coffee you can have.
If you like strong coffee, avoid using a coarse grind. This is one of the most common causes for people thinking their coffee is too weak. If you do not grind your own, you may discover that a darker roast will help you. Either way, you want to create coffee that you enjoy.
Adding salt can make your coffee taste less acidic. Just be sure not to add too much salt, though. Minimal amounts of salt are needed to create this effect. Sea salt will give you a more natural option.
Don’t buy coffee beans that come in a package or that have added flavors. Flavored beans have an oil coating on them that is very hard to clean from machines. The flavored oils can accumulate in your machines and add up to an unpleasant mixture. Use fresh flavors instead, like cinnamon and vanilla. You may also want to try bottled syrups.
Coffee is something that an amazingly large percentage of the world’s population has loved for centuries. Unfortunately, a general lack of information about coffee can result in many drinkers losing out on a truly optimal coffee experience. Apply the guidance above, and you will never need to worry about falling into that category.
