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.
For a rich tasting coffee, consider using a French press. Flavor is compromised by the paper coffee filters used in drip-style coffee brewers. A French press works by using a plunger to push the ground beans down to the base of the pot. This increases the amount of flavorful oils in your container.
Always store your coffee beans or grinds in a dark, cool, airtight container. Even better, use a vacuum container. Storing your coffee in such a container helps keep your coffee smelling and tasting fresh for a long time. Store the container in the fridge or freezer to maximize freshness.
Do not keep your coffee in the refrigerator unless it is in a container that is absolutely airtight. This is important because moisture can cause coffee to become moldy. It is best to keep your coffee in the cabinet where it will stay warm, dry and at its best quality.
Buying a cup or two of coffee in a shop is expensive but it can be a great way to treat yourself. There are many choices and many sweet things you can add to your coffee as well.
If you like to grind your own coffee, try adding a few nuts to the grinder along with the beans. Many people enjoy the interesting flavor nuts provide to a cup of coffee. Some great nuts to try include: almonds, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts. You can even experiment with nutty combinations!
When grinding your coffee at the store, use a medium grind if you plan to drip brewed coffee. A medium grind is similar to the consistency of granulated sugar. This grind is perfect for a drip brew that takes about 6 minutes. If it takes longer, use a coarser grind.
Flat and conical grinding mechanisms are optimal for grinding coffee. Such grinders produce less heat than other models. Thus, it ensures that your coffee tastes great. Grinders with blades are inconsistent. The blades generate heat, which cause the beans to burn.
Avoid buying coffee beans from bins where several of the beans are visibly broken. Chances are these beans are either old and dry or have been exposed to heat or light. All of these conditions allow the rich flavor of fresh beans to seap out. A bin full of fresh beans should also have a very strong aroma.
Get used to cooler coffee if you have recently had a baby. Active infants usually need your hands on them pretty often to keep them safe and loved. Finishing a cup of coffee with a baby around can take a lot longer than you think, so find a way to live with room temperature coffee, or switch to an insulated mug.
The best tasting coffee comes from the best water. If the water from your tap tastes awful before you make your brew, it is still going to be unpleasant after making your brew. Use bottled water if you have to or purchase a simple filtering system to improve the taste of your water.
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.
Finding high-quality beans that are fresh roasted can be difficult. Therefore, try roasting beans yourself. You can do this in several ways. First, you could use a metal bowl and a heat gun. Second, you could use a popcorn popper. Finally, you could lay your green beans on a metal tray and place it in the oven, and take it out whenever you hear the beans start cracking. Roasting your own beans can save you a big hassle.
Remove the coffee from the make after brewing it. By leaving the pot in, the coffee will continue to brew. This can ruin the flavor. Put it inside an insulated container if you’re not going to drink all of it.
To give brownies, frosting, or other chocolaty treats more depth and complexity, add coffee. The type of coffee depends on the recipe. In some cases, you can replace some of the liquid with cooled, brewed coffee. In other recipes, a couple of teaspoons of instant coffee granules or very finely ground coffee is better.
Clean your coffee grinder with uncooked white rice. Add a couple of tablespoons of dry rice to your grinder and turn it on. When the rice is ground, empty the grinder and repeat until the rice no longer contains flecks of brown. The rice binds to the oils and coffee particles that cling to the grinder and can turn rancid.
Do not throw away those used coffee grounds once the pot is empty. You can use them to exfoliate your skin. Mix them with a small amount of olive oil and make a scrub for your skin. This will remove any dead skin cells and leave your skin nice and smooth.
The amount of time your coffee is brewed can greatly affect how the completed cup tastes. You should not be brewing your coffee for more than five minutes when making the full-flavored variety. Brew coffee for shorter intervals for weaker flavor. Go longer if you really like a bitter taste, but who does?
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.
