Coffee is one of those great tasting drinks that comes in many different flavors and fashions. All different kinds of people drink coffee, and which type of coffee you drink depends on your personal tastes. Consider the following helpful hints when selecting your next brand of coffee to make in your kitchen.
Make sure that you make your coffee in water that you would have no problem drinking alone. This is important because the taste of the water will affect the way that it makes your coffee taste. If you live in an area where the water quality is not that great, use spring water to brew your coffee.
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.
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.
You do not need to tip the barista at a coffee shop the same percentage as you do a waitress or a hairdresser. Your hairdresser has to understand precisely what you want and then do it, and a waitress has multiple tables to keep up with exactly everyone’s order. Your barista mixes up one cup at a time, so do not feel guilty for tipping him or her less. Still, do throw a few coins in the tip jar frequently.
Don’t ever reheat coffee. Keep leftover coffee hot and fresh until you need it by placing it in a thermal mug. If that’s not possible, you can brew another pot for better taste.
Understand the amount of time that your coffee will be good for, whether it be ground coffee or whole bean. Typically, ground coffee will be good for up to a week to maximize the quality of taste, whereas whole bean coffee can last up to three weeks of time. Learn these time constraints to limit stale coffee in your home.
To brew the best cup of coffee, your water temperature needs to be just under the boiling point. At this temperature, the water will extract the maximum amount of flavor from your beans. If your coffee does not taste good in the morning, run a thermometer in the water to ensure that it is heating to the right temperature.
Before you decide on a drive-thru establishment that you want to purchase from each morning, try them all to get an idea of the one you like the most. The last thing that you will want to do is settle for a mediocre coffee, if there is a place that you would enjoy better.
Only store your coffee beans at room level temperatures. Coffee beans that get stored inside a cold appliance are going to attract and absorb both condensation and the aromas of nearby foods. The resulting flavor of the coffee is going to wind up reflecting this, and turn into substandard coffee.
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.
Make your coffee with charcoal filtered water. There are commercially available water filters that will charcoal filter all water that enters your household. But, you can also buy a coffeemaker which has a filter that is built in. Finally, if all else fails, you can look in your supermarket for charcoal filtered water.
Ask your favorite coffee shop how they make the coffee. This will of course give you some great ideas about brewing your own coffee, but make sure that you ask good questions. Ask about technique, but also ask where the coffee comes from and how it is grown and harvested. You want to make sure you’re having the best coffee, after all!
Even though avid coffee drinkers prefer fresh brewed coffee, some people use instant coffee granules to make a quick cup rather than a whole pot. The flavor of the instant coffee is different than brewed coffee, and most people think it is inferior. It is quite convenient though, and some consider that convenience worthwhile.
Have you ever tried adding syrup, nuts or fruits to your coffee? You should buy some fresh fruits or finely ground nuts and add them to your coffee. This will add an interesting flavor and will taste a lot better than the flavored coffee grounds you can buy in store.
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.
If your home coffee brewing is going over your budget, think about stretching out your premium brews by mixing in a little lower quality coffee. The taste will not be too far off, and you can stretch out your pricier grounds a lot longer. In the end, you should be able to get back on budget without sacrificing great taste.
You can use old coffee grinds to stave off ants around your homes. Yes, it’s just one of the many benefits of coffee. Ants hate the smell of coffee, and so it acts as a repellant. Coffee grinds also make great compost. If you can save them for this purpose, it will benefit you.
Are you one of those gourmet coffee drinkers, or do you like your coffee out of a can? Do you like your coffee black, or are you going to add some mocha creamer to it? Remember what has been discussed in this article as you choose your next flavor and type of coffee to drink.
