Let’s face it, most of us are not morning people. We need that little extra kick to get us through the door and ready for work. That is where your beloved coffee comes in. Learn how to make the best tasting cup of coffee you can to start your day off right by reading the following article.
To make a good coffee, always start with fresh beans. They should look kind of oily, and they should be potent. Try to avoid very dry beans, any grocery store beans, and any beans that have been exposed to air for a long time. Your best bet is to either roast beans yourself or buy them from a local roaster.
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.
It is a bad idea to let coffee sit on a hot burner after brewing. Keeping the heat on will cause your coffee to “cook,” and will ruin its freshly-brewed flavor. Instead, unplug your coffee-maker or other appliance, or transfer the coffee to an insulated pot to keep it hot.
Do not reheat leftover coffee. Doing so does not release harmful chemicals, as the old wives’ tale states. However, chemical compounds in the coffee decompose after sitting for an extended period, or when exposed to microwaves. This can make coffee taste bitter or different.
The best way to get iced coffee in a hurry is to make it ahead of time via cold brewing. This involves brewing with just grounds, water, a fine filter, and if you like, some milk. You can easily do this before bed. By the next morning, you’ll have refreshing iced coffee that is ready to drink.
Does the coffee you make each day in your dripping machine make you happy? A simple way to improve the flavor is to run hot water through it before you make your actual coffee. After the water is finished, begin the process anew with coffee grounds. That is a great way to clean the machine, too.
Many people love coffee and enjoy it every morning; however, drinking a plain cup of coffee every day can become boring. To spice up your morning routine try making a beautiful, refreshing latte. Learn how to pour your milk slowly to create beautiful designs on top of your latte. The key to a beautiful latte is practice.
Buy smaller cans of coffee. If you buy coffee in a can, only buy what you will consume in a couple of weeks. It will cost more money than buying a large can and storing it for a while. What you save in money by buying a larger can, you end up sacrificing in taste.
Invest in a coffee grinder. It’s important to grind your beans right before you brew because this will leave all the flavor inside, which will cause your coffee to taste fresher. Coffee grinders are able to change the coarseness or fineness of the grind depending on your preference. Many coffee makers come with a built in grinder so you don’t have to have have a machine for grinding and then another for brewing.
Freshly roasted beans create the best coffee. If you’re buying whole beans, check their expiration date and when they’ve been roasted. Specialty stores are superior to grocery stores when buying coffee beans.
You can froth milk without a high-powered machine to save time and money. Just pour milk into a glass mug, and heat it in the microwave until it starts to steam. Take a whisk and rapidly spin its handle in between your hands. Continue this to make the milk foamy. Use half-and-half, whole, or 2 percent milk for better results.
Clean your coffee grinder regularly. Coffee grinds go stale quickly. As a result, it is necessary to clean your grinder often. If the grinder is not cleaned on a regular basis, old stale grinds will be mixed with your freshly ground coffee. It is best to clean the grinder thoroughly every few days.
If you prefer a strong cup of coffee than you should roast your beans from 12 to 14 minutes. The bean sugar caramelizes, giving the beans a slightly oily appearance when taken out of the roaster. This will give your coffee almost a smokey taste, perfect for espressos or those who just love a strong cup of joe.
If you are grinding your own coffee, the medium grind is preferable for regular purposes. It works great for the home drip brewer. It should be around the consistency of common table salt when you are done. Practice with your own machine until you learn what produces flavors you prefer.
Most coffee drinkers prefer a mild cup of coffee over any other strength. Roast your beans for around 7 minutes, or until they double in size and pop. This will make you a wonderfully mild and smooth cup of coffee. This is perfect for iced coffees and other coffee drinks.
The ratio of coffee to water is very important. If you enjoy coffee from your regular coffee shop, you probably enjoy coffee with a more intense flavor. This means you will likely want two tablespoons of coffee for every six ounces of water you are using to brew it with.
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.
As was mentioned earlier in this article, coffee is an essential part of most of our mornings. When you take the time to implement these tips into your coffee making routine, you will enjoy a better tasting cup of joe that is sure to start each and every morning off right.
