Coffee is made from a small bean. That tiny bean has spawned a major industry. From the flavored to the extra fancy gourmet, the current coffee craze isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Whether you prefer hot or cold beverages, store-bought or home-brewed, you’re sure to find something interesting in this article.
Don’t grind your coffee beans until you’re ready to brew a fresh batch. This is due to coffee losing its flavor after being ground. Your coffee will have a weaker taste when the beans are ground far in advance.
Do not reheat coffee after it has been brewed. It isn’t harmful, but it tastes nasty. Some of the compounds in coffee can begin to deteriorate within 30 minutes of brewing, especially if it is left sitting on burner or is heated in the microwave. This will give the coffee a bitter or stale taste.
When buying coffee grounds, inspect the packaging to ensure that they are pesticide-free. Coffee is an extremely absorbent crop; therefore, it primarily obtains its flavors from the soil. Organically grown coffee is going to naturally taste the best when you brew it.
If you store your coffee in the fridge, make sure the container in which it is stored is absolutely airtight. If air is allowed to enter the container, then the surrounding odors will permeate the coffee, changing its taste. If coffee is stored for too long a time in the wrong container, moisture can get into the coffee.
If you like strong, robust coffee, use a French press. A French press squeezes the beans resulting in a flavorful blend. Traditional coffee machines contain paper filters that remove the oils during brewing.
To make the most of bulk coffee purchases, you need to protect your beans. Fresh beans have a tendency to absorb other flavors as well as to lose their own flavor when exposed to light or heat. Keep your beans away from the light and air.
Frothing milk for your coffee does not have to be difficult or expensive. Just heat up the milk inside a measuring cup or mug which is microwave-safe until it is steaming. Whisk the milk by turning the whisk between your palms vigorously. Do this until you have a foamy milk. Half and Half or whole milk works the best.
If you’re a coffee fan who also wants to enrich residents of third-world countries, think about buying fair trade coffee. This is expensive but has a much higher quality for you to serve to your family. You will also help out farms in developing countries.
Do you need some change in your coffee drinking routine? Try adding a little chocolate. It can be a flavorful way to give additional energy to your cup. For greater benefit, use dark chocolate.
While you might be itching to have that initial cup each morning, try not to pour any until the entire pot has brewed. Even if your coffee maker has this feature, it ruins the quality of the coffee. Try getting one with a timer instead. Your coffee will be ready for you when you arise from your slumber.
If your morning coffee tastes “off”, remember an unpleasant taste in your water will make an unpleasant taste in your coffee. If the water from you tap always tastes bad, buy a filter to attach to your faucet. Or you can brew your coffee with bottled water.
Don’t just pour coffee over ice cubes when preparing iced coffee at your house. If you do this, it will make your coffee much too watered down. What you should do instead is brew some coffee and place them in an ice cube tray into the freezer. Once they are frozen, they are ideal for iced coffee, adding flavor as they melt.
Drive-through’s are a great way for frazzled moms to enjoy some coffee if they are too busy to brew coffee at home. You can drive a short distance with your children and easily get your caffeine fix.
Adding chocolate syrup, sugar and cream to your coffee can really increase the amount of calories and fat in it. Adding sugar to your cup defeats this valuable benefit. Drinking black coffee with your breakfast will help you control your weight.
Are you wary of adding sugar to your coffee, but still want it to taste like it has been sweetened? Add some warm milk to your coffee. Warm milk will add a natural sweetness. Warm milk is a healthier alternative to using cream and sugar in your coffee.
Sweeteners from your pantry are a great way to inject flavor and personality into your coffee. White sugar is the most popular add-in, but consider the unique flavors of raw and brown sugar. Other flavor extracts that can make a boring old cup of coffee taste great include cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. You can also use rice, almond milks, and flavored soy rather than milk or creamers.
Don’t just keep buying the same brand or type of coffee just because it is what you have always bought. Even if you enjoy your coffee, it is good to experiment by purchasing different blends. Purchasing different blends will give you a new experience every time you brew a cup.
Remove the coffee from the make after brewing it. The coffee will continue cooking if you allow the pot to sit in the coffee maker, and that will destroy the flavor of the coffee. Put the coffee into a thermos or other container so it will stay hot if you are not going to drink it all right away.
Freeze any extra coffee you have in ice trays. Use these types of cubes in your coffee to keep it from getting watered down when the ices starts melting. They can be added to cocktails as well, or even to hot coffee to cool it.
Now that you have more information about coffee, you will enjoy it more. Share your new coffee-making skills with your family and friends. You will cherish your cup of coffee and enjoy it fully by using some of the ideas here.