If you are like many people, you just can’t get going in the morning without a good cup of coffee. Even if you drink coffee regularly, there are probably still things that you do not know about your favorite drink. To learn more about coffee, keep 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.
Always find out how much caffeine a certain type of coffee contains before drinking it. Espressos do not necessarily contain more caffeine than other types of coffees. If you go to a coffee shop, your barista should be able to tell you how much caffeine you are getting in each beverage, but you might have to do some research about the beans you are using if you make your own coffee.
When you brew your coffee at home, do not throw out the used grounds. These coffee grounds might not be good for another cup of coffee, but they are excellent for many other purposes. They are great for composting, exfoliating, cleaning, and quite a few other uses. Don’t throw them away!
Sometimes, you may want to treat yourself to coffee from a specialty store. A lot of coffee shops offer tasty coffee drinks, whipped cream included!
If regular coffee no longer provides you enough caffeine, consider brewing espresso. This does mean you will need a different piece of equipment, as your regular coffee maker likely cannot do it. Espresso machines are typically expensive though, and the intensity of the caffeine levels is too much for some. Try espresso a few times somewhere else before making this commitment for your home.
Freshly roasted coffee beans are used to prepare the best coffee. When buying whole beans, don’t forget to check the date of expiration. Typically, beans from a specialty coffee shop are fresher than those bought at a grocery store.
If you are buying coffee from a drive-in window, always error on the side of caution to stay as protected as possible. Typically, when you are buying coffee in this form, it will be piping hot, as you will not want to burn your hands or other areas of your body.
If you are making a cup of iced coffee, it is a good idea to use some hot coffee to melt the sugar before you start. This will stop the grains of sugar from lingering at the bottom of the cup. Each sip will taste just as sweet as the last.
When you are storing coffee, try not to store it in containers that are made out of glass. While there may seem to be airtight, the reality is that they are not, and a lot of air will be able to reach the coffee. This will negatively affect the taste.
Are you failing when it comes to duplicating coffee-house coffee at home? If so, use more coffee. For every six ounce measurement of water, coffee shops will use two tablespoons at most of coffee. Experiment with ratios and quantities until you find the perfect flavor and keep in mind that you might have to adapt the ratio to the blend you are using.
Avoid using pre-flavored and packaged coffee beans. These beans are sprayed with extra oils that are very difficult to clean out of grinders and coffee machines. That oil stays in the machines and mixes with later batches causing strange-tasting coffee. They also tend to make the coffee smell better than it tastes.
Get the best deals on your favorite coffee by finding and using coupons. When they are on sale, use the coupons to buy them at the best price. Many times, grocery stores will print out coupons for the items you purchase most often. This is a great way to save on your coffee budget.
Do you have health problems such as high blood pressure? If yes, you should stay away from any beverage that contains caffeine. Try drinking some decaf if you miss the taste of coffee and talk to your doctor about how much caffeine you should drink. Staying away from caffeine for a while should help you get your blood pressure under control.
If you are a parent whose children do not permit leisurely coffee drinking at home, consider finding the closest drive-through cafe. You can drive a short distance with your children and easily get your caffeine fix.
When buying coffee, never buy in bulk. Buy enough coffee for the week and store at room temperature. Heat and light destroy the flavor of your coffee. If you have to, you can store your beans in an airtight container in the freezer, and they will last up to a month.
Try adding coffee to your meat recipes. While coffee is usually used for its “coffee flavor” in dessert dishes, it can make meat dishes taste better. The flavor of the coffee will not overpower meat like it does with sweet items, but it will boost the natural flavors of the meat.
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.
To help a fresh carafe of coffee retain its flavor, take it off the heating source after ten minutes at the most. If you leave your coffee on any longer, it will start to burn, which will leave your brew with a bitter taste. Putting brewed coffee into an airtight, insulated container is the best way to keep it warm.
Now that you have read this article, you should have learned something new about coffee. The more you know about coffee, the more enjoyment you will get from each delicious cup of hot java. Keep the information from this article in mind the next time you fire up your coffee pot.