A lot of people don’t think they have to know anything about coffee, but that’s not true. Coffee is actually a drug, whether it is natural or not, and needs to be taken seriously. If you are a new coffee drinker, or have drank it for many years but do not know much about it, you need to read this article.
Never reheat coffee after it’s been brewed. Although people often say that it is dangerous because there are chemicals in it, that is not true. Coffee contains certain compounds which can begin to deteriorate just thirty minutes after brewing, particularly of the coffee is heated in a microwave or allowed to remain on a hot burner. Your coffee may come bitter, acidic, or weak.
Keep your automatic coffee maker clean with white vinegar. Run a brewing cycle with one part water to one part white vinegar. After allowing the carafe to soak in the vinegar for a while, run a cycle with plain water to rinse the machine. Clean your coffee maker once every week or two to remove rancid coffee oils, mold and other contaminants.
The variety of coffee types and flavors is endless. A lot of people like a darker or a fuller flavored coffee. Also, you can add different flavors to your coffee such as vanilla or hazelnut. Or, you can change the flavor through creamers and other additions.
There are many health benefits that have been discovered from drinking coffee. Feel free to indulge in your morning cup without fear. You may want to switch to decaf if the caffeine in the coffee effects other medications you are taking. Reduce or eliminate creamer and sugar to maximize these benefits.
Rinse off your coffee filter before placing it inside of the coffee maker. The coffee filters may have fibers or plastic on them when you take them out of the plastic packaging. If you leave these items on the filter, they will end up in your coffee when it brews.
Store your beans and coffee grinds properly. Whole beans and ground beans both lose their flavor rather quickly. To prevent this, get them into a container that is airtight, and place the container in a dry and cool area. For extended storage, you could even freeze the beans for up to three months.
Do not use hot water to make your coffee. Many people think this is the best way to make their coffee hot; the truth is that the only thing this does is diminish its flavor. You should be using water that is not only cold, but charcoal filtered if possible.
Try using coffee when cooking meats. When you think of coffee in foods, you typically think of a flavor that is rather strong. In desserts, that’s definitely true. But when you use coffee as a rub for red meat, it actually brings out the flavor of the meat itself, making for a much tastier meal.
Many discriminating coffee drinkers insist their coffee be fresh ground, and they buy whole beans to be ground just before they brew their coffee. The coffee grinders can be adjusted to make a fine ground coffee, or a coarser grind. Generally, the finer the grind, the stronger the coffee.
If you do go to a coffeehouse for a cup of joe and work away from home, be careful how you place your laptop. You do not want to spill your drink on it, nor do you want anyone reading your screen over your shoulder. Also be mindful of what you say on the phone. Your competition could be in there too.
Do you think that fake sweetening products are preferable to natural sugars? Artificial sweeteners are known to make coffee taste more bland than it should. You can try drinking black coffee, or just add a little bit of raw sugar to give it a better flavor. If you do use sweetener, limit it to only a half a packet.
For a summertime treat, create coffee ice cubes. Fill up a tray with a bit of leftover coffee and freeze them for that special occasion. When you are creating the perfect iced coffee, you now be ready with the perfect ice cube too! These ice cubes won’t water down your coffee which will keep the flavors going for much longer.
If you want to brew your own espresso, you need to use beans that have been finely ground. You can also use this grind in your regular drip brewer if you like really strong coffee. A good grinder will allow you to control the consistency to suit your preferences.
Do you spend a lot on coffee? A traveling mug and an at-home coffee maker can be a great investment. Cups of coffee shop coffee can really add up. This saves you time too, since you don’t have to make an extra stop.
Many people do not like the high acidity in their iced coffee. The way to reduce the acidity and have a milder brew is to brew the coffee cold. It is a simple process that takes about 12 hours in the fridge. You can start your brew in the evening and have cold coffee for your drive to work.
Try drinking coffee that is high quality. The standard coffee that you buy at the grocery store is the lowest quality coffee that you can purchase. Try a high end coffee instead and you will find that you only need to drink one drink to see the same effect that would usually take two or three cups of standard coffee.
Use a French Press. A French Press is a wonderful little contraption that ensures that you get more of the coffee oils in your cup of coffee. Usually, with traditional machines, the oils can end up stuck on the filters you use. Try some coffee made with a French Press, and you’ll taste the difference.
Now, you should have a greater understanding of coffee. Even if you’ve been a coffee drinker for years, you probably didn’t know all of this information. Keep this information in mind the next time you brew up a pot of coffee to enjoy the perfect cup.