If you’re just coming of age, chances are you’re just beginning to investigate coffee and what it can do for you. You probably have many questions about how to brew it, what kind of beans to buy, and the like. The article below has coffee tips and tricks that can help.
The best coffee typically comes from a coffee press. Instant coffee is over-processed and tends to taste awful, while whole bean coffee offers the best aroma and flavor. When you grind it yourself fresh, you’ll be amazed at the difference. Using a press brings out all the best notes, too!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Remember that coffee is a very absorbent food. So, proper storage is essential. Keep your unused coffee in a place that is dry and cool where it is protected from both sunlight and heat. However, do not store it in your fridge or freezer. Also make sure the container is opaque and air-tight, to prevent coffee from absorbing flavor and aromas from other foods.
Use a French press for the best tasting coffee. A French press squeezes the beans resulting in a flavorful blend. If you use a regular coffee pot, the oil might soak into the filter.
If you like to grind your own coffee, try adding a few nuts to the grinder along with the beans. Many people enjoy the interesting flavor nuts provide to a cup of coffee. Some great nuts to try include: almonds, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts. You can even experiment with nutty combinations!
If you grind your own coffee, be sure to only grind the amount you will be using that day. If you grind too much and just leave your coffee around, the elements will take the freshness and taste of it. Contrary to what many believe, storing coffee in the refrigerator does not leave it fresh.
To get the broadest exposure to different coffee types, consider participating in a tasting. This is a low-cost way for you to try a wide variety of beans. Tastings also give you the opportunity to see how each bean is best brewed. Do not be afraid to ask your barista for other recommendations based on what you like or dislike.
If you like the taste of coffee, but you avoid it due to it giving you the jitters, you should switch to a brand of coffee that does not contain caffeine. You will be able to drink as much coffee as you want without worrying about getting a huge caffeine rush.
If you like the flavor of vanilla sugar in your coffee, but don’t like the price, here’s a great tip. Purchase your own vanilla beans, and bury them in a jar of sugar for at least one week. Then, use the vanilla sugar instead of regular sugar in your coffee for added flavor.
The water you use in your coffee is as important as the beans. If you use a drip-brewer, then avoid putting hot water into the drip machine. Instead, start with cold water. Charcoal filters can dramatically improve the taste of local water, but avoid using softening filters on your coffee water. Softened water may not pull the oils from the beans properly.
Don’t pour extra coffee down the drain; freeze it into cubes instead. As the ice in iced coffee melts it can water it down, so use coffee ice cubes in place of regular ice cubes. This is a great trick for cooling down your coffee.
Do you find that you are spending an insane amount on coffee? If the answer doesn’t please you, you may want to make your own at home and transport it in a device for that purpose. Brewing coffee at home also will save you valuable time each morning.
Don’t pour any coffee before the coffee is completely brewed. The coffee will be very strong at the beginning of the cycle, and when it finishes the cycle it will be the correct strength. Coffee mixes as it brews to become fully flavored.
In order to brew the very best cup of coffee possible at home, try to purchase a coffee maker that has an integrated charcoal filtration mechanism. By ensuring that the water used to make each cup is as pure and clean as it can be, you can rest assured that you are extracting the best possible flavor from your beans or ground coffee.
Now that you understand a little more about coffee, you should be able to find the blends you like. You will also learn more along the way about the intricate flavors and difference between coffee types. Hopefully, this article has helped you on your way to understanding this wonderful bean.
