There is nothing quite like a good cup of coffee when you are feeling sluggish and depressed. Just the smell of coffee can perk you up. By learning more about coffee, you can really enjoy your next cup. This article will share a few interesting pieces of information about this drink.
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.
Try adding spices to your coffee grounds to create your own “artisan” flavors. Think about things you would add to chocolate if you are having trouble deciding what to try. Start with simple things like cinnamon and nutmeg. You can also do things like adding a little vanilla abstract to your cup to enrich the flavor of your coffee.
Do not think that you just have to keep your coffee stored in the freezer. You may not realize it, but coffee can take on the smell and flavors of food it is near. Your best choice is to store coffee in an opaque, airtight container in an area at or near room temperature. If you wish to put it in the refrigerator, then make sure it’s kept in sealed freezer bags.
Invest in a good-quality coffee grinder. A good grinder grinds coffee beans efficiently and consistently to ensure even extraction. The reason for efficiency is to ensure that not much heat is generated during grinding. Too much heat being generated during the grinding process can negatively affect the taste of the coffee. .
When you get some coffee beans, put most of them away in an airtight container. Place the container in your freezer if you do not have a cool place to keep it. You should grind small quantities of beans, for instance enough to last you for a week. Experience with different grinding techniques if you want different flavors.
Do you have a difficult time trying to make the same great taste as your favorite coffee shop? It may simply be a matter of increasing the amount of coffee grounds you use. Lots of coffee shops will use two coffee tablespoons for each six water ounces. Experiment with different ratios until you discover what works best for you.
Never drink coffee in the eight hours prior to going to bed. The half-life of caffeine can range from 30 minutes to 8 hours, so this is the only sure fire way of having it out of your system when it is time to rest. Otherwise, you are going to need even more caffeine the next day. A coffee habit can be a little healthy, but caffeine dependency is bad news.
If your coffee doesn’t taste right, it may be the water you’re using. If your municipality has an issue with bad-tasting tap water, use a filter to get rid of the impurities that are likely causing this. Or you can brew your coffee with bottled water.
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 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.
The best tasting coffee comes from the best water. If the water from your tap tastes awful before you make your brew, it is still going to be unpleasant after making your brew. Use bottled water if you have to or purchase a simple filtering system to improve the taste of your water.
Finding a nearby drive through coffee shop can help you find time to enjoy a coffee break if your baby usually keeps you too busy to do so. You have the whole trip home to enjoy your coffee while your baby naps in his car seat.
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.
Buy new coffee beans every two weeks. Once you open coffee beans, they usually don’t have a set expiration date. You can seal them in airtight containers to keep them fresh longer. You will, however, likely find that the quality of the taste starts to fade a bit after two weeks.
Be certain your water is about 195 to 205 degrees when you are making your coffee. A typical consumer coffee maker can’t achieve these temperatures, however. Heating the water yourself will solve this common problem. A great addition to your arsenal would be a French press.
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.
Coffee has been enjoyed by people all around the world for thousands of years, so your interest in it is nothing new. The more you learn about coffee, the more pleasure you will get from drinking it. Armed with the tips in this article, you can make your next cup of coffee one to remember.
