Coffee is something that people from all walks of life have long considered to be a dietary staple. A strong foundation of knowledge when it comes to coffee can help those who love it get even greater enjoyment from drinking their daily cups. The tips that follow below are a great to place to get started building that base.
Coffee tastes much better if it is fresh brewed, and is actually lower in caffeine if consumed soon after it is made. Some people are particular about using only spring water or bottled water to make it, while others seem to think tap water works just fine for making good coffee.
Only use an airtight container to store your favorite coffee in the refrigerator. If the container is not sufficiently airtight, the odors from the fridge will be absorbed into the coffee. Moisture can wind up on in your coffee if it isn’t stored the right way.
The best coffee makers actually extract the essence of the bean. Drip coffee makers do not do this. Find an inexpensive French press and taste the difference. A French press will extract the oils from the bean and put them in your cup as opposed to a drip coffee maker which will leave them in the filter.
One of the things that you can do to improve the quality of your coffee is to filter the water that you use instead of using tap water. This will reduce the amount of chemicals in the mix when you are making your coffee, yielding a clearer and fresher taste upon drinking.
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 want to drink excellent coffee while helping out developing countries, you should consider purchasing fair trade coffee. Although the cost is a bit higher for this kind of coffee, the taste is well worth the extra expense. In the end, you will be doing a service to farmers who need the money.
To get the ideal flavor from your coffee beans, the water needs to be just the right temperature. Boiling water is too hot and as a result will sap the more bitter oils from your beans. Alternately, water that is not hot enough will not brew all the flavor from your beans leaving you with a very bland coffee.
If you are a regular coffee drinker, and it is an important part of your day, consider expanding your knowledge and learning more about how to brew a better cup. Look for freshly roasted beans, available in most supermarkets these days, in the specialty coffee aisle. Grind the whole beans yourself at the store, then consume them within a few days, in order to get the best flavors.
Do not leave coffee, in the pot, sitting on the burner for a long time. The heat from the burner can scald the coffee very quickly. This so affects the flavor of the coffee that reputable coffee shops pour out any coffee that has been sitting on a burner for 20 minutes.
If you have a lot of ants in your home, you can use coffee to repel them. Sprinkle dry, used grounds anywhere that you normally see them. You can brew a pot and pour it over any ant holes that you see in your yard and they will go away.
You can keep your coffee fresh by keeping it sealed. Oxygen will have a negative effect on the taste of the coffee. This can result in off flavors in your coffee. Keep it in an airtight container to keep it fresh.
To allow for proper water penetration in your coffee grounds, be sure to indent them. Take your index finger and add a small dimple to the middle of your grounds. It should be about an inch and a half deep. That indent will allow the water to evenly penetrate the grounds that reside at the bottom of your cone.
Sign up for the social media updates of your usual coffee shop You may gain access to special promotions and offers. You will also generally be one of the first to be in the know about any new flavors on the horizon. They may also have exclusive online coupons and deals that can help you get free or cheap coffee later on.
Know your coffee lingo. Knowing the right words can mean the difference between an excellent cup of coffee you enjoy, and the kind of “slop” that is rumored to be served by your mechanic. Know the difference between Arabica and Robusta, and a latte and a cappuccino, and you’ll be able to better decide what you want.
Never use anything other than fresh coffee at home. Remember the date you open your package. Ground coffee will stay fresh for you for about a week after opening. Whole bean coffee packages, on the other hand, will stay fresh for you up to three weeks after you open it.
Drinking coffee can actually help you lose weight. It contains caffeine, which can stimulate the body and unleash catecholamines. Catecholamines seeks out fat cells and converts them into power the body can use. However, this benefit is mitigated when you put sugar in your coffee. The sugar increases your insulin, so keep your coffee black.
It is difficult to find people who do not relish even the occasional cup of coffee. However, the key to getting the most out of drinking coffee is to acquire a thorough knowledge of brewing, selecting and enhancing it. The piece above is a perfect starting point for beginning the process.
