All serious coffee drinkers understand the financial advantages of brewing your own java at home. However, many of you have a difficult time creating that Starbucks-tasting quality of coffee. The following advice can help you make a better-tasting cup of coffee right at home.
For the most part, the greater amount of money you spend in coffee, the better the taste. If you drink a lot of coffee, make sure to put your money in the tools, instruments and grinds. If you purchase cheap coffee you are not going to get the quality taste you are seeking.
If you are a heavy coffee drinker make lunch you last cup. Drinking caffeine in the afternoon and evening can seriously effect your ability to sleep soundly. As long as you don’t load your coffee up with too many calories it is just fine to have several cups during the morning hours.
Buy your coffee directly from the roaster. You can do this easily online these days. A lot of places are willing to ship directly to you. Your coffee will arrive within a couple of days. This is the way to get the freshest roast coffee to drink every morning with breakfast.
Do not reheat leftover coffee. Although people often say that it is dangerous because there are chemicals in it, that is not true. However, chemical compounds in the coffee decompose after sitting for an extended period, or when exposed to microwaves. You might think it does not taste quite right.
Buy whole coffee beans and grind the coffee yourself. Coffee that is freshly ground is much more flavorful and aromatic than pre-ground coffee. Each day, only grind the amount of coffee that you need for that day. If you have any extra, place the leftover grinds in an airtight container in the fridge.
When you first purchase your coffee maker, do a trial run. This means running a brewing cycle as if you are making coffee using only water. This will remove any dirt or odors that may be present in the machine.
The price of ground coffee has increased considerably over the past year, and even if you grind it yourself, the coffee beans have also increased in price. Sometimes the less expensive coffee tastes just as good as the higher priced brands, but it may take some trial and error to find one you like.
One way to ensure that your iced coffee does not become watery when you place the hot coffee over ice is to use ice cubes made from coffee. To make coffee ice cubes, simply pour freshly brewed room temperature coffee into your ice cube trays and freeze. When you are ready to enjoy an iced coffee, place the frozen coffee ice cubes in a glass and fill with your freshly brewed coffee.
Avoid storing your coffee in the freezer. The extreme temperatures of the freezer will destroy the oils in the coffee. Instead, drink what you have or buy smaller amounts of coffee. If you do not buy too much coffee, you will not need to worry about storing it for an extended period of time.
If you really want good coffee, throw away your cheap machine. It isn’t going to make you a great beverage and there are other alternatives that are very inexpensive. Just go to the store and locate a pour-over brewer. You will also need some paper filters. Go online and find a tutorial on how to use these products. They will cost you under ten dollars and the coffee will taste much better!
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.
It’s important to be on the lookout for the caffeine levels in your coffee. Not all coffee has equal amounts of caffeine. For instance, Robusta beans contain two times the coffee that Arabica does. Depending on the type of beans used and the amounts that were used, drip coffee can actually contain more caffeine than espresso. Make sure you keep yourself informed.
The amount of time that you brew your coffee is very important. Around 4 or 5- is all it should take. If you brew for longer than five minutes, the coffee ends up tasting bitter. If you brew for less than four minutes, usually you end up with a weak and flavorless brew.
Avoid buying coffee beans from bins where several of the beans are visibly broken. Chances are these beans are either old and dry or have been exposed to heat or light. All of these conditions allow the rich flavor of fresh beans to seap out. A bin full of fresh beans should also have a very strong aroma.
If you prefer a strong cup of coffee than you should roast your beans from 12 to 14 minutes. The bean sugar caramelizes, giving the beans a slightly oily appearance when taken out of the roaster. This will give your coffee almost a smokey taste, perfect for espressos or those who just love a strong cup of joe.
Making coffee that is as tasty as that of a coffee shop can be a challenge. Although this may cause you to purchase coffee from your local coffee shop, just keep the tips provided above in mind and keep practicing. In no time at all, you can create delicious coffee at home.
