Do you remember the best coffee you ever had? Perhaps you made it yourself, or maybe you bought it at a coffee shop. There are many methods of making coffee, and even more types of coffee. Keep reading to find out some helpful information to take with you when shopping for coffee.
Make sure that you make your coffee in water that you would have no problem drinking alone. This is important because the taste of the water will affect the way that it makes your coffee taste. If you live in an area where the water quality is not that great, use spring water to brew your coffee.
If you must add something creamy to your coffee, consider using real milk instead of whitener. Whitener is a frightening blend of ingredients you can’t pronounce, while milk of any sort – be it cream, homo, 2% or skim – provides protein, vitamin B12 and other great nutrients your body needs.
Are you sharing coffee with any guests? Decorate lattes yourself. It doesn’t take much to add a little accent, and it would look fantastic. Mix melted chocolate and milk so you can practice when you make coffee.
Always store your coffee beans or grinds in a dark, cool, airtight container. Even better, use a vacuum container. Storing your coffee in such a container helps keep your coffee smelling and tasting fresh for a long time. Store the container in the fridge or freezer to maximize freshness.
If you loved your coffee on ice, try cold-brewing your own coffee concentrated. There are many recipes available online; Most entail mixing a few cups of water into several ounces of ground coffee, allowing the mixture to sit overnight. When the grounds are strained out, you are left with a smooth, rich concentrate that can be diluted with milk or water and ice.
While your coffee is brewing, try soaking the coffee mugs in hot water. A cold mug will cool off your drink before you can even get it to your lips! When the coffee is ready, simply dry off the mugs and serve. This trick will keep it hot much longer.
One way to keep coffee fresh is by buying whole bean coffee and only grinding as much as you plan on drinking at the time. Most coffee loses its flavor because people make more than they plan on drinking. Light, humidity, air, and oxygen can quickly decrease the flavor and aroma of your coffee by damaging its oils.
Make sure your coffee pot is clean. In order to get the freshest tasting coffee you must be sure you are using a clean coffee pot. You can clean it by using a teaspoon of vinegar with a full coffee pot of water. Run your coffee pot as though you are making coffee.
If you have a busy schedule and do not have the time to prepare coffee and clean afterwards, you should find out where the closest coffee shops with a drive-through are. You could easily go out for a quick drive, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and drink it on your way back home or to work.
If you are among the people who enjoy iced coffee, there is a way to keep your brew from becoming diluted. Make a pot, allow it to cool. Then, pour it into ice cube trays. Use the frozen coffee to ice your fresh coffee. You will avoid the weak flavor that sometimes accompanies the end of a cup of iced coffee.
Not all coffee should be stored in the freezer because doing so could result in less tasty coffee. Instead, you should divide your weekly stash of beans into equal amounts and keep them in an airtight container at room temperature. The future week amounts can be stored in the freezer.
Do you add artificial sweetener to your coffee? These can change how your coffee tastes which might not be a good thing. Attempt black coffee, or use a bit of raw sugar to give your coffee better flavor. If you absolutely must sweeten your coffee, limit the amount of sweetener you use to no more than half a packet.
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.
Eliminate the expense of coffee shop lattes by making your own at home. With practice you can even teach yourself to create the fancy designs produced by the baristas at your favorite local coffee shop. All you need to perfect your design is patience and practice. Pour the milk into the cup slowly and finish with melted chocolate.
Jazz up your coffee with unique sweeteners and flavors from your pantry. Brown sugar and raw sugar add a distinctive flavor, in comparison to regular white sugar. Many flavors go well with coffee including, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Instead of milk, you can try flavored rice, almond and soy milks.
With any luck, now that you have read the preceding piece, you have a better grasp of your coffee options. At this point, you’re probably itching for a hot cup right now. Have a good time shopping, and be sure you keep in mind the tips you have read about when you buy your next cup of coffee. When you make the right choices, it really is good to the last drop!
