Nothing beats a good cup of coffee, whether in the morning or at night. But, did you know that there are certain things you should and should not to do to make the perfect cup of joe? In this article, you will learn what it takes to be make the best coffee around.
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.
You can re-use your coffee grounds for many items. Coffee grounds are great for getting rid of smells like garlic and onion on your hands. You can also use them on dishes that refuse to get clean with regular washing. Coffee grounds can even be used in the garden to take care of pests that threaten your plants.
Rinse off your coffee filter before placing it inside of the coffee maker. The coffee filters may have fibers or plastic on them when you take them out of the plastic packaging. If you leave these items on the filter, they will end up in your coffee when it brews.
If you really want the freshest coffee with a gourmet taste, avoid pre-packaged coffee that sits on the grocer’s shelves. Purchase your coffee beans directly from the roaster through their website. Most roaster’s will have the coffee on your doorstep in just a couple days. This enables you to enjoy the beans when they are at their most flavorful.
Good water is just as important as quality coffee when it comes to brewing a great cup. If the water you are using is not very tasty, you cannot expect to end up with a quality cup of Joes. The best coffee is made with spring water or tap water that has been run through a filter.
Froth your own milk for coffee without an expensive machine. Just pour milk into a glass mug, and heat it in the microwave until it starts to steam. Take a whisk and rapidly spin its handle in between your hands. Keep doing this until the milk is foamy. 2 percent milk, half and half, or whole milk yields the best results.
Some people drink their coffee black, and prefer just the pure coffee flavor. Others add just creamer, and still others like their coffee with a flavored creamer. There are many different brands and flavors or creamers available. Some common holiday creamers are flavored with pumpkin spice for Thanksgiving, or peppermint for Christmas.
Do not buy purchase coffee that has packaged beans and is pre-flavored. These coffees are made using oil that is hard to clean out of a coffee pot. They will also affect future pots of coffee that you make, giving each subsequent cup a funny taste. Furthermore, the flavors these coffees are made with tend not to taste good anyway.
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.
Are you looking for an original gift for one of your friends who loves coffee? You should get them a gift basket filled with different blends of coffee. This will be an opportunity for your friend to enjoy quality coffee while discovering new flavors. You should even get a gift basket for yourself if you want to discover some new blends.
If you are very busy during the day at home with a baby, and unable to take the time to brew a quality pot of coffee in your home, find a nearby coffee shop. You can drive a short distance with your children and easily get your caffeine fix.
For those of you who prefer a more medium cup of coffee, you should roast your beans for between 9 and 11 minutes but no longer than that. When they come out of the roaster they will look dry, but it produces a much sweeter taste than a mild brew.
Most coffee drinkers prefer a mild cup of coffee over any other strength. Roast your beans for around 7 minutes, or until they double in size and pop. This will make you a wonderfully mild and smooth cup of coffee. This is perfect for iced coffees and other coffee drinks.
Avoid drinking coffee past 3pm or so. While coffee may taste good, the caffeine in it can be quite a nuisance. Don’t drink any after 3 p.m.
Do not store coffee beans or ground coffee in glass jars or other transparent containers. Light, heat, and exposure to air can negatively affect the quality of the coffee. Place ground coffee beans in an airtight container that you cannot see through. Store the container in a cool area away from the stove.
Do not throw away those used coffee grounds once the pot is empty. You can use them to exfoliate your skin. Mix them with a small amount of olive oil and make a scrub for your skin. This will remove any dead skin cells and leave your skin nice and smooth.
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.
In conclusion, there isn’t a better feeling in the world than drinking that perfect cup of coffee, just as long as you are making it properly. The above article gave you tips to help ensure you will always be making the best coffee you can. Use them for coffee bliss!