There are a number of things to take into consideration when shopping for coffee. This is particularly true if you are a coffee novice. This article will help you out with what you need to know.

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.

Your coffee should be kept in a container that is airtight. Air degrades the quality of the coffee beans, making them stale and producing horrible coffee. Bulk coffee bags are also a bad choice, as they lose flavor fast after they are opened. Square bags with one-way valves do not serve the purpose that you are looking for.

If you enjoy brewing coffee, stir it inside of the pot when it is done brewing. Giving it a quick stir helps bring out the coffee’s aroma and flavor. The coffee that you serve will have a lovely aroma and a rich taste.

Many people love coffee and enjoy it every morning; however, drinking a plain cup of coffee every day can become boring. To spice up your morning routine try making a beautiful, refreshing latte. Learn how to pour your milk slowly to create beautiful designs on top of your latte. The key to a beautiful latte is practice.

If you drink your coffee cold, think past just traditional cream and sugar. Mix entire fruits into your coffee. You can add foods like oranges, cherries and strawberries for interesting additions to the flavor. Even think about spicing things up with cinnamon or cardamom. The possibilities for you are nearly endless!

If you find you need to reduce the sugar you use in your coffee, have no fear, there are alternatives available to you. If you are worried about your blood glucose levels, consider using agave nectar. Low calories sweeteners like Splenda or Stevia are great in hot drinks and can be used safely in coffee.

It is important you use the right measurements of water when making coffee. If you don’t use enough water, your coffee will be far too strong. The reverse is also true; if you use more water than you should, then the coffee will be weak. A good guideline is to use 16 ounces of water for every 8-ounce cup of coffee.

Use your used coffee grounds in your compost pile! Coffee grounds offer many beneficial ingredients to a compost pile including pest control. Coffee grounds contain caffeine which helps prohibit the growth of fungus that can quickly destroy your vegetable garden. The next time you brew a fresh pot of joe don’t throw away those grounds; add them to your compost pile!

A great tip when brewing coffee is to always use the right water. You can’t just use any water when brewing coffee. If you’re using dirty tap water, you can probably expect an unpleasant tasting cup of coffee. Good water to use should have some minerals in it that will help to extract the best flavor.

When you are looking for a coffee grinder, do not purchase one that uses blades. Instead, look for one that has cone shaped or grinding burrs to reduce the beans. You will obtain a more consistent cut. Also, the flat blades have a tendency to overheat and can give your coffee a scorched flavor.

After purchasing coffee it is important to properly store it for it to retain its freshness. If you will be using your coffee within a week, store it in an airtight plastic or glass container out of direct sunlight and away from heat. If it will be longer than a week before you will use it up, consider placing the coffee in the freezer.

A great tip to remember if you’re after the best-tasting cup of coffee is not to let your coffee sit for an extended period of time. Coffee will only stay fresh for about ten minutes so you should be prepared to drink your coffee right after it’s been brewed.

If you have trouble staying awake and have been buying those expensive energy drinks, you should start drinking coffee instead. Each energy drink contains about 100-150 milligrams of caffeine. You can get the same effect from drinking a cup of coffee or two, and you will not have to spend as much money.

Be sure to clean your coffee machine. Many people just keep making coffee over and over again, but you have got to make sure you clean it regularly. Run a mixture of vinegar and water through your machine to naturally clean the machine instead of using chemicals. When you do this, you can be assured you have the most delicious coffee you can have.

The water you use in your coffee is as important as the beans. If you use a drip-brewer, then avoid putting hot water into the drip machine. Instead, start with cold water. Charcoal filters can dramatically improve the taste of local water, but avoid using softening filters on your coffee water. Softened water may not pull the oils from the beans properly.

Talk to other coffee lovers to obtain fantastic suggestions. They probably know some stuff that you don’t. Ask them what you should try next. If you’re lucky, they will offer you an invitation to sample their favorite in their home, so you will get a free cup as well!

The size of your coffee grounds has a lot to do with the way your coffee tastes. A finer coffee grind will mean that more surface area of the bean is exposed to water while a coarser grind will mean less. No matter which grind you prefer, an even grind particle size is very important for a great cup of coffee.

Your coffee buying experiences should be easier thanks to this article. Many options are out there for you, and you should make the best selection for your requirement. Remember the tips you’ve read here as you buy your next gourmet batch.