Whether piping hot or iced in the summer, coffee is a beverage that has enjoyed extraordinary popularity for hundreds of years. The best way to become a true coffee expert is to take the time necessary to gain a strong knowledge base on the topic. Use the tips and information below, and you will soon be the resident coffee expert in your household.
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.
Many people store coffee in their freezers because it keeps it fresher for a longer amount of time. However, many people fail to realize it needs to be wrapped well. If you place it in the freezer with strong-smelling foods, and it is not wrapped tightly, there is a chance your coffee will pick up those odours.
Keep your automatic coffee maker clean with white vinegar. Run a brewing cycle with one part water to one part white vinegar. After allowing the carafe to soak in the vinegar for a while, run a cycle with plain water to rinse the machine. Clean your coffee maker once every week or two to remove rancid coffee oils, mold and other contaminants.
If you’ve forgotten how much coffee to put in your machine, opt for putting in more rather than less. You can always water down your coffee if it’s too strong. But, if it’s too weak, you won’t be able to make it better. You’ll have no choice but to make a new pot.
Making a great cup of coffee really depends on your coffee maker. It does not have to be the most expensive model to produce a great cup of coffee, but it does have to brew the coffee properly. Look for a coffee maker who will extract all the best elements out of every single bean.
Does your coffee get stale because you cannot drink it fast enough? You should store it in an airtight container. Put your weekly dose of coffee into a smaller container and keep it in your freezer so it stays fresh. Store the rest of your coffee in a larger airtight container and open it only when you need to refill your smaller container.
Don’t use the same bag to store coffee once it’s been opened. An airtight container that doesn’t allow any light in is the best place to store coffee beans once they are opened. This simple step helps to preserve the beans’ freshness.
If you like a delicate flavor in your coffee, try adding some right to the pot while it’s brewing. A pinch of cinnamon or a few drops of vanilla will add flavor to the brew. Flavoring your coffee this way will keep the flavor from being too overwhelming, and you won’t need cream or milk.
Use fresh and clean water when making coffee. You will get a better cup of coffee if you use good water. Take a sip of your water choice before you choose to put it in the machine.
For people who really enjoy a great cup of coffee, never take your beans or grind out of the freezer and into the hot water. Keep your beans at room temperature prior to brewing. If you have a lot, freeze some and keep enough at room temperature for the week.
When grinding your coffee at the store, use a medium grind if you plan to drip brewed coffee. A medium grind is similar to the consistency of granulated sugar. This grind is perfect for a drip brew that takes about 6 minutes. If it takes longer, use a coarser grind.
Do not use hot water to make your coffee. Many people think this is the best way to make their coffee hot; the truth is that the only thing this does is diminish its flavor. You should be using water that is not only cold, but charcoal filtered if possible.
Only store your coffee beans at room level temperatures. Coffee beans that get stored inside a cold appliance are going to attract and absorb both condensation and the aromas of nearby foods. The resulting flavor of the coffee is going to wind up reflecting this, and turn into substandard coffee.
After cleaning your coffee grinder, grind a bit of coffee and then dump it. Since it is difficult to completely clean a coffee grinder, you can do this to get rid of any remaining old, stale grinds. Doing this should not be a substitute for a proper cleaning, however.
If you are grinding your own coffee, the medium grind is preferable for regular purposes. It works great for the home drip brewer. It should be around the consistency of common table salt when you are done. Practice with your own machine until you learn what produces flavors you prefer.
The water you are using when brewing your coffee maters. Does the water from your tap taste a little funny? If you use it in your coffee, your coffee will taste a bit off as well. If taste is an issue for you, try using filtered water to brew coffee.
Coffee can be addictive as many hard drugs. If you are drinking more than five or six cups a day, you may have a problem. It might be hard to quit cold turkey, but try to avoid withdraw symptoms by tapering off gradually. Reduce your daily intake by one cup a day every week until you are down to a reasonable coffee consumption level.
Though it comes in a dizzying array of varieties and can be made into a wide selection of custom beverages, coffee is considered by many to be a true staple. In order to develop into a coffee aficionado, a solid base of knowledge is critical. With any luck, the information above has provided you with just that.
