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.
The best way to get iced coffee in a hurry is to make it ahead of time via cold brewing. This involves brewing with just grounds, water, a fine filter, and if you like, some milk. You can easily do this before bed. By the next morning, you’ll have refreshing iced coffee that is ready to drink.
Do you enjoy the coffee you make with a standard drip machine? Run a pot of water through your coffee pot before making any. After you have run the machine with water, start it up again with coffee grounds. This can clean your machine.
If you prefer storing your coffee in your refrigerator, take care that it is in a container that is air tight. If it does not keep the air out you will have coffee that takes on the taste of other food. Improper storage can add moisture to your coffee.
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.
You should purchase a coffee grinder. You may know that making food with fresh ingredients is tastiest, and the same goes for coffee beans. The coffee will have more aroma and will taste fresher. Choose a grinder that has options for adjusting the grind to the type of brew you desire. If you rather not have a separate machine, get a coffee maker that has a grinder built-in.
Do you enjoy the fancy beverages you can get in coffee shops? You can make most of these beverages at home if you have milk, cream and chocolate syrup. Use the Internet to find tutorials on how to make your favorite drinks and with a little practice, you will be able to make the same beverages you can get at your favorite coffee shop.
For stronger and better flavored coffee, try getting a French press. You will squeeze the coffee oil from the coffee bean using a French Press. Regular coffee machines allow those flavor-rich oils to soak up in the paper filters.
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.
When you are storing coffee, try not to store it in containers that are made out of glass. While there may seem to be airtight, the reality is that they are not, and a lot of air will be able to reach the coffee. This will negatively affect the taste.
Pay attention to the soil the coffee beans were grown in. If you grind your own coffee, beans are important. The soil used to grow the beans you are using can make a huge difference in taste. Do a bit of research if you have particular tastes when it comes to 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.
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.
Try not to drink coffee after 3 pm. Coffee has lots of caffeine; therefore, drinking coffee late into the night can make you stay up way too late. To help ensure a restful night’s sleep, try to avoid drinking coffee any later than mid-afternoon.
Add a small pinch of salt to reduce an acid flavor in your coffee. Don’t add too much though. You only need a tiny bit. Try using mineral salts if you want to give a small boost to your nutrition.
Research a coffee machine before you buy it. You may think that the coffee itself is the most important thing in having a good cup of coffee but that’s like saying that the gas is more important than the car you’re putting it in. A good coffee machine can make a world of difference, so research before buying.
If you are using a coffee grinder, chances are that a small amount of previously-ground coffee lingers in the bottom of the grinder. To get rid of this stale coffee, try grinding a few fresh beans, and discard them. Then add the full amount of fresh beans you wish to grind.
Rinse filters before you use them for coffee. Many people just put their filters into their machines without realizing there can be some stray fibers of paper. Rinse the filter quickly and you will ensure that those fibers don’t give you the taste of paper in your morning coffee cup.
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.
