Coffee Tips You Should Not Ignore
Walking into a specialty coffee shop these days can be intimidating, to say the least. It takes a whole new vocabulary just to order a cup of coffee, with lingo that includes words like “double, skinny, no whip, 3/4 shot decaf” and more. Though it can seem excessive to a newcomer, you may find that you actually enjoy the options that you have now. Read on for some ways to decipher the meaning of these things.
if you are drinking coffee for the caffeine content, keep in mind that the darker a coffee is, the less caffeine it has in it. This is because the amount of caffeine is diminished when the coffee is roasted for longer. Most people have the misconception that it is the total opposite.
If you’re diabetic, you can use Stevia in lieu of sugar. Stevia comes from plants in a natural unprocessed form, meaning that extra glucose isn’t ingested by the body. It can be found in fine grocers and health food stores.
Coffee tastes much better if it is fresh brewed, and is actually lower in caffeine if consumed soon after it is made. Some people are particular about using only spring water or bottled water to make it, while others seem to think tap water works just fine for making good coffee.
After buying coffee beans and opening the bag, don’t leave them in that bag as your storage solution. You must place them into an airtight container to protect them from air and light. This simple action will keep them fresh.
It is important to pay attention to how much water you need for your specific coffee maker. Coffee can turn out too strong if there isn’t enough water used. But, using too much liquid results in weak, watery coffee. As a general rule, stick to using about two cups for every single cup of coffee you’d like to make.
You might get a different taste from coffee beans that were grown in different parts of the world. Therefore, try some different blends rather than purchasing your usual blends. Don’t let prices stop you from finding a blend that better and lifts you up.
If you brew a large pot of coffee that will not be consumed quickly, take it off of the burner. Place it into a pre-heated storage device. When coffee is left on the burner, the taste will deteriorate quickly. A nice carafe or other storage device will eliminate this concern.
Try using coffee when cooking meats. When you think of coffee in foods, you typically think of a flavor that is rather strong. In desserts, that’s definitely true. But when you use coffee as a rub for red meat, it actually brings out the flavor of the meat itself, making for a much tastier meal.
Coffee starts to lose flavor about six hours after it is initially roasted. This is why you should do everything you can to keep your coffee from getting a lot of air. When you store your coffee, use an airtight container so you can keep the quality of each cup at a high level.
If you are planning to grind your own coffee beans, you should know that the type of grinder you choose can make a big difference in taste. Experts recommend using one that features flat grinding burrs. Blade grinders can actually generate enough heat to burn or scald the coffee beans and ruin the flavor.
Always drink coffee out of a mug that is designed for hot items. Never pour coffee into glass, as this can possibly break your glass and leave you with stains that you do not want. A mug is probably the best option that you can choose when deciding where you want to drink your coffee out of.
Make it a habit to only grind enough coffee for your immediate use. When you grind a whole bag of coffee, you are speeding up the flavor shelf life. Those grounds will lose flavor within a couple of days, where the fresh beans would have held out a little longer.
If you want to keep your coffee hot in the pot, warm up the pot beforehand by putting hot water into it. Insulated carafes work best, as you should never let coffee spend time on top of a warming plate. This will just burn it. Prewarming hot water is very convenient to use to rinse out your sink.
Do you spend a lot on coffee? Consider investing in a good travel coffee mug, and some quality beans to brew your own instead of wasting money at expensive coffeehouses. Brewing coffee at home also will save you valuable time each morning.
If you grind your own coffee, bean storage is critical. You can use an airtight container for shorter term storage. For longer storage, like if you have bought in bulk, put in an airtight container and freeze. Keeping air away from your beans will keep them fresh and help preserve the flavor.
Avoid packaged and pre-flavored beans if you enjoy flavored coffee. Oils are sprayed on these beans which make it almost impossible for you to completely and properly clean your grinder and coffee machine. Additionally, the sprays might smell good, but they don’t really flavor the coffee all that well.
When making iced coffee, be sure to plan ahead. There are many recipes that call for hot coffee to make iced coffee, but you will have frostier coffee if it is thoroughly chilled first. Avoid leaving it out too long. You just need it out long enough to be at room temperature. After that, place it in the fridge to cool.
Cleaning a grill after you use it can be a big pain. Right after your grill cools down, you can use some coffee grounds to scrape away at any stuck on food. It is best to use old coffee grounds because they are less likely to be so abrasive they scratch up the grill grates.
Now that you have had a full immersion into the world of ordering specialty coffee drinks, you are ready to dive right in and order up the perfect coffee exactly the way you like it. Be bold and experiment, then sit back with a newspaper and enjoy the world’s favorite beverage.
