Sip Up These Handy Coffee Tidbits Of Advice
You wake up in the morning, and you start the coffee pot brewing. Only thing is, you have settled into a routine in which you hardly enjoy that first refreshing cup. Shake things up a bit! Continue reading to find out how you can enjoy more options when it comes to your fresh brew.
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.
There are many health benefits that have been discovered from drinking coffee. Feel free to indulge in your morning cup without fear. You may want to switch to decaf if the caffeine in the coffee effects other medications you are taking. Reduce or eliminate creamer and sugar to maximize these benefits.
To add excitement to your daily cup of coffee or impress dinner guests, learn how to decorate your lattes. Carefully poured milk is all it takes to make an attractive swirl design while more proficient pourers may choose to add chocolate for a more flavorful decoration. When it comes to the more elaborate designs, practice makes perfect!
Do not reheat coffee if you desire to have it again. Buy an insulated mug that keeps your coffee hot for a while. If you do not have access to a thermos, brew a fresh pot of coffee.
Take advantage of any repeat customer program that your local coffee house runs. Even a single-unit independent place might have a punchcard system where you get a free cup of coffee for every five that you buy. Never throw these away, even for places you do not frequent much. They can still add up to free cups of joe over time.
You do not need a fancy machine to make frothy milk. Just heat up the milk inside a measuring cup or mug which is microwave-safe until it is steaming. Put a wire whisk in the milk, and rotate the handle quickly between your palms. When it is foamy, you are done. Half-and-half, whole milk or 2 percent will give you the optimal results.
To keep your coffee beans fresh, put them in the freezer. While many people refrigerate their coffee, doing so allows the beans to absorb odors from foods inside your fridge. A better solution is to freeze the beans. One easy approach is to divide the beans into several smaller packages so you can simply remove a package as needed.
While you might be itching to have that initial cup each morning, try not to pour any until the entire pot has brewed. Some machines allow this option, but your coffee quality is going to suffer. To combat this problem, buy a coffee maker that runs on an automatic timer. If you do this, you can set your timer to finish brewing your coffee before you get out of bed.
Even if you do not have a coffee grinder at home, you can purchase whole beans and grind them at the supermarket. Most stores that sell whole bean coffee also have a machine that you can use to grind your coffee as you purchase it. This is a great way to choose the grind you prefer.
Cappuccino is a popular coffee based drink that many people enjoy. It does not have a lot of caffeine, and comes in several delicious flavors. It is quite sweet, and is high in calories unless you choose the low-fat version. Many convenience stores and gas stations have cappuccino machines so you can enjoy a cup on the road.
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.
When brewing coffee, use fresh, clean water. Since your coffee essentially consists of mostly water, the quality of the water you use will affect the quality of the coffee you drink. Avoid using a water-softening filter for the water you use in your coffee. Super soft water fails to properly extract the coffee oils.
Experiment with varying levels of grind for your coffee. Finely ground coffee often results in a strong flavor, but you can weaken flavor with a more coarse grind. The best time to grind is right before you actually brew. Grinding earlier than that can result in stale tasting coffee once brewed later.
Adapt your coffee to water ratio in function of the technique you are using to brew your coffee. A Technivorm or a vacuum pot will require you to use more coffee grounds than a French press or a drip machine. Drip machines are actually the cheapest way to make coffee but you will get a better flavor with other techniques.
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.
For those who love iced coffee, refrigerate your French press the night before you use it. Your press will be chilly and ready for use when you are ready to brew your morning coffee. Combine this tactic with using cold water, and your coffee is going to taste both clean and sweet.
Drink coffee only during the early hours of the day. Coffee has a great deal of caffeine, which can keep you awake when it is time to go to Ned. Even if you have your last cup hours before bed it can remain in your system so be sure that you stop drinking it before noon.
Now are you excited? It’s time to go coffee shopping! No matter what your flavor, and no matter your budget, there are plenty of options available to you. Keep the tips you’ve read here in mind as you hunt down your next fresh brew. You are sure to be delighted.
