Most adults enjoy a good cup of coffee every now and then, but constantly stopping by your local coffee shop can be quite expensive in the long term. Making your own coffee on the other hand, is not quite as easy as it sounds. Even choosing the right type can be difficult for many. The following article will help you determine what type of coffee you are most likely to enjoy.
The best coffee typically comes from a coffee press. Instant coffee is over-processed and tends to taste awful, while whole bean coffee offers the best aroma and flavor. When you grind it yourself fresh, you’ll be amazed at the difference. Using a press brings out all the best notes, too!
To make a good coffee, always start with fresh beans. They should look kind of oily, and they should be potent. Try to avoid very dry beans, any grocery store beans, and any beans that have been exposed to air for a long time. Your best bet is to either roast beans yourself or buy them from a local roaster.
There have been many studies about whether or not coffee is healthy or harmful. Some state that the caffeine in coffee can be harmful unless it is consumed in moderation. Other studies seem to indicate that coffee can work as an antioxidant, and can actually help prevent some diseases such as cancer.
Freezers usually keep foods for a good while, but coffee should not be stored in there longer than three months. Storing coffee in the freezer for any longer will decrease the quality of the coffee.
Coffee stored in your fridge can become terrific iced coffee. Using this technique will allow coffee to cool before pouring it over ice. Before you put the coffee in the fridge, add any sugar or cream. You will then have the ideal iced coffee when you wake up in the morning.
Don’t ever reheat coffee. Instead of that, try using a thermal mug since it can retain your coffee’s heat longer. If you cannot do this, it is easy to brew more coffee in order to maximize flavor.
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.
To brew the best cup of coffee, your water temperature needs to be just under the boiling point. At this temperature, the water will extract the maximum amount of flavor from your beans. If your coffee does not taste good in the morning, run a thermometer in the water to ensure that it is heating to the right temperature.
Avoid using pre-flavored and packaged coffee beans. These beans are sprayed with extra oils that are very difficult to clean out of grinders and coffee machines. That oil stays in the machines and mixes with later batches causing strange-tasting coffee. They also tend to make the coffee smell better than it tastes.
Some people find that it’s very important to purchase fair trade coffees. Although the cost is a bit higher for this kind of coffee, the taste is well worth the extra expense. You are going to be providing assistance to small farming co-ops in third world countries.
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.
The best way to brew coffee is to brew it strong. If you do not like the taste of strong coffee, add milk or water after it is brewed. You want your coffee to be at its peak of flavor. If it is brewed strong and according to the proper water to coffee ratios, it should be strong and aromatic.
If you like the taste of coffee, but you avoid it due to it giving you the jitters, you should switch to a brand of coffee that does not contain caffeine. You will be able to drink as much coffee as you want without worrying about getting a huge caffeine rush.
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.
To gauge which roasts are right for your taste preferences, pay close attention to the color of the beans. Typically, the darker a bean is roasted the stronger its brewed taste will be. French roasted beans are dark but Italian roasted beans by far produce the darkest and strongest coffee.
Eliminate the expense of coffee shop lattes by making your own at home. With practice you can even teach yourself to create the fancy designs produced by the baristas at your favorite local coffee shop. All you need to perfect your design is patience and practice. Pour the milk into the cup slowly and finish with melted chocolate.
Determining what types of coffee to purchase can be a pretty difficult decision. However, when you use the tips and tricks mentioned in the article above, you are well on your way towards making an informed decision that is sure to result in a wonderful cup of joe time and time again.
