Coffee is just so refreshing isn’t it? You may wonder how you can enjoy your coffee differently than you do. Be sure that you haven’t explored every option available to you. Continue reading to find out just how you can spice up that next cup of joe in the morning.
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.
Buy your coffee directly from the roaster. You can do this easily online these days. A lot of places are willing to ship directly to you. Your coffee will arrive within a couple of days. This is the way to get the freshest roast coffee to drink every morning with breakfast.
Do not leave your coffee open any longer than necessary. While preparing your coffee, don’t open the can or bag until you are ready to scoop. Immediately after scooping, close the coffee container. This will keep your coffee fresher longer. It also keeps the flavor and aroma from evaporating in the air.
You can re-use your coffee grounds for many items. Coffee grounds are great for getting rid of smells like garlic and onion on your hands. You can also use them on dishes that refuse to get clean with regular washing. Coffee grounds can even be used in the garden to take care of pests that threaten your plants.
If you refrigerate your coffee, be sure the container is airtight. If the container the coffee is kept in is not sufficiently air tight, odors can be absorbed by the coffee. Moisture can also end up in the coffee if stored for a long time in an inappropriate container.
If you want the best iced coffee that you have ever had, you need to brew the coffee cold. If you do try to make hot coffee cold, you can end up with a pretty awful brew. If you start your brewing right before bedtime, you will have delicious iced coffee for your morning commute.
Get yourself a good coffee grinder. When you grind your coffee beans right before you brew, it will help retain the flavorful oils that result in a fresher tasting cup. Many coffee grinders have variable settings in determining the coarseness of your coffee grinds that you wind up with. If you do not have the room or inclination for an appliance in addition to your coffee maker, buy a coffee maker that features a grinder already built-in.
If you are planning to store coffee beans, keep them in a place that is close to room temperature. This will help to extend the longevity of the beans, so that no flavor is lost providing great-tasting coffee for a very long time. Storing coffee beans in temperatures too hot or cold can cause them to go stale faster.
If you normally drink coffee at home but are getting tired of the same-old tastes, keep an eye open when you pass by coffee shops and houses. Coffee shops have new flavors and drinks they release and test out all the time, particularly seasonally. Summer’s offerings happen frequently, and many even have “happy hour” discounts during deader hours of the day.
After purchasing coffee it is important to properly store it for it to retain its freshness. If you will be using your coffee within a week, store it in an airtight plastic or glass container out of direct sunlight and away from heat. If it will be longer than a week before you will use it up, consider placing the coffee in the freezer.
If you are buying coffee from a drive-in window, always error on the side of caution to stay as protected as possible. Typically, when you are buying coffee in this form, it will be piping hot, as you will not want to burn your hands or other areas of your body.
Chocolate and coffee is a great combination! try serving a square along with a cup. A bite of chocolate followed by a melt-in-your mouth sip of java is an incredible treat! The chocolate can also be enjoyed by dipping it, or even dropping a piece directly into the coffee.
It’s important to be on the lookout for the caffeine levels in your coffee. Not all coffee has equal amounts of caffeine. For instance, Robusta beans contain two times the coffee that Arabica does. Depending on the type of beans used and the amounts that were used, drip coffee can actually contain more caffeine than espresso. Make sure you keep yourself informed.
A big mistake that many people make when brewing coffee is not using the proper amount of coffee. The proper ratio of ground coffee to water is six ounces of water for every two tablespoons of coffee. Any less coffee and you will have a weak and unsatisfying brew that tastes more like water than coffee.
Don’t just pour coffee over ice cubes when preparing iced coffee at your house. This just dilutes your coffee with melting water. You should cool it down in the freezer first. Then, when these cubes are frozen, just remove them and let them melt.
If you like the flavor of vanilla sugar in your coffee, but don’t like the price, here’s a great tip. Purchase your own vanilla beans, and bury them in a jar of sugar for at least one week. Then, use the vanilla sugar instead of regular sugar in your coffee for added flavor.
Now are you excited? Get pumped, and go buy that gourmet blend you’ve been wanting to try. Experiment with different flavors, add some different ingredients to your coffee. Heck, even through it on some ice! Remember what you’ve read here as you jump out of bed tomorrow for that fresh cup of coffee.
