Among life’s simplest, yet most enduring pleasures is a cup of hot coffee. Sadly, not enough coffee drinkers have a great deal of knowledge about their favorite drink, and therefore many miss out on some of its best attributes. Review the tips and information in the article below regularly, and you will always be armed with interesting and useful facts about coffee that you can share with others.
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.
For a quick and affordable brew of espresso, try using a Moka stovetop coffee pot. Mokas generally produce one or two cups of coffee in the amount of time it takes to boil that amount of water. The coffee is brewed by pressurized steam rising through a funnel of coffee grinds and then rising again into the top chamber where it is ready to be poured into a cup.
Steer clear of reheating coffee that has already been brewed. An old wive’s tale say that it will release harmful chemicals; however, this is untrue. However, chemical compounds in the coffee decompose after sitting for an extended period, or when exposed to microwaves. A bitter taste may result.
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.
Use your used coffee grounds in your compost pile! Coffee grounds offer many beneficial ingredients to a compost pile including pest control. Coffee grounds contain caffeine which helps prohibit the growth of fungus that can quickly destroy your vegetable garden. The next time you brew a fresh pot of joe don’t throw away those grounds; add them to your compost pile!
Did you know that drinking a cup of coffee will improve your exercise? Studies have shown that the caffeine in coffee will give you a great boost when consumed prior to your exercise routine. This little lift may be just what you need to get through your exercise and preform the way you want.
Good water is just as important as quality coffee when it comes to brewing a great cup. If the water you are using is not very tasty, you cannot expect to end up with a quality cup of Joes. The best coffee is made with spring water or tap water that has been run through a filter.
Learn how to easily froth milk to add to coffee. Heat your milk in microwaves to achieve this affect. Use your hands to quickly rotate a kitchen whisk in the hot milk. Keep working the whisk until the milk reaches a foamy texture. Avoid using skim milk for this.
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.
Now matter how badly you need a caffeine fix, don’t pour your coffee until it is fully brewed. Avoid doing this because it can affect the taste of your coffee. If you can’t wait for your first cup, buy a coffee maker with a timer. Then, your coffee will be ready when you awake.
Are you looking for an original gift for one of your friends who loves coffee? You should get them a gift basket filled with different blends of coffee. This will be an opportunity for your friend to enjoy quality coffee while discovering new flavors. You should even get a gift basket for yourself if you want to discover some new blends.
Don’t be afraid to spice up your coffee grounds. You can add lots of different things to develop different flavors, like allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices. If you’re afraid of adding too much, you could even add a pinch after the brewing cycle instead. You’ll be surprised at the flavor combinations you can create!
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.
Packaging is important when it comes to coffee. It you buy coffee beans, pay attention to the packaging they come in. Make sure you buy beans with quality packaging. Also pay attention to how long it took to package these beans and how long they’ve been sitting on a shelf. Little facts like these can make a big difference in taste.
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.
Coffee can be used in place of water in many recipes an interesting flavor. Try substituting cooled, brewed coffee for water in cakes, brownies and other baked treats. Coffee has even been known to add an interesting flavor to a pot of chili. Use your imagination and come up with some ideas of your own!
Coffee is something that an amazingly large percentage of the world’s population has loved for centuries. Unfortunately, a general lack of information about coffee can result in many drinkers losing out on a truly optimal coffee experience. Apply the guidance above, and you will never need to worry about falling into that category.
