Do you ever go to someone’s house or to a coffee shop and wonder why the coffee you brew at home never tastes as good? Well, you simply may not be as coffee savvy as others are. That is about to change; this article will give you tips to make a perfect pot of coffee.
If you tend to drink a lot of coffee, you should invest in a quality coffee machine and make your own coffee at home. Go to a coffee shop only occasionally, for instance on weekends or when you go out with some friends. This should help you save a lot.
Don’t grind your coffee beans until you’re ready to brew a fresh batch. Coffee might lose its flavor when you store the ground up coffee. So refrain from grinding it all ahead of time, or you will wind up with weaker coffee.
Brewing your own coffee at home can add up to huge savings when you compare it to the costs of going to a coffee shop every day. Invest in a good no-spill travel mug so that you don’t regret your decision. Use that expensive coffee as a way to treat yourself when you achieve one of your goals.
Buy a coffee grinder, and buy whole bean coffee. There is no substitute for the taste of freshly ground beans. If you can’t afford a coffee grinder, you can still buy whole beans. Most supermarkets have grinders that you can use to grind your coffee purchase before you leave the store.
Good coffee requires good water. You may want to use bottled water; even though you may think bottled water is a waste of money, it will make your coffee taste better. If using bottled water does not interest you, at least get a purifier to add to your faucet. This won’t be quite as good as bottled water, but it is still a better alternative than straight tap.
When you brew your coffee at home, do not throw out the used grounds. These coffee grounds might not be good for another cup of coffee, but they are excellent for many other purposes. They are great for composting, exfoliating, cleaning, and quite a few other uses. Don’t throw them away!
Don’t ever reheat coffee. Instead, buy a special thermal mug that keeps your coffee hot for hours at a time. If you don’t have one, you can brew a second pot.
The best coffee makers actually extract the essence of the bean. Drip coffee makers do not do this. Find an inexpensive French press and taste the difference. A French press will extract the oils from the bean and put them in your cup as opposed to a drip coffee maker which will leave them in the filter.
Avoid purchasing beans that come in cans or in vacuum-sealed bags. Coffee beans need to be protected by valve-sealed bags to remain fresh. Besides, valve-sealed bags allow the carbon dioxide that emanates from the beans to escape, which means the beans will retain all their flavor and stay fresh longer.
Be sure to regularly clean out your coffee maker or pot. If you wait too long between cleanings, your coffee is more likely to have a foul taste and you may even find coffee grinds in it. A good rule of thumb is to clean it out at least once a week.
You should buy coffee that is ethical, consider getting some fair trade coffee beans. While it’s a little more pricey, it tastes better. You will also feel good about supporting those that are less fortunate than yourself.
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.
To prevent your iced coffee from becoming watery, try making coffee ice cubes. When regular ice cubes melt in iced coffee, they can water it down. To avoid that, pour some room-temperature coffee into ice cube trays and place them in the freezer. A little later, you’ll have coffee ice cubes that will add more coffee flavor to your iced coffee as they melt.
If you frequent a particular coffeehouse often, see if they will give you a discount for bringing in your own cup or mug. These cups can sometimes cost the shop a few pennies at a time, so they can save money too over time. They also get the chance to make a pro-environmental statement with you.
You don’t have to waste money on fancy coffees. Unless you’re really picky, it’s unlikely that you’ll notice a great difference between blends of coffee. Often, the plainest coffees will be the ones you enjoy most. There is nothing wrong with buying cheap coffee if it satisfies your coffee needs.
Try adding coffee to your meat recipes. While coffee is usually used for its “coffee flavor” in dessert dishes, it can make meat dishes taste better. The flavor of the coffee will not overpower meat like it does with sweet items, but it will boost the natural flavors of the meat.
Never get caught up in a coffee shop debate about whether or not baristas are tipped enough or should get tipped at all. Both sides are passionate about their arguments, and when everyone has a cup of coffee in their hands, a tense conversation can get anxious pretty quickly and out of hand.
If you are in the habit of drinking a couple cups of coffee every day, you should think twice about having it if you get pregnant. The effects of caffeine on your unborn baby may be harmful, especially if you drink it in the first trimester. It is best to cut out other caffeinated drinks also.
As was mentioned at the beginning of this piece, you have probably wondered why your coffee does not taste as good as others. Now that you have read the above article, however, you will never have to wonder again. Use the above advice to make perfect coffee from here on out.
