Ah, coffee! There is nothing like the aroma of a freshly brewed cup of coffee wafting through the house. However, even if you start off every day with a cup of joe, there is always more to learn about this amazing beverage. Keep reading to learn something new about coffee.
If you are looking for a great way to turn basic, boring drip coffee into a special treat look no further than your own fridge and pantry. Hot chocolate mix or a scoop of vanilla ice cream can be great ways to sweeten up a cup of coffee and make it something special.
Have you ever tried drinking ice cold coffee or cappuccino? This is a good way to get the caffeine you need while drinking a refreshing beverage. You can either use instant coffee, mix it in cold water and add some ice or put some coffee grounds in a fine filter and place it in a glass of cold water.
Do not reheat leftover coffee. It won’t actually hurt you, but you will not enjoy your coffee as much. After half an hour, some parts of the coffee break down. This is especially the case when it’s left on a burner or microwaved. The taste of the coffee will not be to your liking if this occurs.
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 smaller cans of coffee. If you buy coffee in a can, only buy what you will consume in a couple of weeks. It will cost more money than buying a large can and storing it for a while. What you save in money by buying a larger can, you end up sacrificing in taste.
One way to keep coffee fresh is by buying whole bean coffee and only grinding as much as you plan on drinking at the time. Most coffee loses its flavor because people make more than they plan on drinking. Light, humidity, air, and oxygen can quickly decrease the flavor and aroma of your coffee by damaging its oils.
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.
Wait till the coffee finishes brewing prior to pouring a cup. While you can do this with some machines, the coffee quality will not be as good. You should use one equipped with a timer instead. That way, your coffee will be made before you wake up.
Do you have health problems such as high blood pressure? If yes, you should stay away from any beverage that contains caffeine. Try drinking some decaf if you miss the taste of coffee and talk to your doctor about how much caffeine you should drink. Staying away from caffeine for a while should help you get your blood pressure under control.
Don’t make iced coffee by pouring your hot coffee into a glass of ice cubes. This just dilutes your coffee with melting water. An alternative method that works much better is to brew some coffee, then pour the coffee into the slots of a common ice cube tray. After they are frozen, put them in a cup and let them melt.
When trying a new coffee, do not get a full-size bag of beans or ground coffee. Start small, no matter how much you think you will enjoy the new flavor. That will help you avoid having coffee around that you don’t drink because you bought it too hastily and don’t like it!
If your kids have been bugging you for a sip of your coffee, but you do not feel that it is appropriate for them to have it, consider buying coffee flavored syrup for them to add to milk. This gives you the same great coffee flavor without worrying about caffeine.
When making coffee use fresh cold water. Hot water should never go into these kinds of brewers. The machine will heat the water to the right temperature for you. If you start with hot water, you will probably burn the coffee. This will cause your coffee to be bitter and could also be a safety hazard.
Sweeteners from your pantry are a great way to inject flavor and personality into your coffee. If you are tired of using plain old white sugar, try raw or brown sugar, instead. Other flavors you can use include nutmeg, cinnamon, cocoa and vanilla. Almond, coconut, soy and rice milks come in a variety of flavors and can be used as a substitution for regular creamers.
Use charcoal filtered water when brewing coffee. You can install a charcoal filter for your faucet so your tap water will be filtered through charcoal. Some coffee makers contain built-in water filters, as well. Yet another possibility is just buying charcoal filtered water when at your grocery store.
Proper measuring of the coffee grounds is necessary to produce the perfect cup of coffee. Measure two-level tablespoons of ground coffee for each cup of coffee you are brewing. A “cup” of coffee contains six ounces of water. If your coffee maker came with a scoop, check to see that it holds two tablespoons before using it.
Coffee is the fuel that keeps you going through a long, hard day, but you may not have realized just how amazing coffee can be. Now that you have read this article, you should have a new appreciation for this remarkable drink. The next time you are enjoying a pot of coffee, think back on this article.
