Shopping for coffee can be a lot of fun. There are so many options available to you that there should be whole stores devoted to this luxury. There are whole stores devoted to this luxury! You’re missing out! Continue reading to find out different options concerning your next coffee purchase.
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.
If you must add something creamy to your coffee, consider using real milk instead of whitener. Whitener is a frightening blend of ingredients you can’t pronounce, while milk of any sort – be it cream, homo, 2% or skim – provides protein, vitamin B12 and other great nutrients your body needs.
If you want to make coffee, stir it inside the pot right after it is brewed. A simple quick stir can help you get the most from your coffee. Upon serving, you will be treated to a richer taste and enjoy more of the wonderful smell that coffee lovers crave.
The best way to get iced coffee in a hurry is to make it ahead of time via cold brewing. This involves brewing with just grounds, water, a fine filter, and if you like, some milk. You can easily do this before bed. By the next morning, you’ll have refreshing iced coffee that is ready to drink.
While freezing bulk coffee can extend its shelf life, you should be careful not to freeze your coffee for too long. If you keep it around for much longer than that, the quality will begin to decrease.
Fresh coffee beans taste better than anything you can buy in stores. Did you know you could roast your own beans and enjoy fresh coffee every day? You can easily roast your own beans by placing them in your oven or using a heat gun. Buy some cheap beans to practice.
Try using coffee when cooking meats. When you think of coffee in foods, you typically think of a flavor that is rather strong. In desserts, that’s definitely true. But when you use coffee as a rub for red meat, it actually brings out the flavor of the meat itself, making for a much tastier meal.
If you are used to an independent coffee house, then be careful when ordering in Starbucks. They have a very different language for their products, as part of their distinct branding. The Caramel Macchiato you love back home is not going to taste at all the same in a Starbucks while on the road.
Think ahead about how many cups of coffee you need before you determine the balance of water and beans. A typical cup contains six ounces, and a measuring cup contains eight. The best proportion is six ounces of clean water to two tablespoons ground coffee. Using an official measuring cup makes for a weak blend.
Fair trade coffee is a way to support developing nations and indulge your coffee habit at the same time. While fair trade coffee usually is a little more expensive, you are going to agree that it has a much better taste. There’s the added benefit of making a positive difference in the lives of small farmers in developing countries all over the world.
You do not have to try the cold turkey method when attempting to reduce your caffeine intake. You can make your own “semi” caffeine-free brew by grinding equal parts of regular beans and de-caf beans. If you’re using coffee that’s already been ground, just add however much you want of each one.
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.
Only store your coffee beans at room level temperatures. Coffee beans that get stored inside a cold appliance are going to attract and absorb both condensation and the aromas of nearby foods. The resulting flavor of the coffee is going to wind up reflecting this, and turn into substandard coffee.
If you want to brew your own espresso, you need to use beans that have been finely ground. You can also use this grind in your regular drip brewer if you like really strong coffee. A good grinder will allow you to control the consistency to suit your preferences.
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 can use coffee to bring the shine back to hair that looks worn and dull. Brew some extra strong coffee then allow it to cool. Place it on hair that is clean and dry and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. After that, rinse your hair and style it as you normally would.
The size of your coffee grounds has a lot to do with the way your coffee tastes. A finer coffee grind will mean that more surface area of the bean is exposed to water while a coarser grind will mean less. No matter which grind you prefer, an even grind particle size is very important for a great cup of coffee.
So where are you going to make your next coffee selection? Perhaps you want to buy a coffee grinder and some gourmet beans. Can you smell the fresh aroma? What a way to start your morning off right. Remember the advice you’ve read as you go buy your next bag of coffee beans.
