When it comes to early morning rituals, few things are as well-loved and universal as that first cup of coffee. Where do you buy your coffee? Do you really know what goes into producing the coffee that you buy? Read on to find out more information about the different options you have when it comes to that fresh cup of joe.
If you are concerned about your waistline or have diabetes, use Stevia in place of sugar. Stevia is completely natural and comes from plants; therefore, it can sweeten your coffee without the added glucose that can impact your weight. You can find this product in your local health food store.
If you purchase whole coffee beans, be sure that you only grind it right before you are prepared to brew. The reason is that when coffee is ground, it starts to lose flavor. If you grind your beans early, your coffee will not taste as good.
Do not reheat leftover coffee. While this certainly does not let dangerous fumes into the air, as some have claimed, it does have an effect on taste. Coffee starts to lose flavor within half an hour of brewing, and even faster if it is left on the burner. Your coffee may come bitter, acidic, or weak.
If brewing at home, coffee can prevent cabin fever. Most coffee shops have free internet connectivity. If you work from your computer, taking your laptop to a coffee house could be a nice change. A lot of restaurants also offer WiFi.
Only buy organic coffee. Coffee is among the more absorbent crops in existence, and it gets its flavor primarily from the soil that it was grown in. Look for organic coffees, which will taste markedly better.
Coffee Maker
If you have an old coffee maker, put hot water in a pot and brew it before making your coffee. After you have run a full pot of water through the machine, add your coffee grounds and pour the heated water back into your coffee maker. By doing this, you get the most flavor from your coffee grounds.
A French press can really give you a flavorful and strong cup of coffee. Unlike traditional drip-style coffee makers, a French press preserves the oil when brewing, which means better tasting coffee. With regular coffee machines, those flavor-rich oils tend to get absorbed by the paper filters.
Good water is critical. Always remember that anything involved in the brewing process has the possibility of affecting your coffee’s taste. That is why bottled water, distilled water or at the very least filtered water from your tap results in the best tasting cup of coffee.
Coffee tastes better when you use fresh coffee beans. When buying whole beans, be sure to check the expiration and roasting dates. The best place to buy beans is a specialty store, rather than a common grocery store.
Iced Coffee
If you want to make iced coffee, do not just pour brewed coffee over some ice. This will water down the coffee. Pour the hot coffee into your ice cube tray, let it cool and freeze it. When you want iced coffee, take out the cubes and pour a little hot coffee over them for great iced coffee.
If you cannot find a coffee brew that you like, try combining two complementary flavors. Visit your local coffee house and ask if they offer samples of the blend you are interested in, or if they have any recommendations.
If you are disappointed in the coffee you are getting from your local supermarket, then it may be time to shop elsewhere. You probably do not have access to the freshest beans possible. At stores that specialize in coffee, you are likely to discover the freshest product.
Filtered water allows the true flavor of the coffee to shine. This will allow you to filter your tap water with charcoal, improving its quality. Another alternative is to buy a coffee machine that has its own built-in filter. Yet another possibility is just buying charcoal filtered water when at your grocery store.
Don’t drink caffeinated coffee late in the day. Although coffee is a delicious part of every day, be aware that the caffeine it contains can also keep you up at night. Avoid drinking coffee past 3 in the afternoon.
For those who love iced coffee, refrigerate your French press the night before you use it. You will cool it down so you can use it when you wake up. This, combined with ice-cold water helps give your coffee a fresh, clean taste.
Has this given you new ideas for your morning brew? There are a lot of choices, so why not give a few a shot? With just a little time, you will find several flavors that make you happy and rival even the best coffee-shop coffees.