Do you fancy yourself a coffee aficionado and feel there is nothing more for you to learn? Time to check again. The following article will really help to enhance you coffee experience.
If you often find yourself needed only one cup of coffee at a time, consider investing in a Keruig coffee maker. These devices let you make just one cup and offer a wide selection of coffee flavors. There are a number of makers and features to choose from.
Try spicing up coffee for your guests by getting creative. A beautifully topped latte, hand done by you, is sure to do the trick. You can create different patterns that will leave your friends intrigued. Also, you can practice to become skilled in doing this.
Are you happy with the coffee made with your drip coffee maker? In order to enjoy better tasting coffee, allow the machine to run with just water beforehand so that it can heat up. When you have a pot of water heated up, brew again with coffee grounds. This can clean your machine.
Be careful about the type of water you utilize when preparing your coffee. Coffee made with terrible tasting water is not going to taste right itself. It is also a good idea to use water that has a mineral count. Otherwise, your coffee runs the risk of tasting bitter.
While placing things in the freezer gives them a pretty long shelf life, keep in mind that any coffee that is in your freezer should only be kept there for up to three months. If it stays there longer, the quality will go down.
Always perform a trial run with any new coffee maker. Simply run water through the machine just like when you actually make coffee. This will remove any dust or dirt it gathered sitting on a store shelf.
Good coffee requires using water that is of higher quality. Bottled water lends itself to the perfect brew. It may cost a little more, but the flavor is well worth it. Instead of purchasing bottled water, you can use a purifier on your faucet. You will not get the same taste as bottled but it will be better than tap water.
If lowering your sugar use when drinking coffee is a priority, you will find lots of options. Agave nectar, for example, contains sugar but will not harm your blood sugar. Stevia or sweet'n'low or are alternatives that can be put into your coffee.
Buy a standard coffee grinder. Freshly ground beans retain more oil and will produce a richer, more aromatic cup of coffee. You can vary the coarseness of how your coffee is ground to suit your needs. Many coffee makers come with built-in grinders which will help free up counter space.
The flavor of the coffee depends highly on the bean's origins. Therefore, try some different blends rather than purchasing your usual blends. Don't let the price deter you. If you find a great blend, one cup might be just as satisfying as three cups of what you drink now.
Some people find that it's very important to purchase fair trade coffees. Fair trade coffee beans, though somewhat pricier than regular blends, are generally far more flavorful. It will make you feel good to think about how you helped a small farmer from a developing country while drinking your morning coffee.
Don't just pour coffee over ice cubes when preparing iced coffee at your house. You will end up with watery, weak coffee. Rather, brew your coffee and pour it into ice cube trays and freeze. Once they freeze, remove them from the freezer so they can melt.
Do you prefer artificial sugar with your coffee? Such substances often change the taste of coffee and render it rather bland. You can try drinking black coffee, or just add a little bit of raw sugar to give it a better flavor. If you absolutely must sweeten your coffee, limit the amount of sweetener you use to no more than half a packet.
Coffee can help you burn fat if you do not add any sugar, cream or chocolate syrup to it. Adding sugar to your coffee nullifies its fat burning properties. Switching to black coffee or using raw sugar can help to keep the calories down while enjoying your morning coffee.
When brewing your coffee, use water that has been filtered. There are special filters that you can buy to attach to your sink and obtain this water. You can also buy coffee makers that have their own filter. Supermarkets and mass merchandisers also sell water filters.
You don't have to buy only one kind of coffee. Try out different blends on occasion to broaden your horizons. If you like different types, keep them around so you can have them when you want.
Should you prefer iced coffee, it is a good idea to refrigerate your French press overnight. This will reduce the temperature of the machine before its next use. For a clean, sweet morning brew, use your chilled press with cold water.
Make sure that the water you are using to brew your coffee gets between 195° and 205°. Most coffee makers you buy in stores will not get quite that hot. Don't let the machine warm your water, heat it yourself. French presses are pretty popular and they help to make an excellent cup of coffee.
A bit of salt may help to reduce an acidic taste in your coffee. Don't do too much of this though. It takes only a small amount. Sea salt is a good alternative if you are worried about the health risks of sodium.
Always wait until you are ready to brew your coffee to grind the beans. After it is ground, coffee will lose its flavor after some time. Make sure that the coffee grinder that you use has a blade. This will produce a better yield and your grind will be less powdery. Powdery grinds may taste bitter.
As you can now see, you didn't know as much about coffee as you thought you did. You now know more about coffee than you did before. You can impress your friends with your new found knowledge of coffee.