There is nothing that people love to drink more than coffee. With so many different kinds and so many different ways to enjoy it, this popular drink is growing even more popular every day. What do you need to know about it? Here are some smart tips that will help you get more out of your favorite drink.
To save money by buying bulk coffee without sacrificing flavor, measure out what you plan to use immediately and store it at room temperature. Coffee tastes best when it is brewed from room temperature grounds. Coffee you plan to use within the next week can go in the refrigerator, and the remaining beans or grounds should go in the freezer.
Avoid storing your coffee in the freezer. The extreme temperatures of the freezer will destroy the oils in the coffee. Instead, drink what you have or buy smaller amounts of coffee. If you do not buy too much coffee, you will not need to worry about storing it for an extended period of time.
If you are making iced coffee with instant coffee grounds, you should add twice as much as you would normally add to a hot cup. This is because adding ice will dilute the coffee and make it weak if you do not make sure that you make it strong enough.
Make sure that you always refrain from putting coffee beans in the freezer or refrigerator. When these beans are placed in areas that contain food, it will absorb the smells of the food and take away from the coffee taste. This will ruin the quality of your coffee, as you should always separate beans from other nourishments.
If you grind your own coffee, be sure to only grind the amount you will be using that day. If you grind too much and just leave your coffee around, the elements will take the freshness and taste of it. Contrary to what many believe, storing coffee in the refrigerator does not leave it fresh.
You shouldn’t store coffee near an oven. If you coffee is stored near a heat source, it can lose its flavor. You should not leave the coffee on the counter near the stove or in a cupboard above it.
If your coffee doesn’t taste right, it may be the water you’re using. To counteract bad tap water, use a tap water filter. Or you can brew your coffee with bottled water.
Don’t make iced coffee by pouring your hot coffee into a glass of ice cubes. This will make your drink watery. Instead, place the coffee on a frozen sheet of ice in the freezer. After they have frozen, remove them and let them melt.
Adapt your coffee to water ratio in function of the technique you are using to brew your coffee. A Technivorm or a vacuum pot will require you to use more coffee grounds than a French press or a drip machine. Drip machines are actually the cheapest way to make coffee but you will get a better flavor with other techniques.
Even if you cannot afford designer coffee beans, you can get a more flavorful brew by choosing coffee beans or freshly ground coffee over packaged ground coffee. Because grinding the beans instantly releases their flavor, you want to brew ground beans as quickly as possible. Coffee that is already ground when you buy it is probably past its flavor prime.
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.
Purchase a coffee maker that brews into a thermal carafe or pot. If you are the type of person who likes to nurse your coffee, this allows you to enjoy hot coffee for as long as you want to spend drinking it. This also keeps the coffee tasting good and not losing its flavor.
If your coffee has an acidic flavor, you may be able to reduce it with a pinch of salt. Don’t do too much of this though. This can work with only a pinch. You can even try sea salt, and you will have a balanced, natural flavor with trace minerals.
If you have a lot of ants in your home, you can use coffee to repel them. Sprinkle dry, used grounds anywhere that you normally see them. You can brew a pot and pour it over any ant holes that you see in your yard and they will go away.
Remember that coffee does have calories. While it is true that a good jolt of caffeine right before a workout can enable you to exercise more intensely and hopefully burn more calories, that is not carte blanche to drink as much coffee as you want. Each cup still adds up to your total caloric intake.
The water temperature is extremely important for brewing a great tasting cup of coffee. If you are not satisfied by the coffee your automatic machine is producing, check the temperature of the water after it is heated. It should be between 195 – 205 degrees Fahrenheit to produce the best tasting cup of coffee.
Do not hesitate to create your own beverages. All you need is different blends of coffee, a quality coffee machine and different ingredients such as milk, cream, syrups, nuts and fresh fruits. Mix and match different ingredients according to your taste and remember to write down the recipe so you can create the same drink again.
Let these tips help you to make that perfect cup of coffee to get your day and your life moving in the right direction. Try each tip out, and see which work best for you. Coffee is a popular drink that is growing in popularity even today, so make sure to pass this article on to others, too!
