There’s nothing like a great cup of coffee to start the morning off right. It takes more than just the basics to artfully brew a good tasting cup of coffee. The good news is you can become a coffee expert, too. What follows are some suggestions to help you along the way.
Don’t grind your coffee beans until just before making a fresh pot of coffee. When you grind beforehand, the coffee loses its flavor. You might not have coffee that is good if you grind it ahead of time.
Do not reheat coffee after you are finished with it. An old wive’s tale say that it will release harmful chemicals; however, this is untrue. Some of the compounds in coffee can begin to deteriorate within 30 minutes of brewing, especially if it is left sitting on burner or is heated in the microwave. It may develop a taste that is bitter or “off”.
Do not leave coffee beans in the bag the beans were sold in. The container should be airtight and able to keep out damaging light. This helps the beans stay fresher longer.
You should never keep your coffee in the freezer for longer than three months. If you keep the coffee frozen for a longer period of time, the quality will deteriorate.
When brewing a pot of coffee, ensure you use the appropriate amount of water. Coffee can turn out too strong if there isn’t enough water used. However, diluted coffee can be just as disappointing. Who wants watery, weak coffee? A good general rule is for every cup you want to make, add 2 cups of water.
Protect your coffee beans in order to maximize your bulk purchases of coffee. You do not want your beans to suffer from heat and light. Additionally, other foods can contaminate unprotected beans. Make sure you store your coffee beans in a dark, airtight container.
Consider fair-trade coffee to help support developing countries. While it’s a little more pricey, it tastes better. In addition to a great cup of coffee, you will be supporting small farmer cooperatives in developing countries.
As mentioned before, it is possible for everyone to brew a tasty mug of coffee when armed with the proper knowledge. Now that you’ve read this article, use what you’ve learned here to improve your brewing skills. In time, you may actually reach perfection.
