Most people understand that brewing your own coffee as opposed to stopping by Starbucks everyday can save you quite a bit of money. However, most people aren’t able to get that coffee shop quality or taste when they brew it themselves. The following article will help you learn how you can make consistently great tasting coffee from the comfort of your own home.
Make sure that you make your coffee in water that you would have no problem drinking alone. This is important because the taste of the water will affect the way that it makes your coffee taste. If you live in an area where the water quality is not that great, use spring water to brew your coffee.
If you want great coffee at home you have a couple choices. You can invest in either an espresso machine, or one of the new single serve coffee makers. The espresso machine will require a bit of a learning curve as you learn to properly brew espresso and steam milk, but can be a great way to impress your friends.
Try spicing up coffee for your guests by getting creative. You can make it interesting by decorating homemade lattes. You can become the hit of your own party if you can master the basics of these designs. Mix melted chocolate and milk so you can practice when you make coffee.
Do not throw away your old coffee grounds. If you have a garden, you can use your coffee grounds as fertilizer for your plants and flowers while keeping the pest away. You can also use old coffee grounds to scrub dirty dishes or clean your kitchen counter instead of using chemicals.
Do not leave your coffee open any longer than necessary. While preparing your coffee, don’t open the can or bag until you are ready to scoop. Immediately after scooping, close the coffee container. This will keep your coffee fresher longer. It also keeps the flavor and aroma from evaporating in the air.
Buy whole coffee beans and grind the coffee yourself. Coffee that is freshly ground is much more flavorful and aromatic than pre-ground coffee. Each day, only grind the amount of coffee that you need for that day. If you have any extra, place the leftover grinds in an airtight container in the fridge.
Be mindful of just what water you put into your coffee maker. If you do not use water that tastes good, you will not have a good cup of coffee. Make sure there is a mineral count in the water as well. This will prevent your coffee from tasting bitter.
Obviously the coffee beans have everything to do with how your coffee is going to taste. Make you sure check out the options at local stores. Fresh beans are often plentiful when you go this route. If your town is little, you can hop on the Internet to get it. Although you may pay more, this can give you the best quality in the long run.
Remember that coffee is a very absorbent food. So, proper storage is essential. Keep your unused coffee in a place that is dry and cool where it is protected from both sunlight and heat. However, do not store it in your fridge or freezer. Also make sure the container is opaque and air-tight, to prevent coffee from absorbing flavor and aromas from other foods.
If you have a hard time finding fresh, roasted beans in your area, then consider roasting fresh beans yourself. The easiest and most fool-proof method is to place green coffee beans on a baking tray and roast them in the oven. Preheat the oven at the highest temperature and roast the beans until you hear them start to crack.
For the freshest and best-tasting coffee around, buy it directly from the company’s website. Typically, these companies will roast the beans for you and send it out within a few days of doing so. Simply go on the Internet and look on the company’s website to find their “grinding process”.
Look at where your coffee originated. Where the coffee was grown makes a big deal to the overall flavor. For instance, Latin American countries tend to grow beans that have a milder taste. If you are looking for more of an exotic taste, you’ll want to consider coffees from Africa.
You can easily froth milk at home without having to purchase any special equipment. Just pour milk into a glass mug, and heat it in the microwave until it starts to steam. Put a whisk inside the mug and rub it back and forth quickly between your hands. Keep doing this until the milk is foamy. To achieve maximum froth, use either half and half or whole milk.
To get the ideal flavor from your coffee beans, the water needs to be just the right temperature. Boiling water is too hot and as a result will sap the more bitter oils from your beans. Alternately, water that is not hot enough will not brew all the flavor from your beans leaving you with a very bland coffee.
For great coffee at home, it is essential to make sure your coffee maker has been thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. By running hot water cycles every so often and using a bit of lemon juice routinely to remove deposits, it is possible to have a fresh, tasty pot of coffee every single time.
Many people feel like there is something wrong with giving children coffee every now and then, but it is okay as long as the coffee has no caffeine in it. The caffeine content is the main reason that coffee is not considered to be a suitable beverage for children to drink.
As was mentioned earlier in this article, making your own coffee often doesn’t result in coffee shop quality java. However, when you implement the tips and tricks given in this article, you are mere moments away from creating wonderful tasting coffee that is sure to brighten up your morning.
