Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, rivaling tea as the morning beverage of choice for millions of people. Whether the preference is organic shade-grown specialty blends or the average ground beans in a can, there is no doubt that true coffee lovers will go to great lengths to get their “fix.” Read on for some interesting tips and insights about this passion-inducing liquid that we can’t seem to live without.
Always find out how much caffeine a certain type of coffee contains before drinking it. Espressos do not necessarily contain more caffeine than other types of coffees. If you go to a coffee shop, your barista should be able to tell you how much caffeine you are getting in each beverage, but you might have to do some research about the beans you are using if you make your own coffee.
You can re-use your coffee grounds for many items. Coffee grounds are great for getting rid of smells like garlic and onion on your hands. You can also use them on dishes that refuse to get clean with regular washing. Coffee grounds can even be used in the garden to take care of pests that threaten your plants.
Putting food and drinks in the freezer makes them keep longer, but there’s a limit to this. For coffee, three months is about the longest it can stay frozen. Coffee frozen longer than that will start suffering in quality.
Always make sure that you store your coffee in an airtight container if you are not planning on using it. This will help to preserve its freshness so that you can make coffee that is desirable for all of your friends and family. Coffee tastes the best when it is fresh, as this will help to optimize your brew.
The taste of coffee largely depends on the beans. Therefore, try some different blends rather than purchasing your usual blends. Don’t allow the price to impact your choice because you could enjoy a certain brand much more, which means that a less amount of coffee may satisfy you.
If you are living alone, or are the only one in your family who drinks coffee, consider purchasing a single-serve coffee maker. Companies such as Keurig have created coffee makers that use a coffee pod, a single serving of coffee grounds in a small container that fits inside the machine. This type of coffee maker is also useful if you like to drink a different flavor of coffee each day.
Iced coffee doesn’t taste so great when the ice cubes begin to melt, watering down the flavor. An excellent tip is to make ice cubes out of coffee or milk, and keeping them in the freezer in zippered bags. They will be handy anytime you want a cold drink on a hot day!
Some people drink their coffee black, and prefer just the pure coffee flavor. Others add just creamer, and still others like their coffee with a flavored creamer. There are many different brands and flavors or creamers available. Some common holiday creamers are flavored with pumpkin spice for Thanksgiving, or peppermint for Christmas.
Never drink coffee in the eight hours prior to going to bed. The half-life of caffeine can range from 30 minutes to 8 hours, so this is the only sure fire way of having it out of your system when it is time to rest. Otherwise, you are going to need even more caffeine the next day. A coffee habit can be a little healthy, but caffeine dependency is bad news.
Fair trade coffee is a way to support developing nations and indulge your coffee habit at the same time. Fair trade coffee beans, though somewhat pricier than regular blends, are generally far more flavorful. Also, you can help small farming groups in faraway lands.
If you do go to a coffeehouse for a cup of joe and work away from home, be careful how you place your laptop. You do not want to spill your drink on it, nor do you want anyone reading your screen over your shoulder. Also be mindful of what you say on the phone. Your competition could be in there too.
Avoid reheating your coffee at all costs. When you reheat your coffee, it tends to lose a lot of its natural flavors. If you do not plan on drinking your coffee right away, but you want to make sure it stays hot, your best bet is to pour it into an insulated mug.
If you are wanting a safe way to break from your favorite everyday coffee and try something new, try to narrow down what it is you like best about your tried and true brew. Pay attention to where your beans are brewed as well as to whether you are using a light or dark roast.
To prevent your iced coffee from becoming watery, try making coffee ice cubes. When regular ice cubes melt in iced coffee, they can water it down. To avoid that, pour some room-temperature coffee into ice cube trays and place them in the freezer. A little later, you’ll have coffee ice cubes that will add more coffee flavor to your iced coffee as they melt.
If you are grinding your own coffee, the medium grind is preferable for regular purposes. It works great for the home drip brewer. It should be around the consistency of common table salt when you are done. Practice with your own machine until you learn what produces flavors you prefer.
To get the cleanest taste and the least negative effects from your coffee habit, consider trying organic coffee. Because coffee beans absorb the flavor of virtually everything, they are exposed to, those that are processed with chemicals tend to have a muted or distorted flavor. On the other hand, organic coffee beans offer a very clean and pure brew.
As you see, coffee is indeed an important element in the world’s daily dietary consumption. Use some of the insights here to enrich the experience of your morning cup of “joe” and to expand your knowledge and enjoyment of a product that employs millions of workers across the globe.
