8 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Coffee Habit
Whether you’re in Cali, New York, Florida, or Nebraska, it’s estimated that 64% of Americans love their cup of joe every day. After all, we’re a nation of coffee lovers! If you’re one of them, there’s nothing that quite beats your first fresh cup in the morning.
For the coffee fanatics, you’ll want to switch things up from time to time to keep things exciting. Rather than doing the same old same old day in day out, here are some great ways on how to get the most out of your coffee habit.
Choose a Better Bean
It’s very easy to pick up the same coffee you have been drinking for years. However, there’s a whole world out there when it comes to coffee! Today, the selection is impressive and vast. From the typical grocery favorites to local coffee shop products, there are no excuses when it comes to not trying out different coffee beans.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on a well-roasted coffee bean either. There are many good quality and affordable coffees that you can check out that won’t break the bank, provided you’re willing to give unknown brands a shot. Look for one-pound bags and push yourself out of your comfort zone by sampling different roasts. We promise the right bean for you is out there somewhere!
Store Your Beans Properly
When you’ve found the perfect coffee beans for you, it’s time to think about storing them properly. Note, we don’t mean just dumping them in the kitchen cabinet. You need to house your coffee beans in an airtight container and ensure they’re put in a cool, dry, and dark location.
Cup & Bean have a guide on coffee bean storage. As well as how to store coffee beans, they have other posts on all things coffee that are worth checking out. Whatever you do, make sure not to stock a huge supply of coffee beans together. This is because they taste much better shortly after roasting. Also, don’t leave your coffee beans for months on end. Instead, try to use whole beans within 30 days and ground coffee within 14 days.
Pick the Best Grind
There’s no doubt about it. Freshly ground coffee packs the most flavor, even if it will take an extra couple of minutes to prepare. There are numerous coffee grinder options to pick from. Understandably, each person will differ and have personal preferences. Some electric models grind the beans automatically, whereas manual counterparts require more experimenting and adjustments.
After you’ve chosen the best grinder for your needs, next you need to match the size of your coffee grounds to the brewing technique of choice. When it comes to coffee brewers, the water flow and pressure differ for each style. Therefore, make sure you pick the right grind size!
Measure the Ground Coffee
The coffee brewing method you pick will require different ratios of water and ground coffee beans. Should you not use enough, you’ll end up with no flavor. On the other hand, using too much will result in a sloppy goop!
The key is to pick the perfect amount of beans for your brewer, as well as how many cups of coffee you make each time. Standard drip machines use one tablespoon of coffee for each cup of water. If necessary, measure out the beans with a kitchen scale. This will help you get the perfect amount for your taste.
Use Clean Water
Regardless of how you make your coffee, there are only two things that make up a perfect cup of joe – coffee beans and water. You need to take care in selecting the right beans and finding the ideal ground. Once you’ve done this, it’s time to pay attention to your water.
The best kind of water to use when brewing tea or coffee is clean and cold. Rather than reaching for the tap, distilled bottled water will produce much cleaner and tastier cups of coffee. There are a number of benefits to using distilled water for your health too. For instance, distillation removes waterborne pathogens and lowers the risk of consuming harmful chemicals.
Avoid Old Coffee
When you go for your first sip of the day, no one wants to endure bad-tasting, bitter coffee. If it’s overheated or burnt, this normally occurs when you leave the pot on a warming burner for too long. Also, never reheat your coffee in the microwave! We promise the taste won’t be pleasant on your tongue.
To truly enjoy your cup of joe, we recommend brewing a fresh cup or pot. While this may seem like a hassle if you’ve got some sitting right there, starting from scratch is guaranteed to yield better results. For those who want to be more eco-friendly and not like waste, simply place any excess coffee in the refrigerator and have an iced coffee later on in the day.
Clean Your Equipment
Coffee pots aren’t cast-iron pans, meaning they won’t get better over time. Any residue lurking around after the brewing process has finished will impact how your coffee tastes. For this reason, it’s important to clean your equipment regularly.
With most brewers and presses, all you need to do is a simple hand wash once per week. Some can be put in the dishwasher too. However, always check out the instructions first, otherwise, you may cause damage.
Explore Creamers and Sweeteners
To enhance the taste and flavor of your coffee, now is the time to look into creamers and sweeteners. Some coffee lovers argue a good cup of joe doesn’t need additives. However, it’s your coffee at the end of the day, so do what you feel is right!
Instead of reaching for cream or milk, why not try a small slab of butter? Cinnamon is also a great sugar substitute. Take some time to experiment with different flavors and ingredients. Before long, you’ll have a tasty cup of coffee.
Many coffee lovers get into the same routine when it comes to drinking their favorite beverage. Unfortunately, this can hinder how much you get out of your coffee. To give your cup a boost, now is the time to try out new flavors, brewing techniques, and equipment. Doing any of the three is sure to elevate your coffee habit and ensure you get a great-tasting brew time and time again.