The Guidelines To 'at Home' Coffee Perfection

The Guidelines To 'at Home' Coffee Perfection

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Coffee is America's drink. Most people start their day with a steaming cup of Joe. Many are relegated to purchasing over priced drinks from local cafes because the perfect cup eludes them at home. Here we will outline the steps needed to brew your own at home.

Always use clean equipment when brewing. Anything left if the machine will either go rancid or burn. This will give the new batch of coffee a bitter flavor.

Obtain the freshest beans you can. This usually means buying at a specialty store instead of the super market. Coffee is a perishable product, so the fresher it is, the better the flavor will be. You don't want beans that have been sitting around getting stale.

Only buy as many beans as you will use. It doesn't matter how good a sale is on a great bean, if it goes stale it is no longer a great bean. Sitting around the house is just as bad for a bean as sitting around a grocery store.

The basis of the brew is water. If the water isn't good, neither is the Joe. If the tap water tastes good on its own use that. If it doesn't, use filtered water.

Always grind beans right before brewing. Have a grinder at home to do this. Grinders can be very inexpensive, and the improvement in taste will make it worth the investment.

Make sure you are using the appropriate grind for the equipment you have. A coarse grind should be used with percolators and cold water brewing. Medium grind is the workhorse that most people will use. This is suited for drip methods and the French press. Fine grind is mainly used in European equipment. Extra fine grind is only for espresso machines.

Always make sure that the right amount of grounds are used. One six ounce cup needs 2 tablespoons of grounds. More grounds do not make a better cup and wastes beans. Less than 2 tablespoons makes the water work too hard to extract flavors leading to the leaching of bitter tannins from the beans.

Beans should be treated like most other perishable goods, kept in a cool, dry place in an airtight container. Do not put beans in the fridge. This exposes them to moisture, and that ruins the flavor. Beans can be kept in the freezer, but only for 2-3 months.

It is important that the water used for brewing be very hot, but NOT boiling. For most people this is not an issue because they have automatic machines. This is important to keep in mind when using a French press.

Before serving, stir the brew after it has been made. This gets all the particles off the bottom and evenly distributes the oils. This will make all the cups more consistent.

If any coffee remains, store it in a thermos or a preheated air pot. This keeps it hot and fresh and doesn't allow for scalding if left on a hot plate.

Following easy steps and making them a routine will ensure a consistently delicious and fresh cup of coffee. It is easier than you think.

About the Author:
Coffee is a huge industry worldwide and employs millions of workers. It is a living for many people, but for others it is a great way to start their day and get a kick start in the morning when they need it. Machines like the single serve coffee maker and the vacuum coffee maker abound. To find out all you need to know, please visit our free website.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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