Improving Your Daily Brew
Posted by
Brittney Murray
Monday, April 4, 2011
12:30 PM
There are times when you reach for that pot of coffee and feel like something is missing. That once satisfying cup of joe just isn't hitting the spot anymore and you don't know why. How about improving your daily brew? A few of the things I'm going to suggest are things that I've tried myself. I don't feel right about recommending methods that I haven't tried myself.
Water
Really? Could it be something as simple as the water you're using? Yes. Water can effect the taste of your coffee, so if you live somewhere that the water is typically hard, I'd recommend using bottled or filtered water (NOT distilled) when you brew a pot. If you're skeptical of this, then try a little experiment. Make a pot one day using your normal tap water, and then the next make one using bottled or filtered. I can taste the difference, but keep in mind that if you're new to coffee the subtle nuisances will not be as predominate to you to start off.
Storage
How do you store your coffee beans? Whatever you do, don't freeze or refrigerate them! All you're doing is speeding up the process of degrading the beans. The best method of storage is to pour the beans into an airtight container and as long as you don't store them near the oven, room temperature will be fine. If you'd like the maximum about of flavor to your coffee, I recommend buying whole beans and for about $15-$20, you can find a decent coffee grinder so you can grind your own beans. Put the grinder on a medium setting when you're grinding beans for your coffeemaker. That's important!
Over-extraction
Hate it when you go over to a friend's house, they offer you coffee and after your first sip you swore that coffee proceeded to stand up and have a conversation with you? That's some strong coffee! Contrary to popular belief, the less coffee grounds you add to the filter, the more bitter the pot of coffee will be and that's not a good thing. That's less surface area for the water to move through as it brews your coffee so what you're effectively doing is over-extracting the oils from the grounds and leaving yourself with a pot of motor oil. The adequate measurement for brewing a great pot of coffee is 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 ounces of water. I realize that seems like a lot, but trust me, the flavor of the coffee is going to change your mind. If it's too strong for you? No problem, add some hot water to your cup and voila, instant fix, but be careful when doing this or you'll dilute the coffee too much.
Syrups/Spices
Sometimes when I need something more than a little cream or sugar, I'll add cinnamon to my cup of coffee. It's easier to add the spice directly to the coffee grounds in the coffeemaker prior to brewing, but you can add it directly to your cup. One thing to keep in mind when you do add cinnamon to your cup, pour in about one to two inches of coffee, heat it in the mircowave so it's even hotter and then stir to make sure the cinnamon dissolves completely. Another option is to use coffee syrups to add a little something extra to your daily brew. Only add in syrup after you've poured yourself a cup and the great thing is, there are hundreds of flavors to choose from, including sugar-free ones such as chocolate, vanilla, raspberry, etc.
Keep in mind that these are only a few methods of improving your daily brew. The water type, storage of the beans, and insuring you don't over-extract the beans are a must. Save the syrups and spices for when you really can't go with a simple pot of coffee.
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