Is Your Daily Coffee Harming Your Health?

TIP! Stir the coffee in the pot immediately after brewing it. Stirring the coffee helps distribute the flavor and aroma throughout the entire pot.

There are several things to consider when shopping for coffee. You could get lost if you’re a beginner and are looking to purchase some coffee. Keep reading to learn more about choosing the right kind of coffee for you.

TIP! Visiting a coffee shop can be a way for home based workers and students to get around other people. Many coffee houses have Wi-Fi, so you can take headphones and a laptop to a place away from home to work.

If you want to add sweetness without adding calories, then consider trying sugar alternatives like Stevia. Stevia is natural and sweetens without glucose. It can also help you with weight issues. It can be found in fine grocers and health food stores.

TIP! You can choose from a large number of coffee types. Dark roast provides a fuller flavor while lighter roasts provide a milder, smoother flavor.

Are you inviting company over for coffee? If so, put your creativity on display by putting decorations on the lattes you serve. With just a bit of practice, you will be able to impress your guests by creating basic flowers or leaves. Try mixing up melted chocolate and milk and continue to practice each time you brew coffee.

TIP! Good coffee requires great water. Think about using bottled water, because even though it is costly, it can make your coffee taste wonderful.

Do not reheat leftover coffee. Although people often say that it is dangerous because there are chemicals in it, that is not true. However, chemical compounds in the coffee decompose after sitting for an extended period, or when exposed to microwaves. Your coffee may come bitter, acidic, or weak.

Coffee Beans

TIP! The water you use when brewing coffee is a critical element. If your water has a funny taste, it can greatly affect the taste of your coffee.

When purchasing coffee beans, don’t keep them inside the same bag you bought them in after opening them. An airtight container that doesn’t allow any light in is the best place to store coffee beans once they are opened. This will help them stay fresher for a much longer time.

TIP! You will always get a better cup of coffee if you use beans that are roasted fresh. If you use whole beans, check the roasting date before you buy.

If you keep your coffee in a refrigerator, be sure that no air can get into the container. Coffee takes the odors of different fruits and vegetables, which will corrupt the taste. Another problem that may arise if coffee is inappropriately stored is moisture intrusion.

TIP! Coffee grinders are not all alike, so look for ones with flat grinding burrs or ones that are conical in shape. This reduces the level of heat that you experience when brewing.

For the best results from an older coffee maker, first brew some hot water before you make any coffee. After you have a pot of water at a sufficiently hot temperature, put it back into the coffee machine. This produces the hottest and most flavorful coffee possible.

Coffee Beans

TIP! Make sure your coffee isn’t stored in close proximity to an oven. Heat saps the flavor out of your coffee very quickly.

Coffee tastes better when you use fresh coffee beans. Check expiration and roasting dates when buying whole beans. You would probably be better off to purchase coffee beans from your local coffee shop or a specialty store rather than your local grocery store.

TIP! Fair trade coffee is a great way to support developing countries. While fair trade coffee usually is a little more expensive, you are going to agree that it has a much better taste.

Coffee does not need to be stored in the freezer. In actuality, leaving coffee in the fridge may cause it to attract the scents of other foods. An optimal spot for storing coffee is a non-translucent container that is air tight. If you must freeze it or put it in the fridge, at least use a freezer bag.

TIP! Always wait for the brewing to finish before you pour your coffee if you want the best taste. While it’s possible to do so with some machines, it’s not good for the coffee.

Avoid storing your coffee near the oven. Heat saps the flavor out of your coffee very quickly. Thus, it is necessary to steer clear of counters or cabinets situated in close proximity to the oven.

TIP! When you are trying to prepare iced coffee, do not just put ice in it. This results in watery coffee.

Are you having a hard time recreating the rich taste you can find in coffee shops? Use more coffee. Most coffeehouses use the ratio of 2 tablespoons coffee to 6 ounces of water. Experiment with ratios and quantities until you find the perfect flavor and keep in mind that you might have to adapt the ratio to the blend you are using.

Fair Trade Coffee

TIP! In order to maintain the flavor from a fresh brew of coffee, make sure you remove it from the burner after approximately ten minutes. After so long on the burner, the coffee will have a bitter taste.

Fair trade coffee is not only delicious, but buying it supports developing countries. Fair trade coffee may be a little pricier than the more common brands of coffee, however it is also tastier. You are going to be providing assistance to small farming co-ops in third world countries.

TIP! You should not always purchase the same type of coffee. You should try different blends every time you buy more coffee.

If you are tired of the same traditional coffee every single day to wake you up, add some chocolate to your coffee. You will get a nice energy boost and add a delicious flavor. Try dark chocolate coffee for a boost of energy in the morning.

TIP! Take the coffee out of the coffee maker when it’s done brewing. Leaving the carafe on the machine’s burner allows the coffee to keep heating, which tends to damage its flavor.

You can get sweetness in your coffee without adding sugar. Warm up milk and mix it with your coffee. Warm milk tends to be sweet naturally and you won’t need any cream either. Compared to cream and sugar, milk is also much healthier.

TIP! It is wise to consume coffee before mid-afternoon. While many love it for its bold, rich flavor, coffee can have the unintended effect of keeping you up later than you intended thanks to its high caffeine content.

When brewing your coffee, use water that has been filtered. Get a filter and install it in your sink so you can perform charcoal filtering on tap water. You can also buy coffee makers that have their own filter. Supermarkets and mass merchandisers also sell water filters.

TIP! Be sure that the temperature of the water for your coffee reaches between 195 to 205 degrees. Standard coffee makers that are purchased in a store do not heat to that high of a temperature.

You are certainly more informed about coffee after reading the tips above. There are many styles out there so it’s important to choose wisely. Remember the tips you’ve read here as you buy your next gourmet batch.