|
Below, you'll find extensive
information on leading coffee cup articles and products to help you on
your way to success.
Gourmet-tasting Coffee Without The Gourmet Price Tag
By R.L. Fielding, Tue Jan 10th
Quality in, quality out. The formula seems elementary but, inthe minds of many drinkers, quality is synonymous withhigher costs. lovers are seemingly faced with a trade offbetween the gourmet taste they crave and the money in theirwallets. Many loyalists continue to surrender their cashto the ritzy big-name shops in order to capture theluxury of gourmet brews. Other people opt to buy the cheapstuff, looking for the same buzz and sacrificing the flavorfulexperience.
However, Gourmet-tasting without the gourmet price tag isnot out of reach. With a few wisely chosen ingredients andtools, anyone can brew professional-grade coffee at home. Thebeverage, at its best, is more than a caffeinated booster; it'sa full-bodied treat for the five senses. Nothing compares to thecolor, temperature, flavor, aroma and sound of a perfectlypercolating pot of joe. Learn how to get the most from your nextcup with the following tips.
Ingredients for Success
If you strip down to the basics, what you are left withis water and ground beans. The higher the quality ofthese two ingredients, the better your finished product willtaste. The key is to start with fresh, cold water. You want toenhance the while letting its desired natural propertiesshine through. Water that is hot or stale can produce a bittertaste. Depending on the mineral content of your tap water, youmay prefer using bottled water for a purer flavor.
Grinding your own beans will provide the freshest, mostflavorful coffee. Many people steer clear of this step becausethey think it takes too much effort or is too time consuming.The truth is, with the aid of a powered grinder, the job can bedone in 30-seconds or less. The amount of beans you'll want touse for your brew varies by the type of machine you're using andthe desired result. For your average pot, use approximately1-cup of beans per cup of coffee.
Freeze-dried or "instant" will get the job done but, whenyou truly want to indulge, go for fresh grounds or whole beans.Many stores prepare the beans daily, or you can check the bottomof the bag for its freshness date. Good beans should appeal tothe eye and the nose. Avoid purchasing broken beans because theywill stale more quickly. For that gourmet kick, choose beansfrom the Arabica plant only. Robusta beans arerenowned for their high caffeine levels, but they provide a moreacidic taste.
To find a flavor you really enjoy, try a few different roastsand brands. Beans with a high acidity level will have a sharpertaste. Everyone's taste-buds are different. Don't be afraid togo for specialty coffees just because they sound intimidating orlook fancy. When trying the new brew, let the drink cool a bitand take the time to swish it around in your mouth beforeswallowing. This will give your tongue the chance to identifythe many layers of flavor in each sip. Caffeine content should also factor into your decision whenpicking a coffee, as it affects your overall experience. Thisstimulant is naturally present in the bean and can havemildly addictive effects if large amounts are consumed. Manycoffee drinkers enjoy the increased alertness brought on by thedrug, but too much caffeine can cause negative effects such asheadaches, insomnia and nervousness. Lighter roasts have highercaffeine content than do darker roasts because less of it islost during the shorter roasting period. Many coffees offerdecaffeinated varieties which can be delicious if you seek tolimit your caffeine intake.
Be sure to store your in an air-tight container in acool, dry place away from any potentially contaminating odors.Freezing beans can damage the oils that give its body andflavor. To really lock in the freshness of whole beans or cutgrounds, double bag them. Ground beans can lose flavor within afew hours if exposed to the air. Even well-stored ground coffeebegin to stale after only a few days, so it's recommended thatyou don't prepare more beans than you need at the moment. Atrick for adding life to pre-ground, stored is to brieflygrind it again so new surface area is exposed.
If you choose to use fresh beans, apply the followingrule of thumb regarding how finely ground the beansshould be: Longer brewing cycles equal coarser grinds. Forexample, an expresso or cappuccino maker requires beans with avery fine, almost powdery grind because the machines brew inless than a minute. Electric drip brewers with paper filtersshould utilize grounds with a consistency similar to saltgranules. Percolators work best when paired with coarsely groundbeans. This may seem like an unimportant detail, but it has atremendous impact on the strength of your drink's taste and cancause problems for your machine, such as filter clogs. Tools of the Trade
Coffee making has become an art and where would a good artist bewithout the proper tools? For the best results, there
[CaRP] Can't open cache file.
[CaRP] Failed to open file: /home/bowdonpo/carp/autocache/26c115ae156b769a7a0215a242473b41
[CaRP] Can't open remote newsfeed.
are a fewmust-have machines that every enthusiast should have inhis or her home.
When working with whole beans, you'll want to invest in a coffeegrinder. These tools are well worth the money if you enjoy afresh cup of coffee. Some coffee machines come with built-in grinders to helpsimplify the brewing process. You can get an easy-to-usestainless steel blade grinder for a reasonable price. Thegrind-level is controlled by how long you let the blades run.The metal can get hot if you're making a fine ground coffee,which can unfortunately create a burnt taste if you aren'tcareful.
Burr grinders are different from blade grinders in that thecoarseness of the ground is controlled by the burr's position.They work by crushing the beans between a moving grindingwheel and a non-moving surface. These are often more expensiveand create a more consistent ground than bladed grinders. Wheelburrs are reasonably priced because they operate noisily andwith some mess. Conical burrs are the best grinders that moneycan buy. These tools usually work more quietly, less messily,and are the least likely to clog because they operate at aslower speed.
The demands of your lifestyle will determine the type of coffeebrewer you prefer. On-the-go fanatics have made thesingle-cup maker a popular item in recent years. Mostpeople use a traditional stove-top boiling pot or a paperfiltered automatic-drip coffee machine to make their coffee at home. To properlybrew using this equipment, be sure to read the directionscarefully. The shape and size of a stove-top pot can impact theboiling time and the amount of grounds needed.
The peak temperature for boiling is 195 to 200 degreesand can be attained by letting the water come to a boil for atleast a minute before adding the coffee. Measure your water andgrounds carefully; otherwise you can end up with abitter-tasting, weak brew or an overly strong that mustbe diluted with creamer.
With a filtered brewer, you'll use approximately 1-tablespoon ofcoffee per ground per 6-ounces of water. Choose your filtercarefully. A heavier, higher quality filter will not clog aseasily as a cheap filter and will prevent "mud" fromgetting into the bottom of your drink. Similar to the filteredbrewer is the French drip brewer. These pots have a built-instrainer on top that filters the grounds as hot water ispoured over them. Flavorings, such as sugar, may be added to thegrounds before they pass through the filter. This provides amore blended taste. To protect the strength of each cup's flavorand aroma, serve the immediately after brewing.
Percolators are great for brewing large quantities of andare available in both stove-top and electric models. Thesebrewing devices have declined in popularity in the past decadesbecause they often produce a watery, bitter tasting drink. Twoof the trendiest makers available at the moment are theFrench Press and the expresso maker. To operate a French Press,you'll first steep hot water and grounds in a glassbeaker. A plunging device is used to push the grounds to thebottom of the beaker, leaving only the dense liquid ontop. Expresso makers produce full-bodied drinks by forcing hotwater through the grounds and directly into your cup. The breweris also capable of processing the steamed milk used in lattes orcappuccinos.
If you would like to read the complete article, please visit http://www.coffeecow.com/content/Article3.asp.
This article is provided by CoffeeCow. http://www.coffeecow.com
About CoffeeCow This article was provided by CoffeeCow.com which goes to greatlengths to provide the highest quality products, the fastestservice, and the deepest discount prices you will find on one cup makers,regular, decaf, and flavored and tea, and a full line ofcoffee supplies. Developed by professionals with over 35years of experience in fulfilling any service need,CoffeeCow offers all the conveniences for your home oroffice. Visit http://www.coffeecow.com formore information.
This article is copyrighted by CoffeeCow. It may not bereproduced in whole or in part and may not be posted on otherwebsites, without the express written permission of the author,who may be contacted via email at coffeecow@digitalbrandexpressions.com. About the author:R.L. Fielding Bio R.L. Fielding has been a freelance writer for10 years, offering her expertise and skills to a variety ofmajor organizations in the education, pharmaceuticals andhealthcare, financial services, and manufacturing industries.She lives in New Jersey with her dog and two cats and enjoysrock climbing and ornamental gardening.
|
