Coffee is possibly the most important beverage in the world. We rely on it for energy and to start our day. It is used for social gathering and to mark special occasions. Coffee helps to keep us healthy and tells us who we are. Some would even say it is a gift from above.But how do you take the best advantage of this wonderful brew? I've listed the six key steps to brewing world class coffee:1. Buy whole bean coffee and grind it yourself. Coffee beans are nature's little storage containers, and once you break them open, your coffee immediately starts to lose flavor. This is true even if it's stored in airtight bags (see number 2). If you truly value the quality of your coffee, don't even think about buying ground coffee. Get a grinder and spend the extra 20 seconds grinding the whole beans just before you brew them. You'll never regret the effort.2. Keep your coffee cool, dry and dark. A coffee bean seems to be a simple thing, but inside is a complex mixture of flavor ingredients. The shell of the bean does a great job of protecting its contents, but it can't keep out heat, light and moisture. You need an airtight container that is made of heavy plastic, glass or stainless steel (don't use copper, iron or brass - they'll react with the coffee). Keep it out of the light, away from dampness and away from heat. Improperly stored coffee will dry out, become stale and lose its flavor. People used to think that freezing coffee helped to preserve it... actually it dries out the flavor oils and exposes it to moisture. Your best bet is a cabinet or pantry that's not to warm and keeps out the light.3. Brew in a clean pot. Make sure you clean your coffee pot well after every use with soap and hot water. Coffee oils and proteins leave a residue that will harm the flavor of your coffee. Soap alone won't get rid of minerals and harder residue that can build up over time, so you need to give it a good cleaning every 4 to 6 weeks with vinegar or baking soda. Use a plastic bristled brush to get at hard-to-reach places and don't forget the lid and the filter basket... they will collect coffee residue as well.4. Don't overlook your coffee cup. This is often overlooked, but still very important. Using paper or plastic cups just doesn't cut it. They can affect the flavor and they don't hold the heat well. The best material is porcelain, but a good clean stainless steel works well also. As with the pot, you must take care to keep the cup clean. It can become dirtied by the same oils and residues that collect in the coffee maker. Use hot water and soap, and occasionally do a good cleaning with vinegar. If a cup becomes cracked, scratched inside or develops stains that won't come out, throw it away.5. Get the recipe right. Different people have different tastes, but generally speaking you want to use 2 teaspoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. For larger pots you will need a little more coffee. I'm sure there's a good reason for this, but all I know is that you need to do it or the coffee will seem too weak. Start with that ratio and adjust it up or down for your particular tastes, but always remember to measure both the coffee and the water accurately. You'll need to experiment with each variety of coffee you use, as each one will have different strength and flavor characteristics.6. Don't reheat the coffee. If coffee cools down and is then reheated, the taste an aroma change. I can tell with one whiff if a pot of coffee has been reheated - no matter what others say, it will never be the same after it cools.Follow these six steps and you'll soon be known as a master coffee brewer. By brewing coffee to its very best you can rest assured that you're getting the most delicious coffee possible. Coffee is the most vital drink on the whole planet, so don't take it lightly. Treat your coffee with respect and reverence and it will give you all the joy you desire!
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If you love coffee, you surely want to make the best coffee your beans can provide. Here's how!
To make great coffee, start with the best beans from Boca Java or Cafe Britt. Jenny's BargainLinks Catalog
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