Coffee Guide

Even a Coffee Bean or San Francisco Coffee outlet frequenter won?t be able to master the art of appreciating true gourmet coffee unless they know the history and info about gourmet coffee. Oh, of course, you don?t have to an EXPERT to enjoy and understand gourmet coffee, but knowing a little bit more than the grocery store owner who sells instant coffee would help you appreciate the taste, smell and absolute heaven that gourmet coffee fans know gourmet coffee is absolutely capable of.

Gourmet coffee is nothing like wine. With wine, the longer you leave (some wine, anyway), the better the taste, the higher the quality and the pricier it is. But with gourmet coffee, freshness says a lot. If possible, get coffee beans that have been roasted no more than 1 week before. And if you?re going to learn how to appreciate gourmet coffee, only buy 100% Arabica coffee.

It?s pretty hard to find freshly roasted coffee bean on the shelves of the local supermarket. Chances are, the coffee beans that you?re consuming today have been roasted at least 3 months back. One way to counter this problem is to buy the whole bean in batches and grind them with a home-coffee grinding machine as and when you need it. It?s really easy with the kind of machines they have today, so, if you want to learn how to appreciate gourmet coffee, grind it when you need it.

Once you?ve purchased the gourmet coffee beans, don?t just leave out there in room temperature. What you should do with gourmet coffee beans is to store them in an air-tight container in the fridge if you?re planning to use it soon. However, if you?re going to keep it, store the gourmet coffee beans in an air-tight container and keep it in the FREEZER.

You need the right grinder for the right brewer. Generally speaking, you can use about 2 tablespoons of gourmet coffee powder for 6 oz of water. Adjust the way you make your cup of gourmet coffee according to the way you like to drink your gourmet coffee.

With wine, the country where the grapes are grown makes a difference. With gourmet coffee, not only is the country of origin for the gourmet coffee bean makes a difference, the company that sells the gourmet coffee beans matters too. Buy only from reputable companies for gourmet coffee.

And one last thing about gourmet coffee is this ? learn to enjoy it, appreciate the smell, love the taste, experiment with it and you?ll soon see the wonder of gourmet coffee. If you?re hurrying off for work in the morning, forget about gourmet coffee! During the morning rush, just stick to instant coffee.

Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.coffee-tea-and-more.net on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Could you ever resist the craving to have a second cup of that beautiful, strongly aromatic and lazily steaming cup of coffee? Perhaps no one can do it. A passionate Gourmet?s delight, freshly brewed, thick and dark brown and irresistible coffee just brightens up your day like no other drink or anything else can do.

Why Is Gourmet Coffee So Special

One might be tempted to ask why gourmet coffee is so special. Well, here is the answer. For starters, gourmet coffee is always made by high quality fresh Arabica coffee beans which are always hand picked unlike other commercial coffees which are mostly machine graded. Hand picking of coffee beans eliminate chances for dirt such as twigs, leaves etc to sneak in and spoil your coffee.

Secondly, gourmet coffee beans are specially treated with oils after roasting which enhances its flavor to no end. The oil used for coffee bean treatment is a blend of many natural oils which do not have their adverse effect on the shelf life or stability of the ground powder unlike synthetic oils. The oils are so mixed that their characteristic flavors neutralize each other.

You can have different tailor made roast for your gourmet coffee. Deep roasted beans some what loose their natural aroma and this is why you feel the ?roasted flavor? when drinking it. Rather you would prefer a lighter roasting which retains its entire natural aroma.

Arabica coffee beans are ground to the exact perfection of fineness to get its best taste. But generally a finer grind results in a full-bodied cup of coffee, but as many would like it, coarser grinds are preferred to make coffee with coarse filters.

Finer grinds are preferred by those who like espresso but true lovers of gourmet coffee will almost invariably go with the coarse ground coffee powder as boiled water takes its own sweet time to pull out the flavor completely, especially in drip type filters.

Arabica coffee beans are never stored in warehouses as they are dispatched quickly after harvesting. It is the same story after roasting and grinding them, too. The beans from Arabica trees are, by nature, tastier than Robusta, another cheaper variety.

To its credit, Robusta coffee bean offers you higher caffeine content along with that characteristic acidic taste. Another little known fact is some marketers mix a small percentage of Robusta with gourmet coffee beans.

NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Coffee Resources, Coffee Grinder and Tea Resources

All the experts agree. People who want the best flavor in their coffee use coffee grinders. Coffee grinders work so well because they unleash the bean oils and aromas right before you make a pot. It?s like opening a fresh can of ground coffee each and every time you make some joe.

Of course, besides coffee grinders, there?s also some technique that goes into making a good pot of pick me up. This holds true for both the way your put your coffee in your coffee maker, the kind of coffee maker you have, and the type of water you use.

First, coffee gurus recommend adding two heaping tablespoons of whole beans to the grinder for every six ounces of water you plan to use. To be exact, you probably should measure out your water before you add it to the coffee maker if you are using a drip coffee maker.

What type of maker should I use with coffee grinders?

As for the type of coffee maker to go with coffee grinders, experts say here that a press pot or a machine with a gold cone, or other permanent filter, is best. Picky coffee drinkers do not use paper filters. They have an aftertaste and absorb the special aromatic oils from the coffee beans that are essential for superb taste. If you must use paper filters, try rinsing them with hot water beforehand to wash out the aftertaste.

It is also important to know how long to let your coffee brew. After using coffee grinders, the ground coffee is very delicate. If water contacts it for too long, for instance, your coffee can end with an overly bitter coffee. On the other hand, if water doesn?t contact the coffee grounds for long enough, your coffee may lack its full flavor.

You don?t want to keep your coffee sitting on a burner or hotplate too long either after it?s been through coffee grinders and then brewed. More than 20 minutes after the brewing is done is dangerous because the taste will start to become bitter.

And don?t think of reheating your coffee. Talk about rough on your stomach! Follow these tips, though, and you?ll have a stomach, and taste buds, as well as good cups of coffee every time.

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Mike Long is the successful web publisher of Coffee-SuperGuide.com providing valuable
tips, advice, and info about a multitude of Coffee topics including coffee grinders.

His many articles provide the reader with well researched products, money saving tips,
and valuable topical insight.
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The vast majority of coffees from around the world are either Arabica or Robusta. Arabica has about 60-80% of the market. It tends to be better flavored and have less caffeine than the Robusta, but some Robustas are good by themselves and they’re frequently blended with Arabica.

Various other coffee types make up the rest of the market, but they aren’t what you’re going to find on your grocery store shelf. For example, Kona coffee comes from the Hawaiian islands and is a relatively rare, quite expensive bean. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is also rare and expensive. More so when hurricanes wipe out the crop. Look into specialty coffee shops or online stores and see what they have to offer. Explore a little and you might just find the perfect bean.

Traditionally, the owners of the coffee plantations, coffee brokers, and the processing companies made pretty much all the money from the coffee we buy. The people doing the actual work and harvesting made pennies. Fair trade coffee is an attempt to change that. The Fair Trade program tries to ensure that the workers and growers get a fair share of the price of the coffee. So while Fair Trade coffee isn’t a different kind of bean the intent behind it might make that coffee taste a little better.

If you’re looking to buy the fancier coffee beans (pre-roasted) just go to your favorite coffee house (Peet’s Coffee, Starbucks, or where ever) or your favorite grocery store. More and more stores are starting to carry the fancier coffees. You can either grind the beans right there in the store, or take them home to do yourself. More and more people are going this route, rather than buying ground coffee in a can. (Does it taste like mud because it was ground?)

Green coffee is coffee that has not yet been roasted. The cherry may have been removed and the beans dried, but that’s it. What you find in the stores has been roasted and processed. An advantage to the green coffee is that it stores very well.

You could buy a quantity of your favorite coffee in its green state, and then roast small amounts when the mood suits you. That way you’ll always have the freshest coffee. Of course, you’ll have to make room on your kitchen counter for a coffee roaster, along with whatever type of coffee maker you own. Coffee roasters are available in a variety of styles and price ranges, just like coffee makers. Many online stores, such as Amazon.com, have a great selection in all price ranges. Some of these are the single cup coffee machines, which are great for the person on the go. Instead of having 10 or 12 cups cooking away you make just the one cup, to your taste, and off you go.

We’re all familiar with the old style drip coffee pot, of course. Load the coffee, boil and brew, and serve many. While many of us still like this style of coffee, there is a rapid growth in the number of people buying espresso machines.

An espresso coffee machine differs a bit from the standard machine. Espresso is made when highly pressurized steam is forced through packed down, finely ground coffee. The first few drops out contain the concentrated goodness of the coffee and the standard serving is just over one ounce. It’ll wake you right up. If it doesn’t, have another.

Coffee machines vary greatly in features and price. The fancier machines will wash the dishes and clean the kitchen. Well, maybe not. But some of them will not only brew your coffee or espresso, they’ll grind the beans! All you do is pour your coffee beans in one end, hit the button, and a fresh cup of coffee or espresso comes out.

What’s in a cup of coffee? Stop on by the Bmall Coffee House and check out the various coffees and coffee machines. See what strikes your fancy. ? 2006 by Greg Mee and bmall.com. Permission to use this article is granted as long as the links remain live.

The French press produces a very rich, robust coffee. It is the next best brew to an Espresso. Using medium to coarse coffee grounds which when directly infused using slightly cooled boiling water, will create a great blend of aroma and flavor. The French press method is pre-warming the glass beaker with hot water, adding your preferred amount of coffee in the beaker, then adding some slightly cooled boiling water. The plunger cover is then replaced on the beaker. You should then allow the coffee to steep for about four to six minutes. Then you gently press the plunger lid down allowing it to pass through the suspended coffee. This will separate your finished coffee away from the grounds by pressing all the grounds to the bottom of the pot.

Advantages Disadvantages of your French press

Advantages: Using this technique gives the richest body of coffee (excluding Espresso). The stop time is less, application of pressure is slight, water is hotter, and the ratio of water to coffee is greater. Grounds in this process (steeping) are just under the boiling point, which means no extra boiling or burning which will save the dark, delightful flavor and coffee aroma – with no bitterness. Also there is no paper filter to take away some of the coffee oils – which will help save your delicate aroma.

Disadvantages: The cooling down of the coffee before the steeping pressure has finished. If your coffee beans are ground too fine, it will be harder to press down the plunger lid because of the increased surface tension. And if you do not use the medium to coarse grind, you may have sediment at the bottom of our cup.

Bonus Using the French press as a foamer to make froth.

Heat a cup of milk (using non-fat has best results) on the stove or in the microwave. Do not overheat; just heat it enough that you cannot put your finger into it. Pour the milk into a rinsed plunger pot. Pump the plunger in the pot for a few minutes and the milk will expand to three to four times its volume creating froth for your cappuccino and latte.

Daryl Plaza is the owner of: All About Coffee – a website focused on helping people to understand more about coffee. For tips on coffee machines, coffee gifts and coffee recipes check out All About Coffee Makers.

A good thing is good as long as there isn’t too much of it. The one cup coffee maker is living proof of this philosophy.

As much as you might enjoy your morning pot of fresh home-brew coffee, or that late night cup that keeps you going for hours, too much coffee is definitely not a good thing. As in all forms of enjoyment, moderation is necessary so that you might keep enjoying it for a long time. The one cup coffee maker is an invention that lets you do just that.

It also enables you to have your coffee just as you like it, wherever you like it. If you are a connoisseur of good coffee, you will probably want to avoid cheap instant varieties and prefer to brew your own. But if you travel much, that may not be a practical option. Or if you work in a public office, it may be a painful experience to travel to the coffee machine in the foyer each time you need a cup. Then be forced to accept the undrinkable stuff that is usually dispensed in those places.

So how about a small appliance that will sit quietly on your work desk, and make fresh, connoisseur-class coffee for you every time you felt like one?

Or how about a small apparatus that you can easily pack in with your light luggage, something that will provide you with the much-needed refreshment of top-quality coffee at any time, at any location?

Sounds good? In that case what you need is the one cup coffee maker. These things are small, light, streamlined automatic machines that have a programmable interface. You can set the temperature, strength, quantity (usually not much more than what constitutes a reasonable-sized single drink) etc., and it takes only a minute to pour out your desired drink, exactly as you wanted it. They sometimes come with their own cups, but these are often detachable, and you can fit your own favorite travel mug under the tap.

? Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy has more articles on coffee and coffee beans at Ultimate Coffees Info such as Are Coffee Enemas the Real Thing?.

Gourmet coffee consumers rarely consider the cost of their daily coffee in terms of the expense to brew premium whole bean coffee at home (50 cents to 75 cents) with prices of a pound of gourmet coffee beans versus a two or three cup a day ($4.50 to $6.00) coffee drinking habit when purchased at premium coffee houses. A recent Washington Post article discussed Seattle law students spending money from their student loans for Starbucks coffee across the street from the Seattle University School of Law.

Erika Lim, director of career services at the law school has launched a campaign to reduce coffee consumption by students attending the university on student loan money. She points out that students are spending education loans on luxuries like latte instead of necessities like a loaf of bread. That borrowed money takes years to repay and many students don’t do the math to see that study time with 2-3 cups of coffee at Starbucks over 4 years can cost them significant sums – as much as $4500 in principle, interest and fees on their student loan – over the course of their education. An online calculator has been posted for those interested in calculating their caffeine expenses at: http://www.hughchou.org/calc/coffee.cgi

Gourmet Coffee drinkers have become accustomed to paying $2 or more per cup for fresh brewed coffees at Premium coffee houses ? and many sources are predicting those prices may increase to as much as $4 per cup soon due to expected increases in green coffee prices. But smart gourmet coffee consumers have long known that premium coffee brewed at home costs just 12 cents or so per cup, depending on preferences for coffee strength.

Many coffee producers recommend starting with 1 tablespoon of fresh ground gourmet coffee beans per standard 6 ounce cup of water. Starbucks recommends double that amount for stronger coffees at 2 tablespoons per 6 ounce cup. A pound of gourmet coffee (that is 16 Ounces or 1 Lb.) divided by 1 1/2 Ounces comes to roughly 10 pots of 10 cups (6 Ounce cups) equaling 100 cups for the cost of one pound of gourmet coffee beans. At the average of 1.5 tablespoons per 6 ounce cup and average size of 12 ounce coffee mug, you can expect 50 cups of home brewed coffee per pound of gourmet beans!

Prices of premium gourmet coffee beans range between $10 and $18 per pound, making a cup of home-brewed gourmet coffee, made fresh to your liking, cost only between .10 cents and .25 cents per cup or between $1.00 and $2.00 per pot of coffee! Even the rarest and most expensive coffee sold, the exotic Kopi Luwak, at $175 per pound, is still less than $1.75 per 6 ounce cup when brewed at home! So if you have expensive tastes and want a 12 ounce mug of the rarest and most expensive coffee on the planet, you still need only pay what some premium coffee houses charge for a latte ($3.50) for that rare privilege.

When consumers learn that they can purchase gourmet whole bean coffee for between $10 to $18 per pound, then fresh grind and brew at home for significantly less than gourmet coffee companies charge, many see home brewing premium gourmet coffee as luxurious treat. Purchasing a thermos or a large travel mug to take coffee with them from home makes drinking rich, fresh roasted coffee a possibility for about one-seventh the cost of buying that coffee from expensive and crowded coffee shops.

Many so-called premium coffee houses keep their coffee heated on warmers after brewing, but this practice causes the flavor to turn bitter after less than an hour of warming. It is actually more likely you will get a rich flavorful cup of coffee from an insulated thermos or insulated type pump containers. Reheating coffee can destroy the flavor of good gourmet coffee – just as quickly as extensive warming.

Coffee purists prefer to make individual cups with a coffee press, fresh grinding beans for each cup and drinking the entire amount brewed before it turns cold to get the maximum enjoyment from their beans. Microwave a good cup of coffee that has gone cold and you’ll see how much better it is freshly brewed. Using good clean, fresh water is essential since coffee is 99% water and bad tasting tap water can quickly ruin even the best fresh ground beans.

You can enjoy great gourmet coffee more and pay less for the privilege by starting with whole beans and grinding them yourself with a $20 coffee grinder. Make only what you can drink or carry with you in a nice thermos or travel mug instead of reheating coffee later. Use good tasting water and keep your brewing equipment clean to prevent the rancid bitterness that can come from previous grounds in crevices.

You can brew at home with fine gourmet coffee beans, fresh ground and brewed in a French press coffee maker, carry a fancy thermos of great coffee to work or school and enjoy the best coffee available for far less money than you would spend at crowded and expensive premium coffee house.

? Copyright 2005 http://www.TastesofTheWorld.net

Written by Mike Banks Valentine for Tastes of The World coffee company, focusing on specialty gourmet coffees which are not readily available in the United States. Rare Gourmet Coffee is their business so they make shopping with them risk free. If you are happy tell a friend if you are not tell us

http://www.tastesoftheworld.net/Coffee-Cost-Per-Cup.htm
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Call 1-877-895-2662

I really can?t believe it. I now drink coffee. I never pictured myself as a part of the coffee generation. I still love my soda, but now in the morning I find myself having a cup of coffee before I leave for work and one to two cups while at work. This has just taken place in the past year or so. As I look back, I think it may have had something to do with having a toddler in the house and also just beginning to build a website.

Building a website from scratch is quite an undertaking and there are many hours accumulated hovering over the computer. In order to find a few more hours in the day I started getting up at about 5:00 am before work and also on the weekends. This not being my normal routine, I guess I found myself in need of some additional wake up help to be able to get up that early in the morning. Along came coffee!

Long ago, I never really cared for the mocha flavor of coffee at all, even in sweets or baked goods. I think it all started when my husband and I were on a particularly cold motorcycle ride with quite a few more miles to go before home. We had stopped at a gas station for fuel and I thought I might be able to get a cup of hot chocolate. The only thing available was flavored cappuccino. I gave it a try because I was really cold and was surprised by how good it really was. (Now I know all of you coffee experts out there are probably chuckling at the quality of gas station cappuccino, but I guess we all start somewhere.)

Anyway?at some point I started buying the cappuccino mix at the grocery store and then graduated to General Foods International Coffees. My husband drinks regular coffee at home, but I never touched it, at least not then.

Then at work we moved our offices and now, with a coffeemaker nearby, I have started drinking coffee at work. Just recently did I learn how to make a decent pot of coffee. Talk about feeling out of touch! I am not sure if I make the coffee too strong or too weak, but no one has complained yet. I have even learned that it is pretty easy to make coffee in a large party percolator pot, a task that was completely foreign to me before.

I still add a flavored creamer to the coffee, but I am really starting to like the mocha flavor on its own. My favorite flavor creamer is hazelnut. I have also tried a type of hazelnut flavored coffee concentrate syrup that can be used in baking and with ice cream and I am really starting to develop a taste for it as well.

My husband says it is only a matter of time before I start drinking coffee straight up black, with nothing added. I am not so sure, but not so long ago I wouldn?t have thought of myself as a coffee drinker. Go figure. Time will tell.

Laura Warnke is owner of an online gourmet retail store, The Topping Shoppe, LLC. Here you will find a great selection of dessert sauces and ice cream sundae toppings to purchase. If you want to know more about how to use different types of dessert sauces in your recipes please visit my website at http://All-About-Dessert-Sauces.com

It’s unbelievable, but when you start your search for a new coffee maker, you will find a huge variety to choose from. The first step in choosing the right one is deciding what type you want. This depends on what kind of drinks you want to prepare. Your basic decision here is if you want traditional coffee or a specialty drink. A standard machine is preferred by people who like the taste of weaker coffee. Most flavored grounds are made for traditional pots. If you like to try a wide variety of coffee types, you may want a standard machine. Drip machines work by heating the water and then dripping it through the grounds. The grounds are placed in the filter and the dripping water extracts the flavor. The Bunn coffee makers are very reliable machines that brews a cup in about three minutes. Many models offer pause and pour features that allow you to interrupt the brewing process, if you can?t wait for that first cup in the morning. Timers allow you to program the machine to start brewing before you wake up in the morning.

These machines are easy and convenient to use. They are great if you drink a lot of coffee or will be serving a crowd. You can brew a pot at a time, rather than just a cup or two.

Specialty Machines

If you love the specialty drinks at your local caf? and want to make them at home, an espresso maker may be for you. These machines are more expensive, but make a superior drink. You need to be willing to spend some more time in preparation and these machines only make one or two cups at a time. If you will be serving a crowd, that may not be practical. The most common machines are semi automatic, automatic and super automatics.

Semi Automatic

Semi automatics require you to do most of the work. You need to grind the beans, start and stop the brewing process manually. Because they are low priced, many people choose a semi automatic as their first machine.

Automatic

With automatic machines, you load the portafilter with ground beans. You set the water level, depending on the drink you are making. Once everything is set, the machine does the rest. A milk frother attachment is included for making cappuccinos and lattes. Some automatics come with a built in grinder, but many do not. Many espresso lovers prefer a separate grinder for quality grinds. Adjustable coffee grinders allow you to set the consistency of the beans. Automatic machines are pod compatible, if you want to skip the grinding altogether. Opinions differ regarding pods, with some people loving the convenience and others thinking the taste is weak or bitter.

Super Automatic

Super automatics are the most expensive home machines. They also make drinks of superior quality, which makes them worth the expense. These machines do the whole job for you. Add some beans and the machine will grind the beans, tamp them into the filter and prepare your drink. Super automatics are fully programmable. You set the machine for strength, texture of the beans, water level, temperature and quantity. The size of the reservoir varies by brand, but you will need to refill it regularly. Distilled water is the best choice for keeping your machine clean and your drinks tasting their best. You will need to empty the waste box frequently. This is where the machine dumps the used grinds. Additional features like cup warmers and hot water dispensers are convenient.

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Coffee Maker

Whether you have a standard or specialty machine, you will need to clean it regularly to keep it in good working order. Build up from your water can cause scaling inside, which can shorten the life of the appliance. Vinegar is helpful for removing deposits inside the machine. If you have hard water, consider using distilled water. Because the water doesn?t contain impurities, it won?t leave scales behind. More cleaning is involved with semi automatic and automatic makers. You need to clean all areas of the machine regularly. The specifics vary by model, so read the directions for how to clean yours properly. If your model has a removable brew group, you will need to take it out and rinse it at least once a week. Non removable models are self cleaning.

Some automatics and all super automatic expresso machines are self cleaning. You program the cleaner for how often you want the machine cleaned. These are the most convenient for both making drinks and cleaning up.

John Baker writes many articles for http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com. The author is specializing in subjects like the Bunn coffee makers and expresso machines.

Few quests in human history have so captivated men and women from around the world than the search for the perfect cup of coffee. Yes, believe it or not, coffee connoisseurs have dedicated entire lifetimes in the pursuit of finding that one cup of the most heavenly coffee ever made. If you’re like most people, however, you’re just looking for an easy way to make a great-tasting cup of coffee to help get you started in the morning. The following 10 Timeless Tips to a Perfect Cup of Coffee should help you on you your mini-quest.

1.You Get What You Pay For

When it comes to coffee makers, quality counts. If you buy the cheapest coffee maker on the market, chances are you’ll end up with an equally discounted flavor in your cup. To assure yourself of great tasting coffee day after day, check out the Bunn, Cuisinart, Mr. Coffee, Krups, and Senseo brands. Alternatively, check out a French press. For that personal cup of coffee, you can never go wrong with a French press!

2.Clean as a Whistle

You wouldn’t cook your favorite entr?e in a dirty pan, would you? So, why are so many people surprised by how bad their homemade coffee tastes when they use the same coffee pot every day out without ever cleaning it? Try baking soda and water for great cleanse after every pot you make.

3.It’s All in the Bean

If you aren’t grinding your own coffee, where have you bean? The best tasting coffees come from freshly ground, top quality beans. You can savor the flavor of gourmet barista-style coffees right in your own home by simply grinding up small batches of your own brew. To top off the perfect cup, you’ll want to use Arabica beans-simply the best in the world! Store your beans and ground coffee in an airtight container in a cool, dark place at a temperature between 50? and 70? F.

4.Roasted and Toasted-Making the Most-est Flavor

Once you’ve decided upon the highest quality beans, you’ll want to consider how you like your beans roasted. Roasting releases the flavor of the bean and helps determine whether your coffee is mellow, rich, or smooth. Experiment with a variety of roasts and choose which one you like best!

5.Grind It Up

Despite the fact that many store-bought coffees say For All Coffeemakers, selecting the right grind for your coffee maker is key to crafting that perfect cup. A general guideline for grinds includes:

?Automatic drip: medium grind
?Plunger or French press: coarse grind
?Percolator: coarser grind
?Espresso maker: fine grind

6.What’s in Your Water?

When it comes to coffee, fresh is the name of the game and, believe it or not, fresh water will make a world of difference in every cup. Think about it: Since your coffee is 99% water, you’ll want to make sure you choose the best tasting water you can find. Bottled, distilled, or purified water seems to do the trick for H2O-conscious countless coffee connoisseurs.

7.Measure It

To assure yourself of perfection every time, you’ll want to make sure you spoon out the correct amount of coffee grinds. Of course, your personal taste preference should be the ultimate judge, but a general rule of thumb is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water.

8.Bling, Bling in Your Coffee?

While we’re not talking diamonds or platinum, using gold (or stainless steel) mesh filters in your coffee maker will go a long way toward keeping your cup of coffee tasting great. Many paper filters release bleaches, chlorine, and dyes that can leave you with a bitter cup of coffee. If you must use paper, go with unbleached filters for the best results.

9.Brew It Up Right

A key to great tasting coffee every time is making sure your water is off the boil-a fancy term that simply means not quite to boiling. To achieve this water temperature, bring your water to a boil and then let it cool down for few moments (195-205? F) and you’ll assure yourself of a perfect cup every time.

10.Drink It Down in Style

Drink your freshly brewed, gourmet coffee in a glass or porcelain mug. Unless you like the bitter taste, avoid reheating your coffee in either the microwave or on the stove.

If you keep brewing with these ten timeless tips in mind, you’re sure to find your cup runneth over with great tasting coffee every time!

Jon Butt is the host of The Coffee Guide, an innovative website dedicated to all things coffee. From beans to gourmet, espresso machines to coffee makers, espresso cups to just great tasting coffee