Coffee is that instant pick-me-up that people use to balance their busy online college and work lives. Many people assume that a good cup of coffee simply involves tossing some coffee grounds into a filter and brewing them with a coffee maker. However, when you want an outstanding cup of coffee, a little more effort needs to go into making your brew.
Starting with the Beans
A good cup of coffee starts with the beans. If you want a fresher tasting cup of coffee, you should consider getting a coffee grinder and grinding your beans before you brew each pot or cup of coffee. Pre-ground coffee beans go stale faster than if you grind the beans fresh. Whether you grind your coffee beans yourself or purchase pre-ground beans, store your coffee in the freezer or the refrigerator. The cooler temperature will keep your coffee fresher for longer, which means you get a better tasting cup of coffee each time you brew a pot.
When you want to make a good cup of coffee, you need to measure your coffee grounds correctly. For stronger coffee, you need more coffee grounds. Typically, for optimum taste, you should measure around 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds per cup of coffee. If you want a stronger taste, use more grounds, for a lighter taste, use less than 2 tablespoons of grounds per cup.
Brewing Options
The kind of coffee brewer you use will depend entirely on your preferences. Some people prefer single cup brewers, while others prefer coffee pots that yield four to six cups of coffee per brew. However, you must remember that the longer you leave coffee on the burner, the more it will burn and change tastes. For a good cup of coffee, immediately pour yourself a cup as soon as it is done brewing.
Another option for making a superior cup of coffee is to use a French press. With a French press, you must use coarsely ground coffee. You put the coffee into the French press along with the water. The coffee slowly plunges down through the water. This method allows the water and coffee to properly combine. Many people believe that this is the best way to make a cup of coffee. However, with a French press, it can take practice to find the perfect taste for you.
Many people prefer to add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar per 8 ounces of coffee. For the richest taste, use heavy cream or liquid half and half. Certain people also put a dollop of whipped cream on top of the coffee and simply mix it in. Using whipped cream gives you a slight hint of sweetness and richness without overwhelming the taste of the coffee.
Getting started and relaxing can both be very difficult when balancing life, work and online schools. So using something as everyday as coffee and making it yours by understanding your personal taste preferences, can quickly and easily make a good cup of coffee an important and fun part of your day.
