How To Enjoy Delicious Quality Gourmet Coffee At Home

Coffee is a favorite beverage around the world. Morning, noon, or night a fresh cup of coffee is satisfying. In recent years we have been introduced to a wide array of coffees include gourmet. Gourmet coffee is considered gourmet because it is freshly ground from the coffee beans. Learning to make a great cup of gourmet coffee at home is deeply satisfying and simple as long as you keep in mind a few simple tips.

For the best flavor you should purchase whole coffee beans from specialty shops only. Although larger grocery stores are starting to carry coffee beans, the specialty shops beans tend to be fresher and therefore have more flavors.

When you grind your coffee beans only grind enough for current needs. This will keep the coffee fresh longer. If you don't have a grinder and buy the ground coffee, keep it in an airtight container. I t is important to close the bag or container tightly to keep the aroma in the coffee. Keep the coffee in a cool dry place, if you keep it in the refrigerator or freezer keeps it away from foods which produce a strong odor. The flavors may mix making the coffee bitter tasting. Try to use you coffee up in a few days to two weeks since coffee loses flavor quickly.

Water from the tap is fine although some people swear by fresh bottled spring water. No matter which type of water you choose, always use the coldest water possible. Water contains more oxygen the colder it is making the coffee richer and more flavorful. Do not use distilled water as it produces a flat cup of coffee.

Measuring your coffee is more a matter of taste than anything else. Generally it is recommended 1 teaspoon of coffee for every six ounces of water. Don't trust the measurements on your coffeemaker. Measure out the water to get the best tasting gourmet coffee.

When brewing, the best cup of gourmet coffee is brewed using the manual drip method, a French press pot, or a vacuum pot. Traditional drip pots do an okay job but vary greatly from each other. Some of the best coffeepots are quite expensive but well worth the money. Your coffee should only be kept warm on the burner for twenty minutes, after that it will become bitter. You should brew your coffee no more than five minutes before you plan to drink it, after that transfer the coffee to a thermos or carafe.

Drinking gourmet coffee black will preserve the most flavor. Using creamer in your coffee will produce a richer creamier taste. Skim milk will not change the taste much unless you add a lot, therefore is not recommended. If you would like to add sugar raw sugar will add sweeter flavor than white. For artificial sweeteners Splenda is recommended as other sweeteners will add a bitter taste to your coffee.

Making a gourmet cup of coffee at home is pleasing and easy to do. The flavor and aroma will satisfy you as well as stepping into your favorite specialty shop. Enjoy your gourmet coffee to the fullest by following these tips!

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Delicious Gourmet Gifts at http://www.deliciousgourmetgifts.com

Delicious Gourmet Gifts http://www.deliciousgourmetgifts.com

my first keurig

I was initially skeptical when a good friend mentioned that I must purchase a Keurig Single Cup Coffee Brewer. Greg, who unfortunately lives out of town, is the same friend who's opinion I trusted most. With a little online research and a lot of assurance from him, I decided to purchase the Special Edition B60 Single Cup Coffee Brewer. Now with the machine and its many varieties of coffee, tea and cocoa packets in my possession, I was ready to start brewing.
Since my past consisted of only owning multi-cup drip coffee makers, I was excited to realize my days of chugging hours old sludge were over. I always despised making a full jug of four, eight or twelve cups of coffee each day, just to pour the majority away hours later. What a waste. In the present, my life has changed with the Keurig Single Cup, brewing one delicious hot cup of coffee or tea at a time. It's been 10 years since the introduction of the innovative Keurig single-cup brewing system. Sometimes I'm slow in realizing new advancements and the Keurig is no exception. Since you can't make up lost time, I shall move forward with my large variety of coffees, teas, and cocoas and start making some delicious treats.
Let us first start with the type of water to use. Tap water is fine, however I suggest bottled spring water if you want a better tasting coffee. Next, you will have to shop for the patented Keurig K-cups. They offer more than 190 varieties of coffee, tea, and hot cocoa. Varieties of coffee from light to extra bold, flavored, decaffeinated, half-caffeinated, to full caffeine all from famous name blends. Several different varieties of tea are also available, as well as Ghirardelli Premium Hot Cocoa. My favorites included Emerils Big Easy Bold Coffee with its invigorating deep smokey flavor, and the Celestial Seasonings Decaffeinated Green Tea with its smooth flavor and natural goodness using a compound that occurs naturally in the tea leaves. I found the full-bodied brew of this green tea an evening delight, relaxing me prior to bedtime.
Now that you made your choice of coffee or tea, all you have to do is turn on the brewer, and fill with the desired amount of water. The brewer will notify you when the right amount of water is in the machine. Place a single serve cup beneath, choose your cup size and hit brew button. Wow, this is simple! In less than a minute the Keurig well say when the cup of coffee or tea is ready. After using the coffee maker cup the manufacturer recommends, you can rinse out the machine by brewing a cup of hot water without a K-cup. This ensures a perfect cup for the next person who may choose a different flavor. This is especially helpful for the Keurig coffee maker in the office. Speaking of office, now I know where i'll put my Second Keurig Coffee Maker . If I only had a summer home. Before I forget, I must once again thank Greg for another excellent recommendation.

Second Keurig Coffee Maker