It’s National Coffee Day!
I’m a big fan of coffee.
Actually, scratch that, I’m a HUGE fan of coffee. The smell, the taste, the alertness it provides, how it warms your entire body up on a cold, rainy day – it’s all just perfect.
I hate calling myself this, but I am kind of a coffee snob. Not in the sense where I will only drink coffee that was ground by blind Belgian Nuns by a mortar and pestle made solely from pure gold, but in the sense that I like my coffee how I like my men: dark, strong, and won’t quit til the job is done (that’s a joke, but, I do have a particular palate when it comes to coffee).
Considering it’s National Coffee Day, here are a few coffee tips and tricks I’d like to share with you.
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Make sure the grind is right. Different coffee makers require coffee to be ground various different ways. If you’re using a french press, your coffee should be more coarsely ground than if you’re using an espresso machine or having Turkish Coffee. Ask your barista what grind you should be using, depending on the method used to brew the coffee. It does matter.
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Store your coffee in an air tight container. No one likes stale coffee. Making sure your coffee container has an air tight seal will keep your coffee fresher, longer. Storing it in the freezer is another option. Or, better yet, buy beans so you can grind per use. A coffee grinder is fairly inexpensive, and this will ensure you’re getting the freshest coffee possible every morning.
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Use unbleached filters. If you use a drip coffee maker like I do, unbleached filters are the way to go. They’re less harsh on the coffee being filtered through, and you’ll be getting a smoother taste as your coffee is brewing. Also, it’s less chemicals, period.
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The right temperature is key. If you’re using a french press, or percolator, you want to make sure that the water isn’t too hot. You don’t want to burn the coffee, you just want the water hot enough to brew it. After your boil it, give it about a minute to cool down in the kettle, then pour it over the grinds. Otherwise, you’ll be left with hot, burnt, brown water. Yuck.
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Flavour your coffee pre-brew. Throw some cinnamon, or if it’s closer to the holiday season, some nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice, in with your coffee grinds before you brew your coffee. The flavours will be infused once it’s done brewing, and you’re left with an aromatic, flavourful coffee. Or, if you’re feeling bold, try some vanilla extract, or maple syrup.
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Coffee grinds are great exfoliators. Seriously, don’t throw out your grinds post brew. Use them as an exfoliant in the shower. They’re all natural so they won’t kill your skin, and if you enjoy the scent of coffee as much as I do, it’s a win/win.
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A pinch of salt cuts bitterness. If you find your coffee is a little bitter and acidic after it’s brewed, and you’ve tried adjusting the amounts of water and coffee, add just a pinch of salt before you brew it. The salt balances out the acidity without actually adding a salty taste to the coffee; it just kinda mellows it out.
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Freeze leftover coffee in ice cube trays. I know what you’re thinking – what’s ‘leftover coffee’? Freezing the rest of what you don’t drink is awesome for making iced coffee on a hot, summer day. Just pop those in instead of regular ice cubes, and this way your coffee doesn’t get watered down. On the contrary, you can double brew your coffee so it’s a little stronger, and the regular ice cubes will help mellow it out as you pour your coffee over them.
Happy national coffee day, fellow caffeine addicts!
xo.
