Millions of people around the world start their mornings with a cup of coffee. Coffee lovers are always looking for the best-tasting brews and beans that can give them the jolt they need in the morning. Although everyone who drinks coffee has their own preferences, there are some tips you can follow to get the best coffee-drinking experience.
Wait Before Drinking Coffee in the Morning
Most coffee drinkers will have a cup of coffee immediately after they wake up. Many say that doing so helps them benefit from the energizing effects of the caffeine found in coffee. However, healthcare professionals say that this is not the best time to drink coffee.
Your body produces a hormone known as cortisol, which is responsible for making you feel awakened and alert in the morning. The production of this hormone means your body already does the job of making you awake and alert for you, and so you do not need coffee to do so.
Because the levels of cortisol start dropping off about an hour after waking up, that is the best time to have a cup of coffee. Such a delay is also great for people who do not want to feel amped up on caffeine at 10 in the morning because many people will have consumed about two cups by that time.
Learn Everything You Can About Coffee
The beauty of coffee is that you can create different types of coffee drinks depending on your preferences. You can easily find this out by asking a barista which types of coffee they are serving on the day.
Whether you are ordering coffee at a café or making a cup at home, you will get a much better experience when you know everything you can about coffee. And there is a lot to know.
For those who want to order coffee at a café, knowing the difference between types such as black, espresso and cappuccino will help. Those who prefer making it at home can benefit from knowing what the different types of coffee beans are and what they need to make the best cup of coffee with whatever they have.
Then there are the different preparation options – although most cafés will use one or two for simplicity – as well as different roasts and grinds for those making theirs at home.
All of these options often make coffee for beginners feel overwhelming and a lot of work. However, you will benefit from learning all this about coffee, and Cup & Bean have provided an amazing coffee for beginners guide to help you with that. The guide explains the different types of coffee beans, preparation methods, roasts and grinds so those new to coffee can understand it all. Cup & Bean is a great resource with a lot of information about coffee, including guides on coffee from around the world, different types of coffee and the best ways to enjoy the beverage.
Invest in a Coffee Machine
While getting your coffee from your favorite café is great, it does not leave a lot of room for experimenting. This is because you are only limited to what the café has on its menu.
Investing in a good coffee machine allows you to experiment with your coffee. You can choose coffee beans from different regions in the world, choose interesting recipes from the internet, or even experiment with different coffee roasts and grinds.
Additionally, investing in a coffee machine will save you a lot of time and money in the long run if you have to take a detour or wait in line every morning to get your coffee.
Grind the Beans Yourself
In addition to investing in a coffee machine, you should also invest in a coffee grinder. As you might know, the size of the coffee particles affects the taste of the cups of coffee you make. Finer particles are more likely to lead to over-extraction, especially if the water is too hot. This results in coffee that is too bitter.
You also get coffee that is less sweet if you use grounds that have different particle sizes. If the coffee grounds are too big, that leads to under-extraction. You get thin coffee that has little color and flavor. You will not also get the aroma that comes with a good cup of coffee.
Investing in a grinder and grinding the beans yourself gives you a lot of freedom to experiment with different particle sizes so you can create a beverage that you find most appealing.
Experiment with Additives
It is perfectly fine to take your coffee black. However, some experimentation with different additives can yield amazing results. For example, some people enjoy coffee with a little milk to be more enjoyable than plain coffee.
You can experiment with creams as well as different sweetening extracts to create fun cups of coffee from time to time.
Measure Your Water and Coffee Carefully
There are lots of rules people use when measuring their coffee and water when brewing coffee. While these rules will still yield some results, they are not as precise as measuring the water and coffee accurately. For the best results, use one gram of coffee for every 17 grams of water for balanced coffee, one to 18 for weak coffee and one to 16 for very strong coffee.
Avoid Coffee Six Hours to Bedtime
The same way coffee keeps you awake and alert during the day is the same way it will at night. Coffee has disruptive effects on sleep patterns, and this is why experts advise that you avoid taking coffee six hours to your bedtime.
For most people, that means avoiding coffee after 3 or 4 PM. If you want a beverage at night, you can switch to herbal tea. You should also limit your intake of cocoa before bedtime because it contains about 230 milligrams of caffeine per 100 grams, and it will therefore cause the same issues as coffee, although to a lesser extent in most people.
Coffee is a great beverage as it has health benefits on top of being energizing for those looking for a boost. Avid coffee lovers would explore different ways of improving their coffee-drinking experiences so they can have an amazing experience every time.
