Coffee Tips

Good coffee doesn't just happen. It's the result of several key ingredients and conditions coming together to form a hot cup (or cups) of rich, tasty goodness. Here are a few tips to help you reach Coffee Nirvana.

Ingredients (pretty simple)
1. Water
2. Coffee

1. Water
Since coffee is 98% water, make sure you use fresh, filtered water. If you like the water, you'll like the coffee.

2. Coffee
This is mostly a matter of personal taste. We like Blue Mountain from Jamaica (or coffee from that area, which may or may not actually say "Blue Mountain"), Sumatra and Kona. They all have distinctive coffee flavors but not too harsh.

Look for beans that are of the "Arabica" type (or blends that are mostly Arabica). This type of bean can come from different areas. It have more flavor than others, but is harder to grow, so probably a bit more expensive. But it's worth it.

3. Optional
Milk, sugar, etc. This is up to you. I prefer froth my milk with the Magic Bullet, then heat it in the microwave for 30 secs.

Steps
1. Grind
2. Brew
3. Drink

1. Grind
Whole bean that is ground just before brewing is definitely better tasting than pre-ground. It's actually more science than just preference. The oils in the bean give it it's flavor. If they stay inside the bean until ground & brewed, you get more flavor. But oxygen (also known as air) dissolves the oils. So if the beans are pre-ground, more oils will be lost by the time you use them.

Make sure to store and seal coffee well. Preferably in a cool dark place, and seal the bag well to protect your beans from the air. Most bags have a one-way valve which allows roasted beans to release CO2 (which is okay) while not coming in contact with oxygen from the outside.

2. Brew
The recommended measurement is 1 scoop/cup. You don't need a fancy brewer, though the Cuisinart is nice. A French Press will deliver flavor, but is not as convenient.

3. Drink
Coffee is supposed to be hot. It should be close to 200F, but most US consumer coffee makers only go to around 140F (thank the lady who sued McDonands).

Don't forget to clean your coffee equipment. Old coffee residue can taint a new brew.

Sources
http://www.broadstreetcoffee.com/snob.htm
http://coffeefaq.com/coffaq.htm