Water for Coffee
You might not give much thought to the water you use to make your coffee. The flavor of the coffee is so much stronger than the water that the flavor of the water is barely noticeable. However, the flavor and mineral content of your water is actually a key factor in the taste of your coffee. Water that has dissolved minerals at more than 100 parts per million can make your coffee bitter. On the other hand, coffee made with water with less than 50 parts per million can be bland.
You need the right proportion of minerals because the flavor of the coffee is derived from oils in the beans. The combination of heat and minerals extracts the oil during the steeping process that turns it into a beverage. It’s the same way salt in a stew extracts juices from the meat to flavor the gravy. If you don’t have enough minerals to pull out the oil, your coffee with be flavorless. If you have too many minerals or the water has excessive chemicals, it can cause a chemical reaction with the coffee, making it bitter.
Continue reading Comments (0) brewed on Feb 19th, 2010
Waldo’s Coffee House, Houston, Texas
Going to Waldo’s Coffee House in Houston, Texas is almost like taking a visit to Grandma’s house. For one thing, it literally is a white wood frame house with blue green trim. There’s a large railed wooden porch in front with cozy chairs. If it weren’t for the signs outside, you’d think you were walking into someone’s home.
The inside of the coffee house is even better than the outside. There are several rooms all filled with cozy Victorian style furniture. The sofas and chairs are well upholstered with reddish brown velvet and very comfortable. It’s easy to find a nice little nook to sit with your coffee or tea and read a book or magazine.
Continue reading Comments (0) brewed on Feb 16th, 2010
You Might be a Caffeine Addict
Caffeine is a drug, a perfectly legal drug, but still a drug in the sense that it is a stimulant. The question is just how well each of us handles this drug and how much we let it affect our lives. At what point does drinking our coffee become something we depend on to function more than something we enjoy? Do you need a cup of coffee in the morning to wake you up enough to deal with life? Are you unable to function until you get that daily dose of caffeine? Do you need another cup and then another and still another to keep you going?
Do you need a cup of coffee before you can see your way to the breakfast table? Do you make sure you have your commuter cup with you but forget your briefcase? Do you have to leave early so you can stop at the coffee bar to refill before you get to work? Do you go to the break room to fill it up again before you greet your coworkers? Do you cry if the coffee pot is empty? If you do any or all of these things, then you just might be a caffeine addict.
Continue reading Comments (0) brewed on Feb 14th, 2010
How to Make Flavored Coffee Drinks at Home
Your homemade drinks won’t be exactly the same as you get at the coffee bar. You’d need an espresso machine and maybe some other equipment for that. However, you can make some reasonable facsimiles without too much trouble. With a little experimentation, they’ll taste just as good as what you buy out. Best of all, they won’t cost nearly as much because you probably have most of what you need right in your kitchen.
To imitate a latte, you need about four ounces of strong coffee, the same amount of milk, and a teaspoon of sugar. Brew the coffee using twice as much coffee in proportion to the water as you usually do. Place it in a liquid measuring cup for easy pouring and set it in a place it will stay warm. Heat the milk in the saucepan or microwaveable bowl until it’s hot but not boiling. Stir in a teaspoon of sugar to sweeten it and add body to the milk. Whip the milk with the wire whisk or mixer until the foam is so fine you can barely see the bubbles.
Continue reading Comments (0) brewed on Feb 13th, 2010
