Tips On Keeping Your Specialty Coffee Special

You’re tired of plain old coffee taste and are trying out some specialty coffee for a change. First, you’ll notice that it does taste a lot better and second you’ll notice that it also costs a lot more. Well, maybe not in that order, but in either case you’ll want to make sure you care for the coffee so that it lasts the longest and stays the freshest it can.

Specialty coffee typically have gone from the roaster to your brewed cup as fast as humanly possible. After all, coffee is a perishable and delicate food. Its peak taste only has a short life span. It will lessen with time, air exposure, and moisture exposure. So speed in the entire coffee process, from when the beans were picked all the way to when your machine brews your pot, is essential.

Did you know that coffee was perishable? And specialty coffee goes bad quickly so you’ll want to make sure you store it properly for the longest life possible. Store it in airtight containers or a tightly closed coffee bag like you get from the supermarket or gourmet store when you first buy the coffee. Heat, light, air and moisture all can make your coffee taste stale. That’s because all of these factors hasten the release of the coffee’s aromatic gases over time. Refrigerating or freezing the coffee may slow this process, but it won't completely prevent it.

Specialty coffee tastes best if you grind it just before brewing. Coffee beans are like little containers that hold in the coffee oils and aromatic compounds. The flavor is exposed once a bean is ground. If brewing doesn't happen right away, however, the exquisite flavor and aroma can be lost. In other words, grinding coffee yourself is the second step to experiencing the most out of your coffee.

One other important tip in getting the most taste out of your specialty coffee is knowing how long to let it brew for. If you let water contact the grounds for too long, for instance, your coffee can end with an overly bitter coffee. On the other hand, if you let water contact the grounds for not long enough, your coffee may lack its full flavor.

After you are done brewing, you still need to take care to make sure your pot of coffee stays tasty. Don’t let your specialty coffee sit on a burner or hotplate too long afterwards. More than 20 minutes is too long because the coffee’s taste will start to become bitter. Your taste buds, and your stomach, will thank you.