If you’re brewing coffee at work, this little trick is a game changer. It will make your coffee taste better, and show you are a true connoisseur.
The quality of your beans is crucial, but you also need great-tasting water. Bring in your own filtered or spring water, rather than using the office water supply.
Freshly roasted beans
Freshly roasted beans are the key to a great cup of coffee. They have a powerful aroma that is more captivating than those that have been sitting in bags for months on end. Additionally, freshly roasted beans have a higher level of caffeine, which is beneficial to our health. This is because it stimulates the parts of the brain responsible for concentration and memory. Moreover, caffeine helps prevent the buildup of beta-amyloid plaque, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
If you want to experience the true flavors of coffee, it’s best to buy your own roasted beans and grind them yourself. This way, you’ll be sure that your beans are at their peak flavor and will brew up into the perfect cup of coffee every time. Besides, purchasing your own roasted beans will help support local businesses and small coffee roasters.
The ideal freshness window for brewed coffee is between one to two weeks after it was roasted. During this time, the coffee’s flavor will be the most vibrant and complex. After that, it will begin to deteriorate and lose its distinct flavors and aromas.
When you purchase fresh-roasted coffee, it’s important to store it properly. This means keeping it in an airtight container and storing it in a cool, dark place. In addition, it’s essential to store the coffee in an area that has low humidity. Otherwise, the coffee will absorb moisture and stale quickly.
If you’re not sure how long your coffee has been sitting in the bag, there are a few ways to tell if it is still fresh. Look at the beans and see if they are oily or dry. If the beans are oily, they have been roasted recently. On the other hand, if they are dry and crumbly, they’ve been stored for too long.
To make sure that you’re getting the freshest possible coffee, look at the date on the bag. If it’s been sitting in the bag for a while, you’ll notice that the dates have started to oxidize and turn brown. However, if the dates are still green, you’ve got some fresh brew in your future.
Freshly ground beans
Many coffee connoisseurs will tell you that if you want the best cup of joe you can have, then you need to grind your beans fresh. This allows the coffee to retain its full aromas and flavors that are lost when you purchase pre-ground coffee.
Whether you have a bean-to-cup machine or just a simple burner and mug, it is important to ensure that the coffee that you are using is freshly ground – and that you have a Coffee maker that will keep the office going. The difference in taste is immense and you may be surprised at how much better your office coffee can taste when the beans are ground right before brewing.
Once the beans are ground, they start to lose their aromatic molecules very quickly. This is because the surface area of the beans increase dramatically when they are ground, which makes them oxidize more rapidly. This also affects the flavors of the beans, making them less vibrant over time. By the time you get your morning cup of joe, it will have already started to deteriorate if the coffee isn’t ground fresh that day.
This is because when the beans are ground, they release a gas known as CO2 which causes them to oxidize even more quickly. This process is called “off-gassing” and it happens almost immediately after the beans are roasted and then ground. In fact, MTPak Coffee claims that a pound of whole bean coffee will begin to taste bad within 24 hours of being roasted and ground.
When you grind the beans fresh, you avoid this oxidation and off-gassing that takes place and you are guaranteed to have the most flavorful cup of joe possible. In addition, a grinder will allow you to play around with the different grind sizes and methods that make up your ideal cup of coffee. This will help you fine-tune your preferences and enjoy the coffee that you are drinking, instead of settling for a generic cup of mediocre.
It is true that pre-ground coffee can still be a great option for many people. However, if you are serious about your coffee and want to show it off to your colleagues and clients, then fresh-ground beans is definitely the way to go!
Change your sugar
If you aren’t lucky enough to have a professional barista tending to your break room coffee machine then you can still make it better. For example, it’s a good idea to change your sugar levels. Many people don’t realise that table sugar has been processed, so changing to a natural, unprocessed alternative such as sugar in the raw can really make a difference to your morning cup of coffee. It may cost a little more but it will be a lot sweeter! It is also important to back flush your espresso machines at the end of the day to remove any bitter tasting grounds.
Keep track of your coffee
If you want to take your coffee game up a notch, it’s important to keep track of how much you spend on it. This way, you can set a budget for yourself and stick to it. Keeping track of your spending is also a great way to learn about your habits and improve your money-saving skills. You can use apps, spreadsheets, or notebooks to record your coffee expenses. Using these tools can make tracking your spending easier and more fun.
You can find some great apps that can help you manage your coffee spending, including Mint and a cash envelope system. These apps can help you track your coffee spending by linking your bank accounts and credit cards to the app, which will categorize each transaction. They can also help you set goals and alerts. They can also help you save on your coffee costs by helping you buy it in bulk or at discounted rates.
Another good way to cut your coffee costs is to start brewing it at home instead of getting it from the break room. Bringing your own coffee to work will not only save you money, but it will also taste better. Just be sure to bring the right amount of water for brewing, so that your coffee doesn’t turn out flat or too weak.
It’s also a good idea to invest in a high-quality coffee grinder and a French press or pour over setup. Adding these items to your office will make it possible to brew a perfect cup of coffee every time. It may be worth asking your boss for a new electric kettle as well, so that you can have precise control over the temperature of your water.
Finally, if you’re not too concerned about the cost of your coffee, you can try joining a group of coffee lovers in your office to form a coffee club. You can share the cost of beans and equipment, as well as brewing supplies. This can be a great way to try out different coffees and see what you like best.