7 Steps for World Class Gourmet Coffee August 15 2017

7 Steps for World Class Gourmet Coffee

For a change, a good cup of coffee would be nice. It does take some time and some energy to find a great cup of gourmet coffee these days. If you do know of a perfect coffee shop, you are one of the lucky ones. But, did you know that you can basically make a nice cup of coffee on your own from home?

Here are 7 simple steps that you can take to produce the perfect cup of coffee every time.

1) Start with quality:  One of the most critical aspects of coffee drinking is the grade of the coffee that you start off with. If you have a favorite flavor, then purchase whole beans in that flavor. If you can do this, it will allow you to get the freshest coffee accessible.

2) Grind away:
Purchase a quality coffee grinder. Some of the best grinders available today are easy to use and easy to clean up. By grinding your own coffee beans, you’ll be able to only grind what you need, meaning that you will have complete freshness in your coffee.

3) Store It Right And Tight:
It is very fundamental to store your coffee tightly. Air oxidizes the coffee and can make it to get bitter quickly. Metal canisters can also enable a metal taste to get into the coffee, making it taste bad.

The top solution is for a plastic or ceramic air tight container for your coffee and coffee beans. Also, store it at room temperature because the moisture in the fridge or freezer can make it go bad faster.

Now, Getting To the Coffee

4) The Maker:

The coffee maker that you use is also critical. No matter what style that you go with, you can get a good cup of coffee out of it if you take the essential steps to keeping it fresh.

For example, you should insure that the coffee maker is kept clean after each use. In fact, you’ll need to make sure that you detail clean it, with the assistance of vinegar, every so often as well. Check your owner’s manual for the coffee maker, some machines may not recommend the use of vinegar. Your preferences will ultimately determine which style of coffee maker you will use. Make sure that it uses a permanent filter in it.

5) Even In The Water:

Even the water that you use is central to the quality of the coffee you will get from it. It is essential that you use water that is free from chlorine and minerals.

Often, using bottled water rather than tap water will augment the quality of the coffee. Also, keep the water nice and hot. A good temperature for the water is about 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

6) Supply The Right Amount:

It is also central for you to use the right quantity of coffee beans and coffee grounds in the maker. Too many and you will have a very strong cup of coffee and too few will make it to be too weak. Follow the directions provided by the coffee producer for the best cup of coffee.

7) Most Vital:

Lastly and probably the most vital aspect of getting a great cup of gourmet coffee is to make sure to enjoy your coffee when it is hot and fresh. Most restaurants are told to keep coffee for less than thirty minutes, but at home, the best coffee is the coffee that hasn’t sat for more than twenty minutes.

Note: If your coffee maker overflows on occasion, the Justin Case Deck is a great solution for easy, stress free cleanup.

Coffee, Anyone? July 25 2017

Coffee, Anyone? Coffee is something that we drink to enjoy the quiet moments of our day. It is also something we drink to jolt our systems when our system is falling asleep and we still need to work. These are contrasting reasons to drink this brew yet both are accurate. Coffee is a complex drink that is drunk at any time during the day. It is enjoyed by many millions of people yet not necessarily appreciated by these very same people. There are so many varieties and blends that it can be bewildering. In fact, as the character of Tom Hanks in “You’ve Got Mail” puts it, it can be a challenge for those who have difficulties making decisions to choose when going into a Starbucks shop because suddenly you are asked to make six, all in one go. It is always great to learn new things and try out new tastes. It also helps if you can learn about what blends may match your taste without your having to waste money on a cup that you will find absolutely unappealing after the first sip. Coffee is grown in many places all over the world. Each area produces coffee that is unique to the soil it grew in. Though it is acknowledged that the first coffee plants came from Ethiopia, by no means has Africa cornered the coffee market. Thanks to the varying tastes of people, many delicious blends have resulted. Coffee is like wine. To truly appreciate it you need to use all your senses and savor not only the taste of each brew but its aroma as well. The scent alone of coffee is enough for some individuals to relax. For them, coffee reminds them of home or a place to just hang out, kick back and relax even if they are sitting in the middle of a crowded café.  Of course, some may prefer to learn how to make great coffee at home instead of always buying from the local café. Finding practical tips on how to make coffee is invaluable. Various recipes using coffee, be it brew or food flavored with this delicious ingredient are also favorites for coffee lovers. It is always nice to work with recipes that other people have already found to be successful. There is much to experience about coffee and many people to enjoy it with. Each cup of coffee is a connection with that community. The beans and the brew spark off that common interest. Dinner parties at your home are a great time for brewing coffee. Keep a Justin Case Deck under your coffee machine in case it malfunctions to alleviate any undue stress from messes.  The Justin Case Deck will capture the mess and the cleanup is a breeze.

Here's a Cure for Coffeemaker Spills December 12 2016

At the company where I worked for many years, there was a coffee maker in the IT area because, you know, nothing gets coded without coffee.

I was a frequent visitor to the coffee station, but I wasn’t allowed to make a fresh pot. I got banned after a couple of disasters that left large puddles of hot java sloshed across the counter top.

I’m apparently not the only person who can’t always effectively move coffee from the brewer to the pot.

A company called Just In Case Deck has developed and patented a device that will capture the coffee overflow from a clogged brewing machine before it becomes a mess.

The Just In Case Deck serves as a platform for an electric coffeemaker. It has a tapered top with open slots that will let any liquid that escapes from the machine drop safely into a collection chamber. The chamber is large enough to capture more than the full contents of a typical 14-cup coffee maker.

The deck keeps spills away from the coffee machine’s electrical components and away from napkins, papers or anything else in the potential puddle zone. The deck will also collect moisture and liquids from other sources such as humidifiers or house plants.

The Just In Case Deck sells for 29.95 at the Just In Case Deck website. You can see the deck in action in the video below and follow the company @JustInCaseDeck on Twitter.

Coffee Overflow Solutions January 27 2016

Coffee makers are great, until they overflow!  Not only is this frustrating, some of the messes are large enough to result in extensive damage and possible injury.

                       

Waking up to coffee overflowing onto the kitchen counter, down through the cabinets onto the hardwood floor because you used the automatic start feature is not a great way to start the day. 

 This problem is not isolated to any one manufacturer; all of the major manufactures have had similar complaints.           

In most cases it has been found to not the fault of the manufactures, but rather simply human error, such as by overfilling the coffee bin, using an incorrect filter, not placing the carafe in properly, etc.  

Malfunctions occur at home and at the office at all hours of the day.  Especially in view of many coffee makers are equipped with a programmable start feature and is usually left unattended once the brew button has been pushed.  Whether it is a malfunction of the appliance or human error, there will be messes from time to time.  The next best solution would be to contain the mess safely with easy cleanup. 

The Just-in Case Deck is a specialized platform that sits beneath the Coffee Maker.  When an overflow occurs the liquid is captured.  The Just-in Case Deck holds more than the volume of most coffee makers and is easily carried to a sink to empty.