When brewing your own coffee from how, you don’t have the benefit of a corporate hand stepping in with all the information and pre-taste tested knowledge that you don’t have. Not to say that Starbucks has the greatest coffee in the world, but they’ve tested it and it sells in thousands of locations all over [...]

When brewing your own coffee from how, you don’t have the benefit of a corporate hand stepping in with all the information and pre-taste tested knowledge that you don’t have. Not to say that Starbucks has the greatest coffee in the world, but they’ve tested it and it sells in thousands of locations all over the globe. You just ask for a cup of coffee and they know what they’re doing, for the most part.

When you get your new single cup coffee maker home or fire up your old espresso machine, you’ll be wondering what exactly you should go and buy to get the most out of it. You could always go the cheap route and stop at your local Starbucks and grab their brew of the season, but how often is blindly trusting Starbucks a good idea? No, you’ll want a basic idea of where to start; what you’re getting, where to get it, and how much to get.

First off, don’t buy too much coffee. Try buying in bulk first and going for as small an amount as you can. If you have a grinder, all the better; just buy enough to brew a cup or two and give it a shot. If you do this with a few different varieties, you’ll have a general idea in no time.

Know where you’re going. If you stop at the local grocery store, you may or may not get the kind of options you’re looking for. It depends on the size of the store honestly, but if you go to a specialty grocery store, a Whole Foods or Fred Meyer, where options are what make their brand name so important, you’ll find a huge array of different coffees.

Don’t be afraid to try the canned stuff. Folgers and friends don’t have to be all bad for everyone. There are some people out there who are perfectly happy with their standard coffee bought in a four month tin can. But, don’t buy a tin and stick with it. Give yourself some options by trying the better stuff too. You might find that you like the price of one but the taste of the other. Now, alternate a bit and give yourself a treat every now and then.

Try some gourmet coffee like those Starbucks and Tully’s brand coffees. They’re not all gems, but occasionally a special blend (I personally enjoy the Starbucks Christmas blend) arrives that will sit well. If you fall for something seasonal, you may want to back up your supply by picking a few extra up before it’s out of stock.

The act of brewing coffee at home is a liberating one for the avid coffee drinker. You’re left with the options to try what you want, when you want, without a corporation telling you what is “in” this season. Take advantage of it and you just might find that perfect blend of at home coffee.

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Thermal Coffee Makers
Thermal coffee makers are one of those innovations that we can all use. We all know how much we love our cups of coffee, particularly in the mornings. But do you ever feel that although that first cup is toasty, some of the times the second or third cup is beginning to go [...]

Thermal Coffee Makers

Thermal coffee makers are one of those innovations that we can all use. We all know how much we love our cups of coffee, particularly in the mornings. But do you ever feel that although that first cup is toasty, some of the times the second or third cup is beginning to go from lukewarm to cold. You then have two options; place the cup back into your coffee pot, or heat the cup up in the microwave. But wait a minute, do not give up yet, there’s another thing you can do. Throw out or give away that old coffee pot, and get your self a thermal coffee maker.

Thermal coffee makers function basically the same as a thermos, or insulated coffee mugs. They all have that same insulated, heating effectiveness that will keep liquids inside warm, while the outside is cool enough to handle. Thermal coffee makers are normally made out of a heat retentive stainless steel, and can keep coffee warm for quite a long time. Some restaurants use thermal coffee makers, because their hot drinks like coffee and hot chocolate need to stay hot for hours. So if your local fast food place has discovered the genius behind thermal coffee makers, why not try them in your own home?

Thermal coffee makers come in all different sizes, and they can make from a few cups to the usual ten, although you may have to use the dual coffee maker model for that much coffee. Some models come with two carafes and a warmer for each. Other models have the option to make cappuccinos, and other frothy coffee drinks. Still other models are small enough so that you will be able to take the thermos with you. All of these models and other thermal coffee makers will be convenient time savers, and will keep your cup of coffee warm without burning it, or boiling it away. These coffee makers also come with other options, such as a programmable clock and a basket that swings out for easy loading and cleaning. There are also some models that come with a pause button that enables you to pause the making of a pot, to take out a cup. These options on the best thermal coffee makers make getting that cup of coffee just a bit easier, not to mention faster.