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Coffee. The nectar of the gods. There are many different names for that warm cup of caffeine in your hands.
For millions of Americans, a day can’t be good if it doesn’t start out with the perfect cup of coffee. About 64% of Americans drink at least a cup of coffee every day.
Most of those people make their own cup at home. There’s a difference between making your own cup of coffee and getting it at a local coffee shop. Bringing the café to your home starts with knowing how to make coffee.
Are you ready to learn how to brew the perfect cup of coffee?
Let’s get started!
It Starts With the Coffee
You can’t cook a great meal without the best ingredients. The same goes for a good cup of coffee.
There are countless blends and roasts of coffee. Each one will give you a certain flavor. Here are some of the basics to know so you can pick the right coffee to suit your tastes.
Light Roast
Light roasts keep the full flavor of the bean and tend to have a blonde look. They’re more acidic than other types of roasts.
Medium Roast
Medium roasts retain most of the original flavors of the coffee bean. They tend to have a bit more balance between acidity, flavor, and aroma.
Dark Roast
Dark roasts tend to lose the flavor of the beans and have a burnt or smoke flavor. Dark roasts tend to bring the oils of the coffee bean to the surface.
Coffee and Caffeine
Do you know why coffee beans have caffeine? It’s actually a defense mechanism. These plants have caffeine to overstimulate predators. Think of a small animal or insect on a lot of caffeine. It would hurt them.
Since humans are larger, we use caffeine to wake us up or to keep us awake.
There are a lot of misconceptions about coffee and caffeine. Many people think of a dark roast as strong coffee. They also think that the stronger the taste, the more caffeine is in the cup of coffee.
That’s not really true. The difference in caffeine actually lies in the type of coffee bean. Some beans will have more than others.
Since the caffeine levels will vary from bean to bean, the other influencing factor in the amount of caffeine you’ll get in coffee is the amount of coffee vs. the amount of water. The more water a brew has, the less caffeine you’ll consume.
The Beans and Grinds
The source of the coffee beans and the grinds used will also have an effect on the flavor of the coffee. Beans exhibit certain flavor profiles. For example, beans from Ethiopia have a fruity flavor profile, like a blueberry muffin.
Those profiles will change when different beans are blended together.
It can be hard to get good coffee beans where you work. Try to get the best office coffee where you work because the quality will make a big difference in your enjoyment of coffee.
How you grind the coffee matters, too. You’ve probably seen very fine coffee grinds for espresso and rough grinds for brewing in a French Press.
The type of grind determines how much flavor is extracted from the coffee bean. A rough grind can cause very little flavor extraction, leaving the coffee to taste weak.
A coffee grind that’s too fine will cause too much extraction, giving your coffee a bitter flavor. You want to get it just right.
The Brewing Methods
Brewing the perfect cup of coffee is no longer confined to getting the perfect ratio in your drip coffee maker. There are a lot of different methods for making the perfect cup of coffee.
Drip Coffee Maker
The drip coffee maker is the most common form of brewing coffee at home. There are some coffee makers on the market that take the mystery out of brewing coffee. They have the precise measurements and amount of water to add to get the right number of cups of coffee.
The right ratio is 2 tablespoons of coffee per 8-ounce cup. Your coffee should be a medium grind.
Moka Pot
The Italian espresso maker has a lot of names. It’s called a percolator, a Moka pot, or a stove-top coffee maker.
A Moka pot requires a fine grind of coffee. Take three tablespoons of an espresso roast and fill the water in the water container to just below the valve. Put the pot on the stove and wait until you hear the glorious sound of brewed coffee.
French Press
To brew coffee in a French press, measure out a half cup of beans. Grind them to a medium grind.
The key to having a good French press coffee is to use water at the right temperature. You should never pour boiling water over your coffee. That will burn the beans and make your coffee bitter.
If you want to try making a cold brew, put the right amount of coffee and water into the carafe. Stick it in the refrigerator overnight and press the coffee down in the morning. That will give your coffee a nice light flavor that’s refreshing on a hot day.
Pour Over
Some coffee purists believe that a good cup of coffee takes time. The pour over is a method of brewing coffee that brings out the full flavor of the coffee.
You’ll need a cup and a cone filter for this method. You may want to rinse your filter before using it.
There is no set ratio for pour-overs. You can experiment with this method to get the best brew for your taste. A good starting point is 2 tablespoons of coffee to 2 cups of water.
When you pour that water over the coffee, take your time. Start from the outside and work your way to the center. Pour a little bit of water at a time to maximize the extraction.
How to Make Coffee That Is Perfect Every Time
There are several things to learn when you want to know how to make coffee. You need to know the bean, the grind, the roast, and the brewing method.
Once you start to learn about the ways that flavor is affected, you’ll begin to experiment on your own to make the best cup of coffee.
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Essential oils are the aromatic oils which are derived from various plants by the process of steam distillation. Since these oils contain aromatic compounds they have a strong fragrance. While oils can be derived from almost all plants by separating the water based components from the oil, only some of these oils are used in medicines, healthcare, beauty, skincare products, food and other wellness applications. Most of these oils should be diluted with a carrier oil like jojoba oil before being used. Some of the Different types of essential oils which are used extensively for aromatherapy, wellness, and healthcare and skincare applications are discussed below.
Lavender oil is one of the most widely used essential oils due to its pleasant fragrance, relaxing effect and help in treating cuts and bruises. The oil is used for stress alleviation helping the person relax. It can be also used for treating cuts, bruises and boils. The oil is distilled from the lavender plant.
Tea tree oil is an oil which is used mainly for treating skin problems. It can help reduce acne, make acne and other scars less visible. The oil is also used for treating fungal infections like athlete’s foot. The oil is distilled from the Tea tree grown in Australia and is also used in skincare products
Calendula oil is derived from the calendula flowers also called marigold. The oil is suitable for treating acne, reducing scars. It is used for treating problems of those who have sensitive skin. The oil can be added to the bath water for those who suffer from psoriasis
Eucalyptus oil is obtained from the eucalyptus tree. It is widely used for boosting immunity and protecting the person from cold, fever and related illnesses. It can be used to treat problems related to the respiratory system like nasal congestion. However the oil should always be used in the diluted form.
Peppermint oil is distilled from the peppermint herb. It is one of the few essential oils which is edible and can be ingested. It is widely used for treating indigestion and other problems of the digestive tract. It is also used for improving the brain function and boosting immunity
Frankincense oil has been used for thousands of years for religious functions due to its pleasant smell. The oil is used for its relaxing properties, reducing the stress levels and treating depression. It can also help in boosting immunity, reducing inflammation and treat cuts, bug bites.
Oregano oil is extracted from the oregano herb. The oil contains the ingredients, thymol and caracole which have anti-bacterial properties, preventing the growth of disease causing bacteria. The oil can also help to boost the immunity of the user, fighting cold and other similar illness, though it has an unpleasant taste Chamomile oil is made from the chamomile flowers and has a pleasant smell. Though chamomile tea is widely consumed, the oil is convenient to use. This oil is used for relaxation, reducing anxiety and stress levels. Hence the oil is applied to the pillow cover to help the user sleep well.
A lot of articles, reviews of nutritionists and scientists, as well as whole books have been written about low-carb diets. The diet is not new, and many opinion leaders have confirmed its effectiveness from personal experience. Also, many studies have been conducted that show that following the recommendations of this diet you have reduced appetite, which will allow you to consume fewer calories per day and lose weight with little effort. Also, with a proper diet, you can keep weight on one digit for a long time.
Where carbohydrates are
Carbohydrates are most commonly found in grains, starchy vegetables (like potatoes), and fruits. With a low carbohydrate diet, you can not only lose weight but also improve your health and reduce the risk of diabetes.
Is a low carb diet easy to eat?
Absolutely. Anyone can apply this diet on himself, without feeling any discomfort or dissatisfaction. Diet does not exclude many foods. Which you love and are used to consume. For the best effect and guarantee of recovery, it will not be superfluous to consult a doctor who confirms that there are no diseases in your body that could affect the indications before the diet. For example, a diet is not advisable if you have any kind of heart disease or diabetes.
What is a low carb diet?
This is a diet that reduces your consumption of foods that contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are a type of macronutrient that is found in many foods that we are used to eating every day. Carbohydrates can be simple and complex, refined and natural. Natural ones include grains, vegetables, milk, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, fruits. Refined carbohydrates include white bread, pasta, some cookies, carbonated drinks.
For the body, carbohydrates are a special fuel. If you reduce them in your body, it begins to use fat as fuel. A decrease in carbohydrates lowers the level of insulin in the blood, which burns stored fat for energy.
What to eat with a low-carb diet
The list of products is large. You are starving, but simply more consciously approach the issue of nutrition. Eat more protein found in poultry, eggs, and fish.
The daily limit of carbohydrates is from 0.7 to 2 ounces, depending on your weight and the desired result.
Possible cons
Some diet investigators claimed that they managed to lose weight in a fairly short time. But after a month or more, they again began to gain kilograms. If you follow a diet that restricts you from fats, there is a possibility that weight loss will be more effective, but so far it is not backed up by anything other than the individual characteristics of the body.
Recently, scientists have questioned the benefits of reducing carbohydrates, explaining weight loss by the fact that you consume more protein and fat, which makes you feel more full.
Are you a coffee drinker who’s still looking for your favorite kind? Do you want to know more about the difference between light and dark roasts? Do you want to make sure you’re getting all the health benefits in your usual morning cup of Joe?
64% of American adults drink coffee daily. Considering the continuous growth of coffee drinkers, it’s not surprising that more people also want to know about what they drink. In this guide, we’ll talk about light roast vs dark roast coffee beans.
Read on for the difference between the two as well as the health benefits they offer. If you make it up to the end, we’ll give you the verdict.
1. The Roasting Difference
The major difference between light and dark roast coffee is the amount of roasting time. When you roast coffee beans, you’re getting water out of the bean via evaporation. The longer you roast the beans, the darker they become.
The more evaporation goes on in a bean, the less dense it becomes. Thus, light roast coffee is often denser than dark roast coffee. This is why light roast coffee has more caffeine and flavor, which we’ll talk about later.
Sometimes, the difference isn’t the time but the temperature. Dark roast means the beans stayed on the roasting machine at a higher temperature or for a longer time. From what we learned earlier, it’s safe to say dark roast coffee beans have a thinner density than light roast.
Before we move on, let’s bust a coffee myth. On the caffeine content on light roast vs dark roast, some say that both have the same amount of caffeine. This is true.
The myth is when people say that a scoop of dark roast has more caffeine or is “stronger”. If you measure coffee by volume or scoopful, you’re not considering the density of the beans.
If you want to know the true difference, measure beans by mass or by weight. You’ll see that light roast beans are denser, which means 50g of it holds more caffeine than 50g of dark roast. Though there’s a slight difference, it’s very minimal and almost has no impact.
2. Health Benefits
Most of us already know that coffee has antioxidants that help protect us against health problems. However, dark roasts and light roasts have different health benefits. If you’re health-conscious, you’re sure to enjoy knowing how light or dark roast coffee will affect you.
Let’s start with the health benefits of light roast coffee. A study found that lighter roasts have higher levels of antioxidants activity. Lighter roasts also have higher chlorogenic acid content, which reduces high blood pressure.
The effect of chlorogenic acid is like caffeine, only it isn’t as potent as caffeine. Other than that it reduces blood pressure, it’s also used as an anti-diabetes supplement. Some even use it as an anti-obesity supplement.
While not all anti-oxidants are anti-inflammatory (and vice versa), light roasts carry more antioxidants. This means it can help against the inflammations of chronic diseases. These diseases include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or Alzheimer’s.
If you do have the diseases mentioned above, remember that coffee isn’t a cure. It only helps lighten their effect of the disease on the body. Seek medical attention if you haven’t yet for these diseases.
Now, dark roast coffee lovers might want to change roasts. However, dark roast coffee has some health benefits still. It still has antioxidants that fight off inflammation.
It only so happens that lighter roasts have more health benefits.
3. Flavor and Texture
If you remember, light roast coffee is denser than dark roast. This means that the bean holds more taste than dark coffee. This often fits coffee types with fruity, herbal flavors.
The sooner the coffee bean is out of the heat, the more flavors it still has. Also, if you’re looking for coffee with more caffeine content, a light roast is your best friend.
The thinner dark roast coffee beans lose more moisture in the roasting machine. This is why dark coffee has typical coffee tastes. These include the taste of roasted nuts, graham crackers, and caramel.
Another difference between light and dark roasts is the texture of the coffee. Coffee beans put under a light roast give a thinner body. If you drink it, it’s like drinking strong black tea.
Dark roast coffee has a fuller, thicker texture. This is because their longer roasting process lets the beans develop oils and bring them to the surface.
4. Light Roast vs Dark Roast: Verdict
Finally, it’s time to know which the better choice is for you coffee lovers out there. As with most things, you should base this decision on your preferences.
Do you like flavorful coffee? Do you want a touch of complexity in every sip? Do you want to drink something that doesn’t offer as much thickness in each nip?
Do you prefer something with more brightness or “acid”? If your answer to the above-mentioned questions is yes, light roast coffee is what you want. Light roast coffee suits those who want a taste of adventure in their cup.
When it comes to flavor, do you like your coffee straightforward? Do you want something thicker and richer even if it offers a singular flavor? Do you enjoy your coffee more with a decadent chocolatey flavor?
Dark roast coffee is for you if your answer to those questions above is yes. It’s the kind of roast for those who love their coffee with low acidity and deeper, darker flavors. Dark roast coffee thrives best with flavors that are nutty, caramel-like, or chocolatey.
Remember, caffeine content remains the same whether you choose light or dark roast. The only way to get more caffeine is to add more coffee. If you’re looking to have less caffeine in your cup, decaf coffees are always available for you.
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Coffee is as complex as wine in that it has so much potential. Every cup can be a unique and new experience. The roast of the beans is only one contributing factor to that journey.
Now, you know more about what makes a light roast vs dark roast. Share the knowledge with your friends and or let them read this guide.
But why stop here when we’ve got more for you to discover? If you want more content on everything coffee-related, check out our other guides.
Having people over for BBQ? Instead of the same old, why don’t you try something that will blow their minds? BBQ food isn’t known for its elegance or its delicate aromas, but it can still pack a powerful culinary experience through smoky and strong flavors.
Check out these 5 amazing BBQ food ideas for your next outdoor cooking event.
1. Pasta Salad, Corn on the Cob, and other Starters
BBQ is not just roasted meat. In its essence, cooking a BBQ is creating an experience for friends and family to bond over food. This experience starts from the moment your guests arrive and before the meat itself is ready.
So, how do you start this amazing social tradition? The answer lies in delectable starters. If your guests are getting puckish from all the smoky aromas, but the meat isn’t ready yet, a pasta salad can save you.
Making pasta salad is easy, and you can follow it up with other easy but amazing starters like corn on the cob and perhaps even potato chips with assorted dips.
2. Country-Style Ribs
Nothing screams BBQ more than country-style ribs. You’ll need to marinade the ribs at least six hours before it’s time to cook them. There are tons of good marinade recipes to choose from, including traditional, Texan-style, sweet and spicy, mustard and honey, orange, and more.
When cooking your ribs, remember that charcoal grilling will give them a smokier flavor, while a gas grill will cook them more evenly and easily. Gas grills are easier for beginners, and you might want to enjoy the best of both worlds with a dual fuel grill that combines both gas and charcoal fuel.
3. Chicken Wings
Delectably delicious and easy to cook to perfection, chicken wings are your best friend when planning the most amazing BBQ events.
You can literally spice your chicken wings up by making different batches. Make a batch of spicy wings for those who like a bit of heat, and an Indian-spiced batch for guests who enjoy more exotic flavors.
There are so many great ways to marinade and cook chicken wings, that you just can’t go wrong.
4. Burgers, Hotdogs, and Kid-Friendly BBQ Food
If you’re having kids or picky eaters over, then you should grill a couple of burgers or hotdogs on the side. Burgers are all about using good mince and you can add a bit of bread in the mix to make them extra fluffy for the kids.
Hotdogs are always a favorite, and you can level yours up by offering an assortment of condiments and relishes for your guests to garnish their hotdogs as they wish.
5. Grilled Mushrooms and Vegetables
Finally, don’t forget your veggies!
Most of us don’t eat enough vegetables. Thankfully, BBQ is perhaps the best way to turn any vegetable into a delicious treat.
In addition to freshly tossed salads, try grilling peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, and mushrooms next to your burgers. You will be pleasantly surprised with the result!
Liked Our Article on Amazing BBQ Food? Check Out More Inside!
Now that you know how to cook awesome BBQ food, it’s time to take your culinary expertise to the next level. We are your one-stop destination for foodie news, amazing recipes, and articles on travel, drink, food, festivals, and restaurant reviews.
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