Do you think you know all there is to know about brewing coffee? Think again. This article has some fabulous suggestions to help you become even more skilled.

If you want coffee that is unrivaled in richness and flavor, buy a French press. Drip-style coffee makers have paper filters that can absorb all the flavor. A French press moves the grounds to the carafe. The flavor of the coffee is richer due to the oils remaining in the brew.

Do not throw away your old coffee grounds. If you have a garden, you can use your coffee grounds as fertilizer for your plants and flowers while keeping the pest away. You can also use old coffee grounds to scrub dirty dishes or clean your kitchen counter instead of using chemicals.

Buy smaller cans of coffee. If you buy coffee in a can, only buy what you will consume in a couple of weeks. It will cost more money than buying a large can and storing it for a while. What you save in money by buying a larger can, you end up sacrificing in taste.

Always start with fresh, clean tasting water to get the best coffee. The type of water you use makes a big difference. Test the water before you brew the coffee.

While your coffee is brewing, try soaking the coffee mugs in hot water. A cold mug will cool off your drink before you can even get it to your lips! When the coffee is ready, simply dry off the mugs and serve. This trick will keep it hot much longer.

You do not need to tip the barista at a coffee shop the same percentage as you do a waitress or a hairdresser. Your hairdresser has to understand precisely what you want and then do it, and a waitress has multiple tables to keep up with exactly everyone’s order. Your barista mixes up one cup at a time, so do not feel guilty for tipping him or her less. Still, do throw a few coins in the tip jar frequently.

After brewing coffee, never reheat it. Just buy yourself a mug that will stay hot for a long time. If you do not have access to a thermos, brew a fresh pot of coffee.

The best coffee makers actually extract the essence of the bean. Drip coffee makers do not do this. Find an inexpensive French press and taste the difference. A French press will extract the oils from the bean and put them in your cup as opposed to a drip coffee maker which will leave them in the filter.

If you order coffee in a diner or restaurant, do not drink it right away as you should let it sit for at least five minutes. When you see the steam subsiding considerably, this means that your coffee has cooled down a little, as you will not risk getting hurt by drinking it at this time.

While looking at the different types of grinders available, remember that conical or flat grindings burrs are the best. Grinders like these cuts down on the heat that is produced. Thus, it ensures that your coffee tastes great. Any grinder that uses blades to grind will lack in consistency. They get too hot and can ruin the beans by burning them.

For great coffee at home, it is essential to make sure your coffee maker has been thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis. By running hot water cycles every so often and using a bit of lemon juice routinely to remove deposits, it is possible to have a fresh, tasty pot of coffee every single time.

Packaging is important when it comes to coffee. It you buy coffee beans, pay attention to the packaging they come in. Make sure you buy beans with quality packaging. Also pay attention to how long it took to package these beans and how long they’ve been sitting on a shelf. Little facts like these can make a big difference in taste.

If you want a cool iced coffee, try keeping your favorite French press in the refrigerator. This will keep the machine chilled before you use it to brew the next morning. Using this with cold water can help your coffee taste sweet and clean.

If you have a lot of ants in your home, you can use coffee to repel them. Sprinkle dry, used grounds anywhere that you normally see them. You can brew a pot and pour it over any ant holes that you see in your yard and they will go away.

Even though avid coffee drinkers prefer fresh brewed coffee, some people use instant coffee granules to make a quick cup rather than a whole pot. The flavor of the instant coffee is different than brewed coffee, and most people think it is inferior. It is quite convenient though, and some consider that convenience worthwhile.

If you are a person who loves to take your time drinking your morning coffee, you may be disappointed by how quickly it cools down. And, leaving the pot on the burner will scald the coffee, ruining its flavor. To keep your java hot, try one of the coffee makers that brew directly into a thermal pot or carafe. These do not use direct heat, so your coffee tastes good even an hour later.

Do not throw away those used coffee grounds once the pot is empty. You can use them to exfoliate your skin. Mix them with a small amount of olive oil and make a scrub for your skin. This will remove any dead skin cells and leave your skin nice and smooth.

To get a consistent cup of iced coffee, put any flavoring in the cup first, top with your fresh coffee and then finish with the milk and stir. This keeps the flavoring from floating on the top and allows you to gently and consistently merge all of the different elements.

You may not have known all of these fantastic tips. However, you sure know a lot more now. Maybe you’ll impress your friends too!