Coffee has gotten a bad rap in the last decade, but that hasn’t stopped millions of people from flocking to overpriced coffee shops. And, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, people should know more about the coffee they drink than they currently do. The article below has the information you need to become the coffee aficionado you long to be.

The best coffee typically comes from a coffee press. Instant coffee is over-processed and tends to taste awful, while whole bean coffee offers the best aroma and flavor. When you grind it yourself fresh, you’ll be amazed at the difference. Using a press brings out all the best notes, too!

Make sure to mark your coffee before putting it in the freezer so that you do not keep it in there for more than three months. Coffee frozen longer than that will start suffering in quality.

Test a new coffee maker a few times after purchasing it. Do this as though you really were making coffee, only skip adding the grounds. Dirt and bad smells that accumulate while the machine is on store shelves will be removed.

If you prefer storing your coffee in your refrigerator, take care that it is in a container that is air tight. When the container isn’t airtight, odors and flavors from other foods can seep in. If your storage container is not airtight, your coffee can also get contaminated by moisture.

If you want good coffee, you have to use quality water. You might want to use bottled water. Even though you might not want to spend money on water, it will have a positive impact on the taste of your coffee. You may also want to get a water purifier if you don’t go the bottled water route. Although it’s not the same thing as bottled water, it will still have a better taste than regular tap water.

If you really want the freshest coffee with a gourmet taste, avoid pre-packaged coffee that sits on the grocer’s shelves. Purchase your coffee beans directly from the roaster through their website. Most roaster’s will have the coffee on your doorstep in just a couple days. This enables you to enjoy the beans when they are at their most flavorful.

When you shop for a personal coffee grinder, try getting one with a conical or flat grinding burrs. Either of these mechanisms reduce the heat generated during grinding. It produces a good tasting cup of coffee. A grinder with a blade isn’t that consistent. Because they generate excessive heat, it is actually possible for them to burn the beans.

Many discriminating coffee drinkers insist their coffee be fresh ground, and they buy whole beans to be ground just before they brew their coffee. The coffee grinders can be adjusted to make a fine ground coffee, or a coarser grind. Generally, the finer the grind, the stronger the coffee.

Now that all that is said and done, you are closer to being an expert on coffee. Continue researching the wonderful world of coffee, and it won’t cease to reward you. The wonderful aroma and taste of the perfect coffee will continue to please you for the rest of your life.