Coffee is by far the most popular caffeinated drink in the United States, with 66% of Americans drinking the beverage every day. For many, the ritual of making coffee in the morning is an important one, setting the tone for the day—but are you making the most of your brew? Small mistakes can turn coffee from something delicious and energizing to a drink that doesn’t quite hit the spot. Here are 7 mistakes you might be making with your morning coffee, according to experts.
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1. Not Grinding Beans fresh
iStockGrinding your beans fresh is a game changer for delicious coffee. "Rule number one: Always grind your beans fresh. Ground coffee starts to lose flavor two minutes after it is ground—imagine what it tastes like two weeks later," Jonathan Rubinstein, founder and CEO of New York City-based coffee shop chain Joe Coffee, tells Martha Stewart.
2. Storing Brewed Coffee Incorrectly
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Putting coffee in an open container into the fridge to cool down is a bad idea, as it will take on flavors of other foods and drinks. “Even if you have fish sitting in your refrigerator, it will permeate and get into your coffee,” Laila Ghambari, the 2014 United States Barista Champion, tells HuffPost. Use a closed container to protect the coffee.
3. Putting Beans In the Freezer
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If you store beans in the freezer and are constantly opening the packet, you could ruin the coffee. "It is best to store your beans in a container that shields it from air and moisture," Rubinstein says. "Most coffee you would purchase in a 12-ounce bag already comes in the perfect container to store it." An exception to this rule would be vacuum-sealing individual portions and using them one at a time.
4. Leaving Brewed Coffee Too Long
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Drink your coffee soon after brewing it. “The longer your brewed coffee sits before you drink it, the more it will acquire stale flavors,” Kathleen McCarthy, a corporate trainer at Lavazza, tells HuffPost. “The longer your cup of coffee sits, the more the natural oils present in your brewed coffee will develop unpleasant and potentially even rancid flavors.”
RELATED: 22 Incredible Health Benefits of Coffee.
5. Comfortable Mug
ShutterstockMake sure your coffee mug is comfortable and doesn’t burn your hands. "For home users, I would suggest getting a mug that is comfortable to hold and makes you happy when you are using it," Coffee Project New York co-founder Kaleena Teoh tells Martha Stewart. "The shape of the mug is important to capture the aromatic compound in the coffee competition world, but when you are at home, use a mug that is easy to clean and not too hot to hold."
6. Wrong Temperature Water
ShutterstockIt’s crucial to make sure the water temperature is correct. “The ideal water temperature for brewing coffee is between 195 – 205 degrees,” according to Stone Street Coffee. “One common mistake made when brewing coffee is not allowing your water to get up to the optimal temperature. When the water reaches this ideal range, it extracts the most flavor from your coffee beans, and you will taste the difference every time.”
7. Cold Mugs
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Taking a few moments to warm your coffee mug can elevate your morning brew. “Imagine brewing coffee at a perfect temperature and then instantly cooling it in a cold mug before you get your first sip. That’s not only a coffee brewing mistake, but that is also just sad,” says Stone Street Coffee. “Take a moment to pre-warm your cup with a few ounces of hot water while you wait for your freshly ground coffee beans to brew. Simply pour it out right before filling the cup with your piping-hot coffee.”
