HAPPY NATIONAL COFFEE DAY!

Ooooh baby! You know it’s gonna be a great day if you’re celebrating my favorite warm beverages!

Today is National Coffee Day, so allow me to nerd out and tell you a little bit about this sweet, sweet nectar.

Coffee’s been around as early as the 15th century, and essentially there are two main “legends” from where it originates from. The first; a farmer noticed his birds snacking away on these red little berries and having ALL of the energy, so when upon eating one himself and experiencing the same increase of energy.

The second; a disciple to a Sheikh in Morocco was exiled away into a cave, and to stay alive began chomping away on these red berries. He found them to be a bit bitter, so he roasted them. But then they were too hard, so he soaked them in hot water trying to soften them again. The water turned brown and fragrant, and drinking it had him feeling “revitalized and sustained for days”. Word got back to town that this dude had found a miracle drink and he was allowed back into town and made a saint.

all hail st. coffee, am i right?

Now, these are LOOSE beginnings recited back to you from my vast research wikipedia for 15 min, but I just wanted to prove that coffee really is a miracle liquid + nectar of the gods.. er, at least SAINTS. Anyway, as world explorers came and went, coffee travelled the world, became a main export/money-making industry for many countries, and can literally be purchased at any corner in the world, and is often my sole sustenance for the day.

Back in 2015, I wrote a blog post with tips on how to make your coffee taste better (I know, impossible, right?!), so let’s revisit the top five with some added information!

1. Make sure the grind is right. Different coffee makers require coffee to be ground various different ways for . If you’re using a french press, your coffee should be more coarsely ground than if you’re using an espresso machine or having Turkish Coffee. Ask your barista what grind you should be using, depending on the method used to brew the coffee. It does matter.
2. Store your coffee in an air tight container. No one likes stale coffee, and you can TOTALLY tell when coffee isn’t at it’s freshest. Making sure your coffee container has an air tight seal will keep your coffee fresher, longer. Storing it in the freezer is another option, however the beans will eventually gather moisture in the freezer, and that impacts freshness. Best thing to do — buy whole coffee beans so you can grind per use. A coffee grinder is fairly inexpensive, and this will ensure you’re getting the freshest coffee possible every morning.
3. Use unbleached filters. If you use a drip coffee maker like I do, unbleached filters are the way to go. They’re less harsh on the coffee being filtered through, and you’ll be getting a smoother taste as your coffee is brewing. Also, it’s less chemicals, period.
4. The right temperature is key. If you’re using a french press, or percolator, you want to make sure that the water isn’t too hot. You don’t want to burn the coffee, you just want the water hot enough to brew it. After your boil it, give it about a minute to cool down in the kettle, then pour it over the grinds. Otherwise, you’ll be left with hot, burnt, brown water. Yuck.
5. Flavour your coffee pre-brew. Throw some cinnamon, or if it’s closer to the holiday season, some nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice, in with your coffee grinds before you brew your coffee. The flavours will be infused once it’s done brewing, and you’re left with an aromatic, flavourful coffee. Or, if you’re feeling bold, try some vanilla extract, maple syrup, or dried, unsweetened coconut (SERIOUSLY SO GOOD)!

click here to read the rest of my vintage blog post!

There hasn’t been a cup of coffee I haven’t liked yet, and I’m always looking to give a new blend a try! If you have any recommendations for a coffee I have to try, shoot them my way!