Coffee-drinking mistakes to avoid
For many of us, making a mug or cup of coffee is the first thing we do after waking, and something we can hardly function without. Yet we often make mistakes: brewing poorly, letting coffee go cold or buying the first product we see in a supermarket. These habits spoil the pleasure of our little black coffee, even though they are easy to avoid. Discover the mistakes every coffee lover should remember.
Drinking coffee too late
Important tasks to finish in the evening, but you feel you need coffee for energy and focus? Consider skipping it. Researchers commonly suggest leaving at least six hours before bedtime. If you intend to sleep at 11 p.m., that means a last cup around 5 p.m.
Late coffee may keep you stimulated and make it difficult to fall asleep. Even if you do fall asleep quickly, caffeine can affect sleep quality, leaving you less rested the next morning. Its stimulating action can interfere with melatonin, the hormone involved in regulating sleep and wakefulness.
Too many additions
We know excessive coffee can be a problem, but what about the extras? Sugar, milk, whipped cream, flavoured syrups and alcohol are not calorie-free.
Plain espresso is a simple, low-calorie choice. Adding dairy or plant-based milk does not automatically turn coffee into an unhealthy drink or a calorie bomb, even when the milk is full-fat. The important thing is moderation.
A coffee with plenty of syrup, fluffy foam and chocolate shavings can be an occasional treat, rather than an everyday habit. There are also natural additions such as cinnamon, ginger and turmeric. Explore them in Three healthy additions to coffee.
Reheating coffee in the microwave
You reach for your coffee and discover it is cold. It happens to us all. Brew another, or microwave it? Many enthusiasts see coffee and microwave reheating as a poor match, and we agree when it comes to flavour. Reheating can diminish aroma and make bitterness more noticeable.
How can you keep coffee warm? We have two suggestions. First, preheat your cup or mug: add boiling water, swirl it briefly and empty it before brewing. The warmed vessel retains heat for longer.
The second option is simple and more effective: a travel mug. For help choosing one, read Which travel mug should you choose for coffee?
Buying ground coffee instead of beans
If you do not own a bean-to-cup machine, pre-ground coffee may seem more convenient. Yet buying whole beans and grinding just before brewing can make a real difference.
Grinding releases the aromatic oils responsible for coffee's distinctive taste and fragrance. Whole beans also absorb surrounding odours less readily than ground coffee. Without suitable storage, ground coffee can lose its aroma very quickly.
If you want the best from your coffee, choose whole beans, ideally from a roastery or specialist shop. If you have no grinder, add one to your shopping list. Visit our online shop for coffee, brewing accessories, tea and natural coffee syrups — everything you need for your next cup.