PROBLEM #1 Your Milk Cools Down Your Coffee
If you like your coffee with milk—but also like it piping hot—don't pour cold milk into your cup for a tepid drink. Instead, measure the desired amount of milk into the empty carafe of an electric coffee maker before brewing. As the hot coffee drips in, the warming plate of the coffee maker heats the milk, resulting in a pot of steaming hot coffee with milk.
PROBLEM #2 You Don’t Have Any Flavored Coffee On Hand
If you enjoy flavored coffee but only have regular coffee on hand, try making your own. For 10 cups of coffee, place ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon cardamom, or ½ teaspoon allspice in the filter of a drip-style coffee maker along with the ground coffee. Brew the coffee as you normally would and enjoy a subtly scented drink.
PROBLEM #3 Your Grinder Grinds Unevenly
Many inexpensive blade-type grinders grind coffee beans unevenly, producing some powder as well as some larger pieces of bean. Here’s how to even out the grind. With your hand over the hopper, lift the whole unit off the counter and shake it gently as it grinds. By moving the beans around, you help the machine grind more evenly.
Like these? See more quick tips at Cook's Illustrated.
About the Author: America's Test Kitchen
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I like your suggestions for flavoring coffee, but I am looking for directions to flavor the coffee with vanilla. My husband and I prefer the vanilla flavor over all others. Can you help with it? Thank you.
Hi gpk1946, thanks for stopping by! We love making vanilla sugar — it’s super easy — and a little bit added to coffee adds the perfect hint of that warmth. http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/do-it-yourself/2012/04/how-to-make-vanilla-sugar/