The Perfect Cup of Coffee

Ever stop to think that it's always beverage time, always beverage weather? Morning, noon, night, and the hours in between; summer, winter; surrounded by family, entertaining friends, or relaxing along. You can be as festive, as ceremonial, as casual as you please with beverages. Here is my favorite beverage - coffee.

Coffee's not only the key to a pleasant way to start the day or end it, not only a quick, gratifying pick-me-up on a busy morning or a warm greeting when friends meet-in short, it's not only a marvelous beverage, but a fascinating flavor, unlike any other flavor in the world.

What's the key to a really satisfying cup of coffee, one that's full-bodied and just plain good? The secret of perfect coffee, no matter which method you use, is as simple as this: Fresh coffee, exactly measured; fresh water; a throughly clean coffee maker; immediate service.

Here are a few tips to remember when you make your cup of coffee:

• After you open your paper bag of coffee or vacuum can, best use it up within a week.
• If coffee has gone stale, don't use it. 
• The right-size coffee maker is important: if you are a two-cup family, use a small coffee maker, and save the large one for company. 
• Best way to measure your coffee is to use a standard measuring scoop. 
• Always brew it just under the boiling point, but never let your coffee boil.

Recipe for the Perfect Cup of Coffee

To make the perfect cup of coffee at home, start with freshly ground medium-roast coffee, filtered water, and clean French coffee press.  

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop of ground coffee for each cup
• water
• milk, cream, honey for serving
• cookies - optional

Directions:

Pour bowling water into the coffee press and stir with wooden spoon to mix all the coffee grounds throughly.

Let steep for at least 5 to 8 minutes and then slowly push down the top of the press the coffee grounds to the bottom of the glass carafe.

Pour the coffee into heat-retaining ironstone or ceramic cups.

Coffee this good needs to be served with fresh  whole milk or cream and natural sweetener such as honey or organic sugar.