Getting The Caffeine You Need: 3 Ways To Get The Strongest Brew Of Coffee Possible With K-Cups

America practically runs on coffee, with 54% of Americans over the age of 18 drinking at least one cup of coffee a day in order to get the energy they need. To make sure that one cup of coffee counts, opt for a stronger brew. With the invention of k-cups, making good coffee at home has never been easier. Still, you'll need to learn how to work with the machine in order to make a good cup of coffee that will brighten up your mornings. Here are 3 helpful tips you should consider trying.

Heat the Machine Up Ahead of Time

To fully extract all of the goodness that each k-cup have to offer, it's crucial that you warm your coffee machine up ahead of time. This is because the brewing temperature used to make coffee plays a crucial role in the amount of caffeine and flavors that can be extracted. Ideally, the brewing temperature should be between 195 degrees to 205 degrees Fahrenheit although the closer the temperature is to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, the better.

To make sure that the machine uses an appropriate brewing temperature, run a cycle of water before brewing your coffee. The cycle of water will warm up the inner mechanisms of the machine, so that less heat will be lost from surface exchange. In addition, make sure you store the k-cups at room temperature. If possible, warm up the k-cup with your hands before placing it in the machine. This also prevents heat loss.

Sneak Your Cup Out Before the Cycle Ends

The last few seconds of coffee flow that comes from the machine is generally the least potent, and will only water down the strength of the coffee. Because of this reason, you should consider sneaking your cup out before the cycle ends to make sure you get the best cup of coffee possible from the k-cups. If you're worried about making a mess, consider laying a piece of towel or a cloth underneath your cup to soak up as much liquid as possible. Wipe up splatters and drips immediately to prevent staining.

Most coffee machines that rely on k-cups will have a reservoir at the bottom to collect overflow. If you're feeling lazy, you can easily get away with simply removing the cup and cleaning the reservoir at a later time or after you've brewed several cups of coffee.

Use Less Liquid for Each K-Cup and Double Up

If you're really determined to get a strong cup of coffee that will make a statement in your day, simply double up the amount of k-cups you use to brew a cup of coffee. In addition, make sure you opt for a lighter coffee, like a blonde roast, as it will contain much more caffeine than a darker roast. Set the coffee machine settings to the lowest ounce setting possible, so that the brew becomes much more concentrated. You'll definitely feel the effects of the caffeine after that!

If you're feeling adventurous, you can even use two different k-cups. If you use ones that contain different flavored coffee beans, such as a donut shop k cup, you can create your own signature drink.  

Conclusion

Getting the caffeine kick that you need every morning has been made easy with the invention of k-cups. You can easily get artisan quality coffee from your home within minutes, if not seconds, and at a much lower price. It's extremely convenient . To control the quality and strength of the brew, you might have to put in a little more effort – especially if you have a higher caffeine tolerance and need a stronger kick to jumpstart your mornings.