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UPDATE: This giveaway is over.
As many of you know, I absolutely love my coffee, so I was very excited when Starbucks contacted me to offer my readers a Starbucks Gift Pack! They just came out with a new 5 oz package size, and most coffee packages you get in the store will include an offer for a FREE Tall (12-fluid ounce) brewed coffee at Starbucks locations when customers bring in their empty bag.
In addition, they sent me some great tips on brewing the perfect cup of coffee to share with you here below…
Four Fundamentals for Brewing the Perfect Cup of Coffee
The recipe for a great cup of coffee includes four basic fundamentals: proportion, grind, water and freshness. Understanding and following the guidelines for each of them will ensure a great cup of coffee every time.
Proportion
The general rule for coffee-making is two tablespoons (10 grams) of ground coffee for each six ounces (180 milliliters) of water. Too few coffee grounds result in over-extracted or bitter coffee. Too many grounds result in under-extracted coffee that does not achieve the full flavor of the blend. Proportion is the most common coffee-making mistake – and the easiest mistake to correct.
Grind
Different brewing methods require different grinds. A grind that is too fine will trap water and result in a bitter, unpleasant brew. A grind that is too coarse leaves coffee weak and without distinguishing characteristics or flavors. Over-extracted coffee tastes much worse than under-extracted coffee, so when in doubt as to the brewing method, always err on the coarse side. Coffee connoisseurs agree that the best coffee – thick, rich and truest to its flavor profile – is made in a traditional coffee press. A coffee press requires a coarse grind.
Water
While it may not seem like an important ingredient, coffee is 98 percent water. The type of water used when brewing greatly affects the final taste. Always use clean, fresh water that is filtered or free of impurities – avoid soft water or well water. Water heated to just off the boil (195º-205ºF or 90º-96ºC) does the best job of extracting the coffee’s full range of flavors. Water that is too cool will mute the flavor and dull the coffee’s aroma.
Freshness
Coffee’s biggest enemies are oxygen and moisture. Always store coffee in an airtight container at room temperature. Storing coffee in the refrigerator or freezer can result in moisture from condensation and is not recommended for daily use. If coffee needs to be kept for more than two weeks without being used, store it in the freezer in an airtight container. Brewed coffee should always be stored in a thermal carafe and never left on the burner or reheated.
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GIVEAWAY DETAILS
Starbucks is giving away 3- Starbucks Gift Packs starting Monday, January 18th, 2010. The winners will be announced on Friday, January 22nd.
**Each Starbucks Gift Pack includes the following:
- One Starbucks Coffee Mug
- 1-20 oz Bag of Starbucks Coffee
- 3 – 5 oz Bags of Starbucks Coffee
Faithful Provisions Giveaway Disclosure: Starbucks sponsored this giveaway by providing three Starbucks Gift Packs to give away to three randomly selected winners. I did not receive any compensation from Starbucks for hosting this giveaway. For more information about Faithful Provisions, please read my Disclosure Policy.
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Here’s how to enter:
1. Fill out the form below. (Note: Comments will not count towards entries unless you fill out form under “additional entry”.)
2. One entry per person per day (up to 4 entries).
3. Methods of Entry – You can get 4 additional entries by doing the following (for a total of 8 entries per person):
* Once you complete these acts, just add another entry form below noting your method of entry.
- Sign up for Email Newsletter
- Fan me on Facebook
- Follow me on Twitter
- Post a comment with your own money saving coffee tip. (Once you leave a comment, fill out the form and put “comment” in the meth0od of entry.)
Giveaway ends Thursday, January 21st at midight CST. The winner will be drawn using Random.org. Winner will be notified via email and I will post the winners here.
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I refrigerate leftover coffee to make chilled mocha lattes for an afternoon “pick me up” or dessert coffee for the evening.
I just “fan on facebook” this morning…
.-= Deb´s last blog ..Sometimes I am a REAL DRIP… =-.
I LOVE my coffee too
Starbucks coffee is the best!
I get your email..
This is my money saving coffee tip. I like to go to Starbucks and like everyone have a favorite but my favorite cost around $3.50. I go at least twice a week and sit and chat with a friend and this can add up. So I have started using Starbuck’s re loadable card to pay for my drink and sometimes switch what I get. This is a cost savings benefit because first after you have purchased a certain number of drinks you will get one free. But even better if I choose to get coffee as my drink, instead of my fancy drink, not only is it cheaper but I also get a free refill while I am at the store! So I can order the smallest drink, save money because it is smaller and because it is not a fancy drink and still end up with more ounces of beverage than I would have without using their card!
I save money on coffee by using a 4 cup coffee pot so I don’t waste any if I only drink a couple cups that day. I can always brew more if needed. And believe me…some days it’s needed!
O.k….so I just figured out how to submit that I get your email. Oops… Here is my real comment. I always prepare my coffee the night before. That way when I hear my usual wake-up call….. ” MOMMA!!!” I can just press start and in a few minutes I am good to go,
I love coffee; I love Starbucks. My new discovery – the tuxedo – 1/2 regular mocha 1/2 white chocolate…I add peppermint. Delicious. However, I’m confused – is this old? The dates for the contest are passed, yet I never saw this entry. (I get the e-mail & check the blog just about every day).
Coffee absolutely starts my day out right! I want to get a job at Starbucks. Do they give an employee discount?
Love this site and coffee
hoping this enters me in drawing but confused about dates
Mmmm…starbucks nonfat caramel macchiato is my favorite!
love, love coffee. i need to win
Well, this is a tip using coffee that saves you money in your garden… Put coffee grounds in your compost or sprinkle over your garden plot or lawn. I also use cold leftover coffee (no sugar or cream!!) to water my houseplants. Plants love coffee! It is also a barrier to slugs and snails.
I have heard that Starbucks will even give you their used coffee grounds for this purpose.
I am a facebook fan! Thanks!
I am a facebook fan!
Thanks!
A lot of people in my office go to starbucks and most of them know I like coupons so when they get coupons on their receipt that they are going to just throw away, they are often passed along to me
I make my husband’s coffee the night before too. It makes it so much easier because we’re all so busy in the morning! I don’t drink coffee but he LOVES Starbucks coffee and I’d give this to him.
We usually do our coffee at home, but I love getting great B1G1 deals at Publix on “the good stuff”…and I found a little gadget to froth my milk on clearance at Marshalls!
I love coffee, too! My coffee tip is to always use the water from my Brita filter rather than regular tap water. It filters out all the yucky tasting chemicals and chlorine leaving delicious tasting coffee.
.-= Keri´s last blog ..Menu Plan for January 17-23 =-.
I follow you on Twitter.
I also am a Facebook fan
I subscribe to your email. Thank you!
I love Starbucks…I load my coffee budget on to the reloadable gc. That way, when the budget money is out…the coffee trips are out! Keeps me in check with my expenses while still getting to enjoy my favorite cup of joe
We save money on coffee by ordering Boca Java-the best coffee in the world and so much cheaper than a daily starbucks trip.
I can’t quite give up my Starbucks, so here is my tip….my husband and I switched to a cheaper drink. Normally, I would buy something in the $3-$4 range. Now, I am getting Cafe Americanos for $1-$2. And BTW….they are SO good! Much better than their regular coffee that they serve.
When it’s warm out, I’ve started ordering (at Starbucks) iced coffee with milk and a shot of vanilla instead of a fancy latte. It’s a little cheaper, and it’s delicious! I’ve also started making them at home sometimes…half strong coffee, half skim milk, a little half and half to make it creamy and vanilla syrup to taste…YUM!
I’m the only one that drinks coffe in our house so I switched to a small 4 cup coffee maker. I usually only have time to drink one cup as I”m getting ready in the morning so sometimes I just brew one cup. This has saved us a ton of money because I was pouring out a lot of coffee when I was using a regular size coffee pot. We still have a big one for when we have company over!
When I can get coupons for Starbucks, I get as many as possible and stock up when on sale!
My hubby and I like to drink coffee twice a day – caffeinated in the morning and then decaf when the kids get in bed. We used to go through loads of paper filters. We don’t use them anymore! We use the gold-tone filter basket that came with our coffee pot. And it honestly tastes better without the papery taste. Paper filters don’t cost a ton, but we’re saving money, trees, and landfill space. And I can still use the grounds for compost.
We love coffee in our house. Starbucks is a huge purchase in our house. I can usually find the best price at Walmart. But the price is even better when I can use a coupon. I also take advantage of the free cup of coffee coupon on the Starbucks bags.
My money saving coffee tip is to brew my own in single cup since I usually can’t finish the whole pot.
Whoops I misread and posted my comment in the form space…anyway I’ll retype…
I like to make my coffee in a french press to save myself from wasting coffee. It comes out fresh and all I usually need is one cup.
I stock up on the Starbucks when it’s on sale. I also redeem the bags for free cups of coffee. Hubby & I have Starbucks credit cards, so we earn free coffee with everyday purchases. We also signed up for free b-day coffees with the Starbucks Rewards program.
My coffee saving tip is to not be brand specific, if possible. When I find a good sale, I stock up! (as with everything!). I also fix my coffee the night before and then use my coffee grounds in my garden!
I like to stock up when it’s on sale BOGO and using coupons…helps to stretch the coffee $.
I love my coffee(and I have no choice but to be brand specific b/c I am a coffee snob!), and especially my lattes, but it gets expensive… so I buy starbucks coffee to brew at home which lasts longer and is cheaper anyway, AND I buy their syrups… they will sell you the big ones for about $7. At one coffee a day, the syrup lasts me about 1 month so instead of paying $3.78 a day for a latte I’m able to pay $7 for the syrup and make my own…
We typically have coffee at home. I stock up when the opportunity arises like publix/winn dixie bogo’s or when I have a really great coupon.
I became a fan on facebook today.
I love the smell of coffee brewing but don’t always like the taste. Of course, for me, it depends on who has made it or what brand it is. I absolutely love Starbucks coffee. Only thing is, I don’t buy it often because it is so expensive. With hubby and I on a strict budget, trying to become completely debt free, I can’t see spending $3 dollars on coffee when I can make it myself at home for pennies.
So winning this would be absolutely wonderful in fulfilling my need/love of Starbucks coffee & keeping us within budget.
Thanks for the give-a-way!
I usually buy mine coffee via Walgreens or CVS with RR or ECBs. FREE is always nice!
I usually drink the cheaper coffee(folgers,maxwell house,etc.) during the week and save the Starbuck’s for the weekend with my hubby. It makes it taste extra special
We buy it at Costco!
I register my Starbucks card and load it with a set amount of money every month so that when I use it, the syrup is free which knocks the tall vanilla latte down from $3.44 to $3.00. Every little bit counts! I also brew my coffee during the week and only buy Starbucks on the weekends. It also helps to have friends who work at Starbucks!
I save money on coffee by buying coffee beans in bulk and grinding our own as needed.
Freeze unused coffee in ice cube trays and use them later in iced coffee drinks. It doesn’t get watery like with regular ice cubes.
Pick me! Pick me! I LOVE me some Starbucks!
I am also a coffee fanatic, especially for Starbucks. My money saving tip for coffee is to ask for light ice and nurse it all morning while adding more ice later. LOL. It works for me.
we always save our starbucks coffee bags and cash in on the free cup of coffee!
Since I like cream in my coffee and different flavors, to save money I always use for coupons for Coffeemate or International Delight.
A money saving coffee tip…hmmmm two words: gift cards.
purposedrivenlife4you at gmail dot com
I’m a Subscriber!
Follower on Facebook!
Doreen H.
I follow you on Twitter! (luvcontests)
My coffee money savings tip is to only make a half of a pot in the morning. I was throwing away almost a half of a pot when I made a whole pot.
I follow you on twitter @smash906
I am a facebook fan!
I am an email subscriber
To save money on coffee, I buy the HUGE starbucks bag at BJ’s wholesale club. It costs about $20 and lasts me like 2 months. $20 would only get be about 5-10 days worth of coffee at starbucks or dunkin donuts.
http://m.twitter.com/aleshamom4/status/8018755826
I hope I’m doing this right. Anyway, I follow you on Facebook (Carol Andeson Ezovski).
I can’t follow you on Twitter because for some reason you have me blocked. Maybe that was when somebody hijacked a bunch of Twitter accounts (including mine) and posted Spam. I’ll be glad to follow you if you want me (cezovski)
digicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net
OOPS–I spelled my own name wrong for the Facebook entry. Andeson should be Anderson. Duh.
I subscribe to you via e-mail also.
digicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net
My money saving tip regarding coffee is that I check out the different offerings at places like Big Lots. The coffee there is really cheap and I have found some pretty good coffee there (and some not so good).
digicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net
My coffee money-saving tip is that I order my coffee through Frontier Wholesale Co-op with a group of friends. Anyone can set up an account with them, and if your order is $250 or more it is free shipping, and always tax-free. A group of my friends order together to get the discount. They have a monthly sales catalog and when the coffee goes on sale I stock up! I get Newman’s Own Organic coffee for $4.88 a package, which is much less than I can find it at the grocery store, even when it is on sale!
My favorite Veggie Tales are Jonah and The Wizard of Ha’s. Thanks for the giveaway!
My coffee/tea saving tip at Starbucks is their frequent buyers club. You have to purchase a gift card and register it. When you purchase 5 drinks you are eligible for free refills of coffee or tea. There are other benefits so check it out.
My favorite Veggietales movie is Jonah. Thanks for the opportunity!
Our favorite my 3 grandsons and I hands down so far is the Bob the Tomato costume for our church fall festival… my grands came 3 in 17 months. In October my oldest got the costume but was TERRIFIED… as a good “Lollie” I recommended the 10 minute a day method so he’d be ready for the big day, the next couple of weeks were spent with 10 minutes every day with him screaming… NO, Bob’s eating me”. He went as “Parlie Brown” aka Charlie Brown. The 1 year old grand will have a go at it next year… yes 10 minutes at a time… SO yes we love Veggie Tales and the bob looked awesome on the 5 month old so it will be my favorite for years to come.
Love the silly songs!
My kids love veggie tales….a great way to expose them to Gods message in a way they can understand
We really like the Jonah movie.