[IMG]http://simplefeed.consumerreports.org/rsrc/i/1/_/health_weekender_get_the_best_brewthen_use_the_l_8 42039798/4.gif?f=3dcb3160-01dc-11dc-32a2-0019bbc55f7f&s=AewyNia7NTvDvhaDemju5DEsbnVsbCwwLDA *[/IMG] Health Weekender: Get the best brew?then use the leftovers

I joke on a near-daily basis, ?I can?t speak in full sentences until I?ve had my morning cup of coffee.? And the weekend is when coffee becomes more than functional and I have time to try out some gourmet brew. Coffee prices vary widely?and if you?re a coffee connoisseur, you?ll go far and wide and spend just about anything for the right java. But, most of us want a delicious brew, without digging too far into our wallets. Our ShopSmart editors have got some tips to help you shop:

Clip some coupons. Download coupons for the brands you know you like at manufacturers? Web sites, such as Dunkindonuts.com.

Don?t stock up on bags. All ground coffee loses flavor fairly quickly, so don?t stockpile coffee, even if you get it on sale. It?ll be money down the drain.

Grind your own. Buying ground coffee might be easier, but you can?t beat the taste of fresh-ground beans. The trick is to buy only what you will use in a short time and to grind only what you will drink immediately. One top grinder from our recent tests, the Mr. Coffee IDS77 at right, costs just $20.

Green beans

It?s great to be environmentally friendly?but make sure you know what you?re buying into. These coffee translations will help you decide whether to spend a little extra green for green beans:

Bird friendly: These beans are organic and are grown under conditions that benefit bird habitats

Fair trade certified: Look for certification by this nonprofit, international program that advocates sustainable production and fair prices for small farmers. Among the brands of fair-trade coffee that we tested were Bucks County, Kickapoo, and Starbucks.





USDA Organic: These coffee beans are certified by the Department of Agriculture to be free of most synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and have not been genetically engineered. To find organic suppliers and retailers, go to the Organic Trade Association.



Rainforest alliance certified: This group certifies that products have been grown using measures to conserve water and soil and to limit chemical pesticides

Recycle your old brew

And just because you?ve finished the pot, doesn?t mean you have to throw away the leftovers. Here are some ways to make the most of what?s left over in your coffee pot:

• Freeze leftovers in ice-cube trays and add to iced coffee. This trick keeps your iced coffee from getting watery as the cubes melt.
• Substitute coffee for the water in brownie or chocolate-cake mixes. It imbues a richer flavor.
• Replace part of the liquid in stews or barbecue sauce with strong coffee. Again, the coffee adds to the flavor, and you can save your wine for drinking!
• Substitute coffee for water in your favorite baked-beans recipe or add a little when heating canned baked beans.
• Use coffee as a meat marinade. It imparts a subtle flavor, its acidity helps break down tougher cuts of beef or pork, and it adds a nice earthy flavor to poultry.

?Ginger Skinner

For more coffee tips and our top picks, see our latest recommendations and Ratings u(subscribers only). And read more on coffee?s health perks and risks.

Image: edknowles


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