Why Some People Add Salt to Their Coffee: Explained

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You’ve probably encountered those scenes in movies where someone mistakenly pours a heap of salt into their coffee instead of sugar. While an excess of salt in your coffee would undoubtedly lead to a less-than-desirable outcome, salting coffee is actually a practiced technique, and the rationale behind it is quite logical.

Some individuals opt to sprinkle a pinch of salt directly into their coffee cup, while others prefer to add it to the coffee grounds before initiating the brewing process. Both approaches are gaining traction, and neither is considered incorrect. The concept behind salting coffee revolves around salt’s ability to mitigate bitterness, effectively fooling our taste buds and brains into not perceiving the coffee’s bitter notes.

Coffee, especially when consumed black, can possess a notably bitter taste. This is why we often incorporate additives like milk, cream, sugar, or honey to counterbalance its bitterness. Salt, typically used to enhance the flavor of bland foods, also serves as a bitterness attenuator in specific scenarios, such as in coffee.

While you can directly sprinkle a pinch of salt into your cup, the preferred method appears to be adding a dash of salt to the coffee grounds before brewing. This subtle approach diminishes the brew’s bitterness without imparting an overt salty taste. If you’re seeking ways to elevate the taste of your morning cup of coffee, why not consider incorporating a dash of salt into your routine?