Coffee
Your day couldn’t get any better with a perfect cup of coffee. The way its aroma energizes and sustains us to start our day. It is a part of our morning routine, and as some might say, their day won’t be complete without a cup or two. But have you ever thought of leveling up your coffee by adding a pinch of salt?
Why salt?
Salt is one of five basic tastes together with sweet, sour, bitter, and umami. All these tastes, when combined, can have synergy in effect. For example, salt can amplify sweetness or reduced/ neutralized bitterness. Case on point, that’s the effect of salt in your cup of coffee. Salt affects the bitterness of coffee as it decreases caffeine’s solubility. Another way salt affects coffee’s taste is by activating the salt receptors on our tastebuds, therefore covering for coffee’s bitterness. However, one must take note that the actual taste may vary due to different factors such as the amount of salt added, type of coffee concentration, and water temperature.
Aside from salt neutralizing coffee’s bitterness, it can also add thickness as it makes the water denser. This guarantees you a warm, cozy, and smoother drink.
How Much Salt?
Just a pinch or ⅛ of a teaspoon can be added directly to your cup of coffee or to the grounds before brewing. Another formula is adding ¼ teaspoon of salt for every six tablespoons of ground coffee. This is the perfect formula to have lessened the bitterness of coffee without it being salty.
Potential Health Benefits
Aside from the effect of salt on coffee’s taste and texture, there are also some potential health benefits in adding salt to your coffee.
First, it is said to avoid acid reflux and the like. As most coffee drinkers would know, caffeine causes heartburn, GERD, and acid reflux. Adding a little salt will lessen the triggers of their symptoms, allowing you to enjoy your coffee peacefully.
Another possible benefit of salt is it may substitute your sugar or creamer. Since salt neutralizes coffee’s bitterness, you may opt to replace or lessen the amount of sugar and creamer you used in every cup. This trick allows diabetics to enjoy their coffee without bitterness.
Cons
One must regulate the amount of salt being added to coffee, as it is crucial in the balanced and optimal functioning of the human body’s internal, physical, and chemical conditions. Too much salt is bad for the body as it is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
As the idea might sound a little intimidating, we hope this article helps you be more adventurous in making your next coffee cup.
