This Is Why You Should Put Salt In Your Coffee

There is nothing quite like that first sip of coffee in the morning. The aroma of a fresh brewed pot is most likely what it smells like in heaven. We look forward to downing our first cup as soon as the alarm goes off. So, it might feel a little uneasy or borderline offensive when new ideas about coffee come to light, threatening your morning brew. But look at it as a way to enhance an already perfect beverage.

New research has shown that putting salt in your coffee can make the taste less bitter. By adding salt, the salt receptors on the tongue become activated and help suppress the bitter taste (via Food52). Of course, coffee has been tampered with for years. You can add milk, sweetener, half and half, or all three. So why not try salt?

We can all recall what bitter tastes like. It is the flavor that turns your face into a puckered raisin. It's strong and leaves a stale aftertaste. Any remedy to avoid this reaction is a welcome one. Famous cookbook author and food science expert Alton Brown explains, "Not only does salt cut the bitterness, but it also smooths out the 'stale' taste of tank-stored water. And by the way, research has proven that salt is actually better at neutralizing bitterness than sugar" (via Homegrounds).

It is possible to have too much of a good thing. If your coffee starts to taste more like the Dead Sea instead of nutty, smoky warmth, than you've gone too far. Brown claims, "I've taken to adding a quarter teaspoon of kosher salt to every 6 tablespoons of grounds. That isn't really enough to taste, but it'll do the trick" (via Match Made Coffee). But no matter how much you add, just trying this hack makes you a crazy curious coffee connoisseur. Meanwhile, we can all agree it is helpful to offer up ideas to improve our morning cup. But the line must be drawn if there ever comes a Salt Frappuccino.