The science behind salt in coffee

Many people prefer not to add anything to their coffee, but there are those who like to add a pinch of sugar to enjoy a sweeter beverage. Now, A new viral internet tip points out that adding a spoonful of salt to coffee may help remove some of the traditional bitterness and enhance the beverage’s other flavors. But is this true?

Table salt, also called sodium chloride, although it does not seem like real information, It is known to help suppress bitterness in foods and beverages.. Since the discovery of salt, people have used the mineral to improve the flavors of food, including reducing bitter tastes.

Caffeine makes up about 15% of coffee’s bitterness, but it’s the two compounds derived from chlorogenic acid that give the real bitter taste. Known as chlorogenic acid lactones and phenylinds, they are produced during coffee roasting. However, the beverage may become more bitter due to different processes during the processing of the grains.

Overheating the coffee water can also make the coffee more bitter, so salt helps those who don’t like the pure taste of coffee. The sodium ions in salt are responsible for neutralizing some of the bitter taste, sharpening the sweetness and other flavors present.

pinch of salt for coffee

In a cookbook by Chef Alton Brown, he recommends adding a quarter teaspoon of salt to every eight tablespoons of ground coffee. As the book explains, adding the mineral will reduce bitterness, and you can even see Brown’s coffee recipe in a video posted on YouTube—in 2015, he updated the tip and said it’s better to use the same amount of salt for coffee. every six teaspoons.

“Adding salt to coffee reduces bitterness without the use of other additives. Salt naturally increases the sweetness of the coffee and keeps the aromas pleasant. “If people are sensitive to bitterness even in specialty coffees, adding salt is a good alternative to using milk and sugar,” said Sara Marquart, president of The Coffee Excellence Center’s North American Community Taste Center.

It’s important to note that experts don’t believe a hint of salt is all that functional in high-quality coffees, as they are generally not as bitter as traditional versions.

Is salt in coffee harmful?

It is already known that coffee offers a variety of nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, antioxidants, among other health benefits. However, adding sugar, sweeteners, and other high-calorie ingredients can remove some of these benefits. Even so, salt can be a healthier, lower-calorie option for reducing coffee bitterness and sharpening its sweetness – even so, it’s important to remember that coffee won’t be sweet.

Drinking too much coffee can also reduce the amount of sodium in the human body, as it is a natural diuretic, so adding some salt to your coffee helps prevent sodium loss.

benefits of salt

• Balances the amount of water in the body and prevents water loss;
• Helps the nervous system work;
• source of sodium;
• source of iodine;
• Reduces the risk of low blood pressure;
• Natural antibacterial.

However, some people should definitely avoid using salt in coffee. Adding salt can significantly increase the total amount of sodium in the body, and this can be a serious problem for people with kidney and cardio-respiratory diseases. In addition, excess sodium chloride can cause inflammation in the stomach, increased blood pressure, among other consequences.

The effects of excessive salt use

• increased blood pressure;
• heart problems;
• It impairs kidney health and facilitates the formation of kidney stones;
• Supports swelling;
• Headache;
• paralysis;
• madness;
• Higher risk of osteoporosis.

In many regions, such as Vietnam, salt is a delicacy in coffee and can even be used with other ingredients such as condensed milk; It is a traditional beverage in informal premarital ceremonies in Turkey; The beverage has been consumed in Scandinavia for decades. So this is nothing new, and salt will likely continue to be a part of coffee consumption in different parts of the world.