Last Updated on February 3, 2023
The Benefits of Adding Salt to Your Cup of Joe
Who knew that adding a pinch of salt to your morning cup of joe could be the best way to enhance it? You may think that sounds a bit crazy but trust us, it’s not as unusual as you might expect. There are some surprising coffee with salt benefits.
If you’re searching for ways to reduce the bitter taste that some coffee lovers want to avoid, you’re in the right place.
In this blog post, we’ll explore all the surprising benefits of adding a pinch of salt to your coffee. So pour yourself a cup and read on to find out why salting your coffee can wake up your taste buds!
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- The Benefits of Adding Salt to Your Cup of Joe
- The History of Putting Salt in Coffee
- Why Would You Want to Add Salt to Your Coffee?
- Coffee with Salt Benefits
- How does adding salt to coffee improve the overall experience?
- How Much Salt Should You Put in Your Coffee?
- Who Should Not Add Salt to Their Coffee?
- My Experience Adding Salt to My Black Coffee
- Conclusion: Coffee with Salt Benefits
The History of Putting Salt in Coffee
Salt in coffee is more likely to be seen as a curiosity than a serious part of anyone’s daily routine, but the history of using this unique ingredient goes back quite some time. Its origins are varied, spanning many countries and eras.
In Hungary, numerous 16th-century documents mention adding salt to coffee and tea. Siberia has had its own tradition since prehistoric times – locals would add animal fat and even bird eggs to freshly brewed coffee, which was then seasoned with salt.
Norwegians and Swedes added salty cheese as an accompaniment when serving coffee in the 18th century, and in Turkey and Vietnam, salt was used heavily for centuries as a flavoring component.
Why Would You Want to Add Salt to Your Coffee?
As we’ve just learned from historical accounts, it can be a great way to boost the flavor of your brew. Adding a pinch of salt to your coffee can bring out its sweetness and complexity, making for a more balanced cup.
Salt heightens other delightful coffee notes like sweet chocolate, honey, stone fruit, or flowers – giving you an altogether enhanced experience when you enjoy their flavor in coffee.
Salt also helps reduce bitterness in darker roast coffees, which may make them more pleasant to drink.
If that’s not enough, salt has beneficial health properties – it contains electrolytes that help support your hydration and important minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium which are essential for good health.
Coffee with Salt Benefits
Did you know that adding a pinch of salt to your morning cup of joe can be surprisingly beneficial?
It may seem counterintuitive, but the combination of salt and coffee actually provides health benefits.
Salt helps to reduce spikes in blood sugar levels following a meal or snack, promoting healthier digestion processes. Adding it to your morning caffeine routine can help you maintain energy levels throughout the day.
It can also improve concentration and mental sharpness, leading to increased productivity and better work performance.
How does adding salt to coffee improve the overall experience?
Salt helps mute the acidity of the brew and brings out the sweetness in the flavor. You’ll find that adding salt to your cup makes for a milder, smoother-tasting coffee.
Plus, it takes on a robust flavor that you simply don’t get from sugary creamers or additives.
The influence of the Alton Brown trick
While adding salt to your morning coffee may seem like a strange suggestion for making coffee taste better, the idea has become increasingly popular due to Alton Brown’s advocacy of this technique.
The celebrity chef suggests adding a pinch of salt (he suggests kosher salt) to bring out subtle notes in your cup of Joe. He also recommends it as an appetizing alternative for those who don’t like sweetener or creamers in their coffee.
By reducing the bitterness that comes with some coffees, the pinch of salt can help you to savor the flavors more deeply and fully enjoy your morning mug. So if you’re looking for a new way to spruce up your cup of coffee, why not give Alton Brown’s trick of adding a pinch of salt a try?
If you want to watch and learn, here is a quick video of Alton Brown preparing French press coffee and adding salt to the brew:
How Much Salt Should You Put in Your Coffee?
Adding salt to your morning cup of coffee can be an easy way to level up your brew. You have choices as to how you add the salt:
- Sprinkle it right on top after pouring your coffee,
- stir a pinch into each cup before preparing, or
- add a pinch directly to the coffee grounds in your filter.
Make sure you use a fine-grained salt for a better blend. As for quantities, just a small pinch of salt should do. Taste the final product and then adjust accordingly — you can always add more if need be!
Overall, adding just the right amount of salt to your coffee will leave you pleasantly surprised at the enhanced flavor.
What type of salt works best in coffee?
Getting creative with the type of salt you add to your coffee can significantly enhance the flavor. Experimentation is key to finding the perfect combination to fit your personal taste preference!
Kosher or Celtic sea salt offers a slightly salty flavor that can be subtle yet still provide a sweet and flavorful pick-me-up.
Adding Himalayan pink salt brings out a more intense sweetness, giving your brew an unexpected smoothness and complexity.
Flaky sea salt adds an interesting texture to every sip and takes on more of a gentle salty taste as it melts into your beverage.
If you’re looking for something even more unique, check out black lava salt—the bold salinity and subtle smoky flavor will make your next cup of coffee one to remember!
Finally, avoid plain old table salt because it’s refined and heavily processed.
Who Should Not Add Salt to Their Coffee?
Adding salt to your coffee may not be for everyone. While the flavor profile of a cup of salted coffee can be unique and enjoyable for many, there are some cases where it should not be part of your routine.
Those with high blood pressure, heart problems, and hypertension should check with their doctor before adding salt to their coffee.
If you suffer from acid reflux or kidney disease, it’s best to stay away from adding salt. The ingredients present in this popular condiment, namely sodium and chloride, may aggravate these conditions.
If you’re looking for other healthy alternatives that can add a punch to your cup of java – think cinnamon, cocoa powder and nutmeg!
People who are watching their sodium intake because of any other medical conditions should also avoid adding salt to their coffee and consider alternative ways to flavor their cup of joe.
My Experience Adding Salt to My Black Coffee
So, being the type of person who wants to practice what I preach, I decided to test adding salt to my black coffee. Keep in mind that I like my coffee strong, and I never put anything in it. Just strong black coffee.
And, I am quite particular about the roast as well as the brewing method. All that said, I added a pinch of pink sea salt to my afternoon cup of java.
And you know what? I liked it. My coffee was smooth and tasty, and the tendency toward a little bitterness was not there. Did I taste the salt? No. But I just used a little bit.
I think that every coffee drinker should give it a try and see what they think. Experiment with the type of salt (skip the table salt, please) they use as well as the brewing method.
Conclusion: Coffee with Salt Benefits
Adding salt to your coffee can be a great way to enhance the flavor and bring out subtle notes in your cup of joe. It’s an ideal alternative for coffee drinkers who don’t like sugary creamers or additives, as it reduces bitterness without adding extra calories.
However, some people should not drink salted coffee due to medical conditions such as high blood pressure and kidney disease. If you are looking for other healthy alternatives that can add punch to your cup of java, consider experimenting with cinnamon, cocoa powder and nutmeg.
Ultimately, everyone has different tastes when it comes to coffee—so experiment until you find the perfect combination that suits yours!
RESOURCES:
- https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/salt-and-sodium/
- https://www.womansworld.com/posts/health/salt-in-coffee-benefits
Candi Randolph is a coffee lover, blogger, and content creator who loves to share her knowledge with the coffee-drinking world. You’ll often find her tending to her coffee bar at home, deciding which method to use to brew her next cup of java. Life is full of important decisions. ☕
