Here’s why you should put salt in your coffee

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In almost every Austrian household, coffee in the morning is simply part of the routine. Yet a study by the North Western University of California found that most people drink coffee not for the taste but much more for the feeling it evokes in them. So it’s no wonder that some add sugar, milk or other sweeteners to the flavorful beverage for taste. But instead of using fattening additives, there is also a simpler trick to make your coffee tastier.

A pinch of salt
Even though bitter substances are very healthy, most people find the bitter taste unpleasant. Nevertheless, throughout evolution, our brain has closely linked the taste “bitter” with the information “dangerous.” This means that if something tastes bitter, we often perceive it as inedible or even consider it poisonous. To reduce the bitterness of coffee, adding five cubes of sugar to the cup is unnecessary. A pinch of salt will also do.

Yes, salt can significantly improve the taste of coffee. The reason for this is the property of salt to balance the acidity in coffee and thus improve the overall taste sensation.

In addition, salt has another effect: it can ensure the coffee stays fresh longer. A little salt in the ground coffee prolongs its freshness because salt binds moisture and thus protects the brown powder from oxidation.

Salt for intensification
Salt is considered a flavour enhancer anyway. It is used in many dishes as a contrast to the sweet flavour, making the sweetness taste more pronounced. For example, a pinch of salt in cocoa highlights the drink’s sugary note.

In coffee, however, the spice works exactly the opposite way: instead of intensifying a flavour, the flavour is softened by adding salt. A tip: The salt should already be added when brewing the coffee so that the grains of salt have enough time to dissolve and distribute their aroma.