When we talk about adding something to our coffee, the first thought is sugar or milk, almost no one will think of the word "salt". This time, however, I added salt to the coffee...... This may sound like an illogical combination, but don't knock on it before you try it. The salt in coffee can actually have a delicious effect!
Why do people add salt to coffee?
Human's need for salt from the physiological instincts. In human body fluids, sodium ions are the most common cations in extracellular fluids, responsible for maintaining the osmotic pressure of body fluids crystals and transmitting nerve stimulation. The human body excretes sodium every day through urine, sweat and other ways, so it must be supplemented by sodium ions through the diet, and salt is the main source of sodium ions.
While a small percentage of the bitterness in coffee comes from caffeine, the majority is generated by two compounds: chlorogenic acid lactones and phenylindanes. Our taste buds enable us to recognize sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami, but our biological response to bitterness differs from other tastes. When we eat or drink something bitter, calcium ions are sent to our brain. Sodium ions and salt receptors on the tongue, inhibit our perception to balance the taste of bitter taste.
Salt can enhance umami flavor, also because there are umami substances in food, such as glutamate that has both umami and sour taste. Salt can moderately neutralize their sour taste, making the umami taste outstanding. Margaritas take advantage of this feature, with the salt edge of the glass designed to enhance the aroma of the wine, neutralize the acidity of the lemon and balance the taste.
The benefits of salt in your coffee
- Reduce the bitterness of coffee
Adding a little salt to coffee can suppress bitterness and enhance the flavor of coffee, and salt can eliminate bitterness in coffee better than sugar. This is because sodium chloride or table salt makes the sodium in coffee more obvious, thus making the coffee taste less bitter or bitter is no longer an obvious taste.
- Improve the taste of stale water
Salt can improve the taste of water that has been left out for too long. As we all know, making good coffee depends on the good quality of water, and using stale water will affect the quality of the coffee, which means you will end up with poor quality coffee. The water quality can be improved by adding salt to the water. The water will be denser and the texture of the coffee will be thicker.
- Relieve acid reflux
The salt in coffee can help with acid reflux. Many people find that drinking coffee makes them dizzy or nauseous, and may even experience acid reflux or heartburn. To avoid this, you can add a little salt to your coffee.This helps to neutralize acid in the drink, reduce the rate of acid reflux.
- Supplementary absorption
Coffee lowers your sodium levels, and by drinking coffee with a pinch of salt, you can replenish your sodium levels while getting the energy you need.
Adding salt to coffee also has its downsides
First, for people who are sensitive to sodium, the extra salt in coffee can sometimes lead to an increase in blood pressure.
Secondly, adding salt to coffee can sometimes cause inflammation of the stomach wall, and may also cause gastrointestinal discomfort and other abdominal problems.
Finally, too much salt may actually be bad for your heart.
However, as long as you don't drink excessive amounts of salty coffee every day, you are unlikely to experience these problems.
How much salt should be added?
The key word to keep in mind when adding salt to your coffee is "less is more."
In 2009, food science expert Alton Brown suggested adding salt to coffee in an episode of his cooking show Good Eats. For every cup of water and two teaspoons of ground coffee, you should add half a teaspoon of salt to neutralize the bitter taste of the coffee, he says. Or add a teaspoon of salt to 6 tablespoons of ground coffee. Any less and you won't have the desired effect. Any more, however, and you may taste saltiness in the drink.
Please note that adding a small amount of salt in the coffee will not make it taste more salty or damage potential flavor compounds from the coffee. And it's a healthier addition than sugar.
The next time you brew a cup of coffee, try this technique. Salty coffee may be your new favorite coffee.
Works Cited
Taste of Home. “Alton Brown Adds This Strange Ingredient to His Coffee” Emma B. Kumer, Apr 09, 2019, www.tasteofhome.com/article/alton-brown-coffee-with-salt/
FLUENT IN COFFEE. “Should You Put Salt In Coffee? (The Benefits And Drawbacks)”Jessica Fleming-Montoya, October 31, 2022,
https://fluentincoffee.com/salt-in-coffee/
