Some enjoy iced tea or hot coffee with added sugar, milk, or creamer. However, have you ever tried adding salt to your coffee?
While it may sound a little strange and extraordinary, adding salt in coffee has some unthinkable benefits–such as changing the flavor and affecting the coffee’s characteristics.
Are you curious why this tradition of adding salt to coffee was formed? What are the reasons why we should mix salt with coffee? Let’s find all the answers in this article!
Table of Contents
History of Salt in Coffee
The use of salt in coffee has quite an interesting history, so it’s not new. In World War II, American sailors were known to add salt to their coffee drinks.
Why do sailors put salt in coffee? The reason is simple: to reduce the bitterness of the seawater they use to brew coffee. In addition, this is also done to refresh the water that has been at sea for months.
Some countries, such as Turkey and Scandinavia, have a tradition of pouring salt into their coffee.
Also read: Is Coffee Halal or Haram: Sorting Fact from Fiction
5 Reasons Why You Should Add Salt in Coffee
What does putting salt in coffee do? Without realizing it, there are several benefits you can get. Let’s find out what they are!
1. Water Softener
Salt can soften the high mineral content in water, for example, in the form of calcium and magnesium. These two substances can affect the flavor of your coffee, such as making it taste sharp or unpleasant.
Adding a small amount of salt can reduce the effect of these minerals, resulting in a more balanced, smooth and pleasant flavor profile!
2. Health/Sodium Boost
The many salt in coffee health benefits is also one of the compelling reasons to try it. The human body generally needs sodium to balance fluids and nerve function.
If you’re active or sweaty, we recommend including salt in your coffee to compensate for lost sodium. However, it’s best not to overdo it, as it can harm you.
3. Decrease Bitterness
Do you dislike coffee that tastes too bitter? Fortunately, the next benefit of salt in coffee is reducing bitterness.
How does this work? Salt will neutralize the compounds that cause coffee bitterness, including chlorogenic acid.
This natural ingredient in salt is considered effective in reducing the bitterness of coffee so that the taste is more balanced and enjoyable.
4. Enhances Sweetness
Many may not expect that adding salt to coffee will help release the coffee beans’ natural sugar content.
When the flavor is sweet enough, you can limit the additional sugar that should be used. Bottom line: you’ll be drinking healthier, lower-calorie coffee!
5. Improves Aroma
Apart from the flavor, salt can also preserve the aroma of coffee. A warm cup of coffee will have a more intense and pleasant aroma by sprinkling a little salt in your coffee.
Also read: Improving Coffee Taste: Techniques, Benefits, and Strategies
Which Countries Likely Putting Salt in Coffee?
The practice of adding salt to coffee is a part of the culture of several countries. Here is a list of countries that follow this tradition!
1. Turkey
Salt in coffee is a Turkish tradition that can be easily found in traditional wedding rituals. Initially, the bride will serve a cup of salted coffee to her visiting husband-to-be.
This tradition is part of the pre-wedding test so that she can see her bride-to-be’s level of patience and tolerance.
This coffee is also often served to provide a drink that tastes unique and symbolizes the hospitality of the house’s owner to his guests.
2. Taiwan
In Taiwan, salt is often mixed into various types of drinks, one of which is coffee. They do this because it results in a unique-tasting coffee with a balanced salty-sweet flavor. Some modern cafes like to serve it!
3. Vietnam
The last country is Vietnam. They serve coffee with salt as their signature drink for an extraordinary coffee experience. Like Taiwan, they like their coffee balanced between salty, sweet, and bitter.
Also read: Many choices, Top 10 Coffee Shops in Philippines
How to Put Salt in Your Coffee?
Knowing how to putting salt in coffee correctly is essential so as not to spoil the flavor of your coffee. Here are the steps:
1. Choose the Right Type of Salt
The first step is to choose the right salt. What kind of salt for coffee? You can use sea or Himalayan salt for a more complex coffee flavor. They also contain natural minerals that your body needs!
2. Set the Amount of Salt
How much salt should I put in my cup of coffee? We recommend adding about a small pinch of salt. Adjust this amount until it reaches your taste buds. Remember not to add too much as it can dominate the flavor of your coffee.
3. Add Salt When Grinding Coffee Beans
If you prefer to grind your coffee beans, you can sprinkle salt on them during the grinding process. The salt flavor will be more evenly mixed with the fresh ground coffee.
4. Add Salt After Brewing
Apart from stirring, you can add salt to processed coffee to make a ready-to-eat drink. Remember to stir it until it dissolves completely.
5. Try Different Methods
The last tip is to experiment with different methods and times of adding salt. Keep in mind that each method may give different results. Therefore, find the combination that best suits your taste buds!
Also read: Can You Drink Decaf Coffee While Pregnant?
Try New Sensations with Salt in Your Coffee!
Those are some benefits you can get from putting salt in coffee. Apart from being a new way to enjoy a cup of coffee, the salt content also affects the flavor and aroma profile of the drink.
Don’t hesitate to try it next time. For a better experience, equip yourself with high-quality coffee beans like those on the FnB Coffee website!
From a wide variety of Indonesian coffee beans such as Arabica, Robusta, or Specialty coffee, we always guarantee to deliver high-quality coffee products to your doorstep!
Still, trying to understand which type of coffee best suits your taste? Find the complete list of our best-sellers coffee through the following link. Have fun trying this technique and enjoy a more balanced coffee flavor with the best coffee beans from FnB Coffee!
