Everyone knows salt is the key to making the perfect steak, but did you know that salt can also be used in your coffee? Believe it or not, salt has a number of benefits when added to roasted beans. For example, salt makes naturally bitter coffee taste less bitter and more flavorful. It also helps reduce the acidity that’s often found in dark roasts by balancing out these flavors and bitter taste.
Adding salt in coffee grounds can make any brew better, but it can be especially useful if you are using coffee that has gone a bit stale. When salt is added to coffee that has been sitting for too long, it can help revive some of the lost flavors.
If you are new to adding salt to coffee, start by using a small amount and adjust as needed. You may also want to try different types of salt to see which one gives you the best results. Some people prefer to use kosher salt or sea salt, while others prefer to use a flavored salt like garlic salt or onion salt. No matter which type of salt you choose, adding it to your coffee can help make every cup taste better. If you want to learn more about this interesting topic then read on!
1. Why salt can be beneficial to coffee
Salt is a mineral that is mined from the earth and has been used as a seasoning for centuries. There are many different types of salt, however, sea salt tends to be the most popular because it contains essential minerals like magnesium and potassium. Sea salt tastes better than table salt and has less sodium per teaspoon which can help with hypertension and other health problems. If you’re looking for ways to improve your coffee drinking experience, adding some sea salt can do just that!
Salt brings out more flavors in coffee such as nutty tones or fruity notes. Adding just a little bit will enhance the flavor without turning it into salty coffee. This also means that if you don’t enjoy flavored coffees then this might not be an ideal addition to your morning cup.
Salt can help clean out toxins in the body which will make you feel better after drinking coffee. If you are someone who suffers from regular headaches, adding a pinch of salt into your coffee each day might just be what you need to prevent them!
2. How salt can make your coffee taste better
Coffee and sea salt were made for each other. The balanced flavors that come from adding just a pinch of this seasoning will improve the taste of your coffee, or should we say enhance it? You can add as much as you want to really kick up the flavor but beware because if too much is added it may become unpalatable.
The salt can help to cut through the bitterness of your coffee and make it taste sweeter. The mineral balances out flavors so that you don’t have too much acidity or bitter flavor in your cup. This also means that if you enjoy drinking flavored coffees then this is a great addition!
Salt brings out more flavor notes in brewed coffee, and if you’re someone that likes to add syrups or creamers to your coffee then adding salt can help to make those flavors even more pronounced.
3. Different types of salt
Table salt is the most popular type of salt, but it’s not the healthiest. It contains additives and chemicals that are not good for your body. Sea salt, on the other hand, is a healthier option because it doesn’t have any additives and is lower in sodium. If you want to reap all the benefits of sea salt then try using a coarse, natural kind that has larger crystals. This will give you more texture and make your coffee taste even better!
Finely ground salt is the best for adding to coffee because it dissolves immediately rather than clumping together at the bottom of your cup. The finer grains also help with imparting more flavor into the drink.
Sea salt is a great choice for coffee because it brings out more of the nutty and fruity notes that are often in your favorite roast. You can add however much you want, but if too much is added then it might affect the flavor of your coffee!
There’s nothing wrong with using table salt in your coffee, but sea salt is a healthier option that can bring out more of the flavors in your drink. Try adding a pinch to see if you like the difference!
4. Tips for putting salt in your coffee grounds
I recommend adding the salted coffee grounds before you brew. This will help the seasoning to dissolve and mix in with the coffee better. You can either add it directly to the filter or if your grinder has a salt setting you can use that too.
If you’re using pre-ground coffee, then adding the salt directly to to the grounds in the filter is the best way to go. This will help it to dissolve and mix in better with the coffee.
If you’re using a French press, then it’s basically the same process, just be aware that different brewing methods might require different amounts of salt in order to get the best results. For example, if you’re using a drip coffee maker then adding about one teaspoon will be enough but it might take more like two teaspoons for French press brewing.
If your personal preference is not to use any additional sweeteners or syrups when drinking coffee, then adding a pinch of salt can help to make the drink more palatable. It also helps to increase hydration, so if you’re someone that tends to forget to drink enough water throughout the day then this could be a good way to fix that! There are plenty of health benefits to coffee already.
5. Pros and cons of adding salted coffee
There are some good reasons for putting salt in your coffee grounds, but there’s also a couple of downsides. The biggest benefit is that it enhances the flavor and makes it taste better overall! It brings out more of the flavors in both flavored coffees as well as those that have nutty or earthy notes. Another pro of adding salt to your coffee is that it can help with hydration, and some people even claim that their caffeinated beverage boosts brain function.
The only downside of adding a pinch or more salt in your cup of joe is that you might ruin the flavor of a delicate roast. Darker and bolder roasts can take on a saltier flavor without negatively impacting the taste, but if you’re using a light roast or medium roast then it might not be as enjoyable.
The pros of adding salt to your coffee grounds definitely outweigh the cons, but if you add too much then it might ruin the taste of your drink.
6. What you need in order to add salt to your ground beans
If you are using coarse salt, then you will need to grind it first. Don’t grind it with your coffee grinder because it can ruin your expensive coffee grinder. Plus, you may not want salt in all your different coffees and the salt could end up in your grinder. I like to use a simple salt grinder like you find at a nice steakhouse.
If you are using finely ground salt, then there’s no need to grind it first. It will dissolve immediately when added to hot coffee.
7. How much salt to add to your coffee
The amount of salt to add will depend on your personal preference and how much you like the taste. If you’re not really a fan, then start with just a pinch or two and see if that changes anything for you. I recommend adding it before brewing so that it dissolves better in the hot water. Afterall, we don’t want a salty cup of coffee hitting your taste buds!
Add no more than one teaspoon of salt for each cup of water you intend to brew. Any more than that and you might start to taste the salt more than the coffee.
You can always add more or less depending on your own preference, but I would recommend starting with just a little bit and adding more if needed.
8. The best time to salt your coffee
Some people like to add salt to their coffee grounds before they brew, while others like to add it after. There really isn’t a right or wrong answer, it’s just a matter of what you prefer. I generally add mine directly to the filter so that it’s already in the coffee when it brews.
You could add the salt into your carafe or other decanter, but then you will need to make sure to stir it in well so that it’s evenly mixed.
It doesn’t really matter when you add the salt to your coffee, as long as it gets dissolved into the hot water. Just make sure not to add too much or else it will overpower the flavor of the coffee itself.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know all about adding salt to your ground coffee beans to excite your taste buds, it’s time to give it a try! There are some upsides and downsides, but overall I think the pros outweigh them.
Coffee drinkers don’t want too much salt in your morning coffee or else it will ruin the flavor for you. Start with just a pinch or two and work your way up if needed.
Brew your coffee as you normally would, making sure to dissolve the salt into the hot water. Then enjoy the enhanced flavor that adding salt can bring!
Fellow coffee lovers should check out our gear reviews and bean reviews to find their new favorites!
