Finding the formula to the perfect cup of coffee for your taste can take a while. I finally got around to buying a French press a few weeks ago and I’mstilltweaking the right ratio and brewing time to get it just right (though I amdrinking it at the right times each day).
Even the most dedicated coffee addict occasionally brews a cup that just doesn’t taste right. Using a different kind of coffee or machine can throw things off, and there are few things more Ԁιȿɑρρօιɴτιɴɢ than a whole pot of coffee that’s too bitter to drink.
But if you don’t have time to make more, there’s a quick way to make it drinkable:just add a pinch of salt.
Image by Aayesha Siddiqui/Flickr
If you use a too-high ratio of coffee to water, or leave it to steep for too long, a pinch of salt will counteract the bitterness. That’s becausesodium interferes with the transduction of bitter flavors. It’s even a tradition in some parts of Northern Scandinavia, Sibir, Turkey, and Hungary.
The salt won’t make bad coffee taste good, but it may be enough to make it drinkable. You can add it to the finished cup if you’ve already messed up, or try sprinkling it on top of the ground before brewing and see how it affects the taste.
Image viaMartin Lersch
Still not convinced? Check out food scientist Alton Brownexplaining his method for making perfect coffee, which includes—you guessed it—a pinch of salt.
Image viaFood Network
Have you ever used salt to take the bitter edge off a cup of coffee? Or do you use another trick? Let us know in the comments below.
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