Ingredients

If you're anything like my dad, you take your milk and sugar with coffee; not the other way around.

Coffee for me tastes good on its own, but most people don't especially appreciate a bitter brew; even my best friend, who is a black coffee devotee, doesn't like it when her coffee has that extra-acidic bite.

However, there is apparently a solution -- one that doesn't require heaping spoonfuls of sweetener.

Salt!

No, really. According to a study from the scientific journal Nature, sodium ions actually suppress bitterness and enhance flavor, which basically means that if you add just a dash of salt to your too-bitter morning cup, the coffee will mellow itself out and you may even appreciate the taste of your coffee beans more, without the need for sugar and milk or cream.

That's not to say you should go overboard on the salt, however; while a cup of coffee can be adjusted if you add in too much sugar, the same rule doesn't apply here. Too much salt is almost sure to ruin the taste, so just add in a tiny pinch when you try it out the first time and adjust accordingly. 

Also, I get the feeling this tip doesn't apply to anything but black coffee. For instance, if you go to Starbucks and try adding a pinch of salt to, like, a Caramel Frappuccino to really enhance the caramel flavor, you're seriously just wasting your time.

Metro also reports that if you, like me, want to feel fancy but still can only really afford cheap bottles of wine, a little bit of salt in your inexpensive wine also enhances the wine's flavor, which could be a total party trick.

Are you going to try out this method of cutting the bitterness out of your drinks?

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If you're anything like my dad, you take your milk and sugar with coffee; not the other way around.

Coffee for me tastes good on its own, but most people don't especially appreciate a bitter brew; even my best friend, who is a black coffee devotee, doesn't like it when her coffee has that extra-acidic bite.

However, there is apparently a solution -- one that doesn't require heaping spoonfuls of sweetener.

Salt!

No, really. According to a study from the scientific journal Nature, sodium ions actually suppress bitterness and enhance flavor, which basically means that if you add just a dash of salt to your too-bitter morning cup, the coffee will mellow itself out and you may even appreciate the taste of your coffee beans more, without the need for sugar and milk or cream.

That's not to say you should go overboard on the salt, however; while a cup of coffee can be adjusted if you add in too much sugar, the same rule doesn't apply here. Too much salt is almost sure to ruin the taste, so just add in a tiny pinch when you try it out the first time and adjust accordingly. 

Also, I get the feeling this tip doesn't apply to anything but black coffee. For instance, if you go to Starbucks and try adding a pinch of salt to, like, a Caramel Frappuccino to really enhance the caramel flavor, you're seriously just wasting your time.

Metro also reports that if you, like me, want to feel fancy but still can only really afford cheap bottles of wine, a little bit of salt in your inexpensive wine also enhances the wine's flavor, which could be a total party trick.

Are you going to try out this method of cutting the bitterness out of your drinks?

Don't Like Bitter Coffee? Just Add A Pinch Of Salt!

If you're anything like my dad, you take your milk and sugar with coffee; not the other way around.

Coffee for me tastes good on its own, but most people don't especially appreciate a bitter brew; even my best friend, who is a black coffee devotee, doesn't like it when her coffee has that extra-acidic bite.

However, there is apparently a solution -- one that doesn't require heaping spoonfuls of sweetener.

Salt!

No, really. According to a study from the scientific journal Nature, sodium ions actually suppress bitterness and enhance flavor, which basically means that if you add just a dash of salt to your too-bitter morning cup, the coffee will mellow itself out and you may even appreciate the taste of your coffee beans more, without the need for sugar and milk or cream.

That's not to say you should go overboard on the salt, however; while a cup of coffee can be adjusted if you add in too much sugar, the same rule doesn't apply here. Too much salt is almost sure to ruin the taste, so just add in a tiny pinch when you try it out the first time and adjust accordingly. 

Also, I get the feeling this tip doesn't apply to anything but black coffee. For instance, if you go to Starbucks and try adding a pinch of salt to, like, a Caramel Frappuccino to really enhance the caramel flavor, you're seriously just wasting your time.

Metro also reports that if you, like me, want to feel fancy but still can only really afford cheap bottles of wine, a little bit of salt in your inexpensive wine also enhances the wine's flavor, which could be a total party trick.

Are you going to try out this method of cutting the bitterness out of your drinks?