Coffee With Salt Gets You Really Sick: Truth or Myth? 

If you grew up hearing that coffee with salt gets you sick, you’re not alone. This is a common belief, but is it true? Let’s take a closer look at the science behind this coffee myth. We’ve all heard strange food myths before – like how drinking coffee with salt will make you sick. But is there any truth to this one? Let’s take a closer look at the science behind it.

Although it sounds odd is probably the best way to neutralise bitterness without using any kind of additives. It also brings out the coffee taste and aroma and improves stale water. It’s much healthier to add a pinch of salt to your coffee than a tbsp of white sugar.

Key takeaways: 

• What salt changes in your coffee
• Why salt make your coffee less bitter
• The negative of adding salt to your coffee

Interesting facts about coffee with salt

Let’s have a glance at some interesting facts about coffee with a pinch of salt:

• Alton Brown, the famous American chef was one of the first that publicly urged his fans to try coffee with salt because it tastes fantastic.
• People from Balkan countries (Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary) often add salt when making Lebanese coffee.
• Mediteraneans who live in coastal areas occasionally use 
• Adding salt to coffee is also popular in another part of the world and more specifically in Taiwan. You can order coffee at some of the biggest Taiwanese coffee chains with seasalt.

This what a coffee lover who tried coffee with salt has to say: 

There’s nothing wrong with doing this. Salt is a flavor enhancer in small amounts. It’s why it’s used in just about all baked goods as well as cooking. Chocolate cake, for instance, tastes flat when no salt is added to the batter. The salt actually makes it more chocolaty. I’ll throw a pinch of salt on top of a French press or aeropress brew to boost flavors.

– coffeemonkeypants

Does salt neutrilises biterness in coffee? 

The answer is YES it does neutrilise bitterness in coffee; salt contains sodium ions which stop your buds from tasting bite, many who try coffee with salt claim it tastes sweet. This is the reason that some dessert recipes have salt in them.

Here are some other health benefits of salt:

It makes stale water smoother: water is vital to brewing great coffee (97% of a cup of coffee is water) and water that stays in a glass or mug for long turns stale and taste differently – adding salt to your coffee can prevent this.

It’s a great sugar substitute: a single tbsp of white sugar contains 60 calories while a pinch of salt has NONE – salt in your coffee means you can drink sweet low-calorie coffee.

Salt is good for your health: it great for your thyroid and helps with low blood pressure; if you have such health issues consider introducing a little bit more salt to your diet. 

It helps your body maintain a good level of sodium: one of the things that coffe does to your body is lose sodium which important for conducting nerve impulses, relax our muscles and balance water and minerals in our body. Having a little bit of salt helps your body gets sodium back to its normal level. 

The table below summarises the benefits of having coffee with salt:

Less stale water	Your coffee taste good for longer
Sugar substitute	It makes your coffee less  bitter
Sugar is good for you	It helps to regulate blood pressure
A good sodium source	It helps you relax your muscles

Important note: salt is healthy and great to sprinkle your brew with, but (as with any other spices and superfoods) it needs to be used in moderation.

How much salt should you put in your coffee? 

A great rule of thumb is to add just a 1/4 of tbsp to your coffee, it’s enough to take the bitterness away from your brew. But this is a matter of personal preference; why not experiment with the salt portion to find what works best for you? 

The best way to go about it is to sprinkle your coffee grounds before brewing; this way salt is dissolved better.

What are some other healthy spices you can add to your coffee? 

I have three healthy ingredients for you that really elevate the taste of your coffee: 

• Cocoa powder: it adds a chocolaty spin to your brew and of course it’s packed with theobomine that prevents inflammation, heart diseases and diabetes.
• Cinnamon: it goes so well with a cappuccino and espresso; it contains antioxidants that help your with your overall health.
• Lemon: it adds a tangy touch to your brew; it’s full of vitamin C and it helps with digestion.

What happens when you put baking soda in your coffee?

Apparently baking soda brings your coffee’s level of acidity down which is great news if you’re facing any stomach issues including stomach reflux. A 1/4 of tbsp will do the trick for you.

(Acidity in coffee is such that you can’t just sprinkle it on your grass if you want to use it as a fertiliser).

Did you know that coffee with soda is trending at the moment as many brands such as Upruit and Stumptown offer bubbly coffee infused with other great flavours including tangerine, lemon or himalayan salt? It’s 

definitely worth a try.

Another way you can have coffee with soda is to mix up soda water with coffee 

(half and half).

The taste of this bubbly coffee is surprisingly good. I suggest you blend the two and pour the mix over crushed ice, simply great.

Does drinking coffee with salt make you sick?

Not really, unless you’re allergic to either coffee or salt, and of course, as mentioned earlier it’s vital to have salt in moderation – just a little pinch of salt is enough.

What are the negative effects of coffee with salt? 

There aren’t any major downsides of adding salt to your coffee, unless the excess use of it make your brew too salty while too much salt might cause high blood pressure. 

Coffee lover shares his opinion on coffee with salt:

There are other ways to perhaps reduce bitterness in coffee. One way is to increase grind size. The smaller the grind size, the more flavor is extracted from the bean. When the grind is too fine for the brew method often the result is over extracted (bitter) coffee. I want to add there is no right or wrong way to enjoy coffee. The key is to understand the variables so you can make the appropriate adjustments and enjoy coffee the way you like it.

– Gary Gardiner

Does salt reduce acid in coffee? 

Yes, this is one of the most popular ways to bring down the acidity level of your brew. Just a pinch of salt will be enough for this purpose.

Is coffee with salt a good pre workout?

The addition of salt improves their wellbeing in addition to making their beverage more enjoyable. Not to mention that the energising properties of caffeine also make this keto-friendly salted coffee the ideal pre-workout beverage.

Let’s wrap it up

So, the next time you hear someone say that coffee with salt gets you sick, set them straight! Coffee with salt is a delicious and healthy way to start your day. And if you’re feeling under the weather, adding a pinch of salt to your coffee just might be the cure you need.