How to Make Coffee Less Bitter Without Creamer and Enjoy Every Sip

Ever wondered how to make coffee less bitter without creamer? 

The other day I brewed coffee and was clearly bitter to the point I couldn’t drink it. So I experimented with different adds (except creamer) to change the taste of my coffee and I’d like to share with you what I learned. 

Let’s get started.

Why avoid creamer? 

Before talking about all the different ways you can make your coffee less bitter, let’s quickly chat about creamer and when you should avoid it. 

Don’t get me wrong I like putting a serving of creamer in my coffee, it really adds an extra layer of taste to my brew. Many creamers out there aren’t the healthiest product; they are high in antibiotics, artificial flavourings, sweeteners and inflammatory oils.  

Plus, as you probably already know it’s high in calories, so if you are on a strict diet I suggest you skip creamer and find an alternative with less calories.

Let’s compare the calories of a creamer serving with those of other ingredients: 

• 1 creamer serving → 20  
• 1tsp of white sugar → 20
• 1 tsp of brown sugar → 12
• 1 tsp of stevia → 1
• 1 pump of syrup → 10
• 1 splash of milk → 10 

10 ways of making your coffee less bitter 

Let’s go over 10 ways of making your coffee less bitter without using creamer. 

1. Honey

Honey is great for its health properties since it’s high in carbohydrates and helps you in many different ways; it soothes your throat, makes you more focused during the day and helps you go to bed easier. Honey also contains natural sugars, making your taste less bitter and at the same time sweeter. Just half or a whole tsp of it will do the trick to add a subtle sweet spin to your brew. 

2. Butter

This is another simple yet effective ingredient that can make your coffee sweeter. It contains fat which is great to ‘fight’ bitterness in your coffee and make it taste sweeter. As you might have guessed, you just need a little bit of it; too much butter in your coffee will really spoil it. 

3. Salt

Salt is an uncommon one but it does wonders when it comes to taking the bitterness away from your drink. Add a pinch of salt and you’ll soon find out that your coffee tastes sweet. How come? Salt stops your taste buds from tasting bitter, so it makes you only taste the sweet part of your brew. 

4. Cow milk

What’s more common than milk in coffee? Well, it works pretty well to turn bitter coffee into an enjoyable brew as it contains lactose, a natural sugar that makes cow milk taste sweet. What about vegan milk (oat, almond, soy)? These aren’t the best option as they don’t contain much lactose; any of those won’t make much of a difference to your brew. 

5. Lemon

This is a popular option among those who are trying to lose weight. A squeeze of lemon has almost to no calories and it’s going to add a citrus spin to the drink. If you love anything citrus, I highly recommend you give it a go, especially if you’re big on light roast coffee or Blonde Starbucks drinks. 

6. Flavour extracts

The good thing with flavour extracts is that there are many different ones from hazelnut to almond, vanilla and peppermint. And they taste fantastic, Coffee with hazelnut extract is one of my favourites, this nutty flavour hazelnut adds, really elevates your brew.

7. Mint leaves

This is another uncommon ingredient you can put in your coffee and make it less bitter. It adds this freshness and intense aroma mint has and makes your coffee taste so much better. Just crush a couple of mint leaves and put them in an empty glass, pour over your coffee and you’re good to go. 

8. Spices 

What’s better than good old spices in your coffee that have health benefits and make your coffee taste better? Just a little bit of cinnamon on top of your brew makes it so much more delicious. Alternatively, you can put cloves and this is adding new flavours to your drink. 

9. Molasses

It’s a natural product and although it contains sugar it’s good for you, great for your bones and overall health. A tsp of it is going to sweeten your coffee and make your coffee more enjoyable. You can find it in grocery stores or corner shops. 

10. Syrup

As you have seen above, syrups have less calories compared to creamer and the good news is they come in plenty of flavours from caramel to hazelnut, almond, bubblegum and strawberry. 

Let’s wrap it up 

You made it to the end of this article, so I believe you’re confident about how to make your coffee less bitter. Stay tuned, I’m planning to write more articles on coffee and share hints and tips on how to brew top-notch coffee day in, and day out. 

FAQ

Let’s answer some of the most frequent questions on the topic. 

Does milk or sugar make coffee less bitter?

The short answer is: yes

Adding milk or sugar or both to your coffee, make it less bitter and sweeter. Be aware of the calories before adding sugar if you’re on a strict diet. When it comes to milk full-fat cow milk is your best option as other types of milk won’t make much difference to the taste of your coffee.

How can I sweeten my coffee naturally?

Some of the best options to make your coffee sweeter naturally and avoid products with flavourings are honey, milk, spices, lemon, mint leaves and butter. All of them are natural products or little processed, so they will not only do the trick and sweeten your coffee but they are also good for your overall health.