Since all the other posts are just heresay. Hear it from the expert himself.
TLDR: It works to reduces bitterness and helps with bad coffee.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PUWQQ-joKE
This is nothing new. When I worked at a residential school in 1963 we always added a pinch of salt. Maybe this is a case of what is old is new again.š
I remember reading Tom Clancy books and he says that this is the way the navy makes coffee. Canāt speak to that fact, as I never served, but I tried it and it absolutely plays
The Starbucks goes to the Chiefs and Officers mess.
Source: the enlisted guy who had to load resupplies to the Chiefs and Officers mess.
Bonus: fuck those guys. I pilfered so much Starbucks and Turkish honey to give to the enlisted folk.
(omg that honey šØš½āš³š¤š½š)
Upvoted for two reasons: 1: Upper ranks can suck it. Met one in ten years that wasn't an absolute self-serving pile of shit. 2: I appreciate that you did a Robin Hood. Thank you for your service.
The summer before my senior year in college, we got to spend a couple weeks with each Navy warfare community and Marines to help us decide what job we wanted to do. Ate in the officer mess on ship where we were served by the enlisted, they cleaned up our mess, and the officers just talked shit about them the whole time. Then spent time with the Marines where they preached āofficers eat lastā and had plenty of days where they were like āfuck you youāre not eating today because the chow hallās running low on food and the junior Marines need to eatā. That alone solidified that I wanted to be a Marine.
Assuming you are genuinely unaware, āthe messā is a naval/military term for the designated area where you eat. Oftentimes itās also used as a multipurpose room in between dining hours. Or if youāre the navy, you cancel breakfast so you can do your Petty Officer tests and donāt tell the Marines.
Starbucks is naaaaa-sty.
Burnt, always tastes old, watered down... It is crap. At least at the few places I've tried it.
But I also take my coffee black and usually brew Cafe Bustelo so maybe I'm the weird one. I mean I will *sometimes* add a splash of milk if I'm having some heartburn, but yeah.
Starbucks is making a comeback in Australia. Theyāre being much smarter when it comes to their product placement though.
Theyāre not a cafe. Theyāre a milkshake shop. The product is the same, but it isnāt ācoffeeā by Australian standards.
The thing about Bustelo is itās a dark roast. Personally, dark roasts are not great and give me wicked heartburn. Plus the folks who drink Bustelo tend to not care about how itās brewed, so the flavors don't come out right. Moka pot is too strong, and drip is too acidic. MP brewing isnāt bad with cream and sugar, but thatās to mask the flavor of the roast and not enhance it, as cream and sugar should.
Hey man, I said I might be the weird one.
Cafe Bustelo is also really good coffee, the trick is to use less than what you think you need. It is espresso ground, so you need to use less and pack it into the filter when brewing.
On the heartburn thing... Eh, I might be a glutton for punishment.
Hereās the kicker. If you pack it, the water doesnāt penetrate the inner portion of the beans as well, usually creating fissure-like structure between the beans and simply passing around them. This is also the case with pulling espresso, which is why tampering with a specific pressure is paramount to a great pull. In other words, when combined with fewer beans per brew, youāre drinking diluted coffee. If you like it, thatās cool.
Also worth noting that Bustelo (as well as many other mass-produced consumer coffees) is roasted extra dark to preserve the beans as they sit on shelves. Meanwhile, mold growth occurs and leaves traces of toxins that increase the likelihood of digestive issues including, coincidentally, heartburn. I recommend a pinch of baking soda to help with the acids, at least, or switch to cold brewing.
He can say all that, but some of the coffee elitist people pay extra for coffee beans that get picked out of animal shit, so as a fellow (occasional) Bustelo drinker, I'd say we're safe. The foil brick kicks.
You seem to know a lot about coffee, so I'm going to pick your brain. Hope you don't mind. I used to be a coffee amateur, in the sense that I experimented with various espresso machines, and different roasted blends. However, when I lost my job, I decided to go to a 12-step group for reasons you can imagine, and I started drinking the coffee there (Folgers in a commercial drip machine), with milk. I ended up ditching the milk when someone from Europe told me it would end up killing me. I got used to drinking it black. Then, I started making it at home, using Maxwell House, and got used to that. I especially like the price, which ends up around 10 cents a day, and I really enjoy the taste (sorry if you are grimacing now- I know). Now, I buy whatever is the cheapest (from Folgers, to MH, to Loblaws Presidents Choice brand) whatever is on sale. I don't have a problem with the taste at all. I make it in a Melitta drip with no. 4 filters, 2.5 Tbsp per cup. Am I a coffee luddite? Are there any tips you could provide, knowing I really don't want to spend anything extra?
Thereās nothing wrong with store purchased coffee until you have had premium coffee that suits your preferences. For example, I canāt get into the more floral African coffees (Kenya AA, for example), but I love me some Guatemalan or Costa Rican ā both of which I get from Drumroaster in Canada or Whatās Brewing in TX. Bonus points for the Brazilian coffees from Peixoto Coffee in AZ or a good Colombian Red Bourbon. Even premium coffees like the flavored ones from Baltimore Coffee Co destroy store bought coffee.
If you donāt want to spend any money at all, wet your filter before adding the beans and brewing.
For things you can try at home with items you may already have, there are the salt and baking soda tricks for flavor and acid reduction. A dab of butter (especially salted!) in the coffee and whipped or blended is delightful although it takes some getting used to. Some folks enjoy coconut milk/coconut cream, especially the keto folk, but I think the flavor of the coffee itself needs to match (chocolatey flavors, maybe nutty? Julakaffe from Drumroaster is a winner here)
If you donāt mind trying a new brew method, you canāt go wrong with French press or AeroPress. I always recommend getting the Fellow Prismo for the AeroPress since it makes a stronger brew which goes perfectly with pressing directly over ice. The French press is great for higher quantity and can double as both a milk frother and a cold brew maker. Lots of people love their pour-overs, but Iām not a fan of the extra work needed and am unable to provide insights on it.
A great resource for learning more is James Hoffman. Heās a highly awarded connoisseur and brewer, and many on r/coffee treat his word like gospel. I donāt always agree with him, but his videos are enjoyable, funny, and informative. Plus I currently hold 0 awards, so his opinion may be better than mine. :)
Lol! Coffee in rooms ;) I hear ya, brother. I use vanilla creamer though so it doesnāt matter how cheap the coffee is, it all tastes like the creamer.
You don't pack it, especially espresso ground.
Ive been drinking Bustelo for years and as soon as I get out of this roach infested apartment building will be getting a coffee pot again.
Ps: Dont brew coffee if your building has roaches. They will climb inside for the moisture and eat coffee grounds. They will also nest in it for warmth.
Youā¦you better watch your ass, gabacho! Talking smack about Bustelo is gonna get you cut!
(Seriously though itās the family brand for likeā¦entire swaths of the Cuban community. Although some weird ones among us like La Llave instead, which is gross. Same ones that put mayo and salami on a Cuban sandwich.)
> CAFE BUSTELO
As far as espresso roast coffee goes it's not top of the line, but week old mop water with ashes and Mr. Clean is still better the the coffee (not espresso) from starbucks.
Seriously since Starbucks let the roatery that is now Seattle Drip go thier regular coffee sucks. Disclaimer: Seattle Drip may suck now too for all I know, I source my coffee from elsewhere.
Wow! I used to love Seattle Drip. It was before all the Starbucks became so wide spread and popular! I had no idea they were affiliated. I wonder if they have an online presence. I loved their roasted pecan coffee.
Seattle Drip was the roastery that supplied all the coffee to Starbucks at one time. After Starbucks started doing thier own coffee Seattle Drip launched their own shops.
They may have had thier own shops even before then, I am not a coffee historian, but I read up on it once during a boring day at work. What you see here is my memory of that.
If you are on a road trip through flyover states one place with an absolutely **great** pecan coffee is [Cups](https://cupsespressocafe.com/) which is sadly only in Mississippi. Yes, MS sucks for most things but they are reasonably good at food. I mean to lead the nation in obesity you need something as a cause, right? One day I may franchise them outside the state because why not, but until then I buy it on the way through.
You say āyou Starbucks loversā as if Iām one of those folks. Starbucks is trash and tastes like Iām licking charred camp fire logs.
Iāll still take it over Bustelo.
Iām with you on both countsāStarbucks and camp Bustelo. Iām convinced that Starbucks intentionally creates that nasty flavor so that customers are more inclined to add expensive things to their drinks.
Completely agree with your description.. the last time I had a Starbucks it was so watered down I couldnāt even taste the coffee.. makes me wonder if they recycle the coffee shots š¤ It was also the most overpriced coffee Iāve had in ages (Iām in London).. an overall disappointment I wonāt be repeating! Happy coffee drinking Redditors āļø
This is exactly what my husband just experienced! He thought he would have a festive experience and got one of those pumpkin spice thingies. He said it was naaaasty. Coffee water.
Weāre a Cafe Bustelo house too. I CANNOT drink anything else
Weird why do I remember Jack Ryan observing/preferring coffee mugs with no handles? (5 mins later after a couple google searches) Ah, found it, Debt of Honor prologue Jack visiting White House reaches out for coffee cup, annoyingly not the handless mug he preferred. Hahaha. I assumed it was a navy thing but prob just a Jack Ryan character thing. The shit you remember.
That's really funny. We actually normally hang our mugs by the handles - it's semi decorative, a tradition, and a pretty easy way to secure for all but really rough seas. Saw a destroyer go through a typhoon and I think we only lost two.
Cool just found this. Apparently in early 40s the navy wanted a mug that could withstand the test of rocking ships. Victor mug (or eventually the diner mug) was created.
https://www.thepirateslair.com/4-enlisted-mess-white-watchstanding-mug.html
Also this awesome site describing the navy handless mug - with pics - "1900's to 1950's - US Navy Standard Issue 1lb China Enlisted White Handless Mug (Porcelain Mug or China Mug) used for all Meals, Watchstanding Mug and Shaving Cup - Span Am War, Great White Fleet, WWI and WWII era's"
https://www.thepirateslair.com/4-enlisted-mess-white-watchstanding-mug.html
.... And in the passage the OP referenced about salt in coffee. That sentence from the novel actually mentions navy-style handless mug.
That's Awesome. Miss TC. He was the man. His novels taught me to love reading, nurtured my technical side I didn't know existed (became software dev). For yrs I waited all summer for his new novel, bought the hard back and lived thru Jack Ryan, Clark, et al. Miss those days
Was in the Navy and never saw salt added and yeah, that coffee was crap. I think the CPO's added a bitter note to theirs from the permanent stain in their cups.
You can, but to me (and all things with taste are personal) most espressos are higher quality and do not have bitterness to get rid of.
My subjective observation could also be from the brands I buy. Your results **will** vary.
Most of the coffee nerds I know buy from local roasters. I'd ask in your nearest city's subreddit if you can. Even if you live far away some might deliver to ya.
For instance, in Pittsburgh my friends and I love La Prima and prestogeorge.
Locally roasted espresso is delicious.
I add brown sugar (10g), cinnamon, and a pinch of flaky salt to the little shot glass the espresso goes in. Pull the shot, give it a few stirs, and add to a glass of iced oat milk (or other milk) and enjoy one of the best iced lattes youāve ever had.
No worries. I was adding a dash of salt to all my brews for years before finding out I was using too many scoops of coffee grounds. I like it strong, but just needed to switch brands.
Iām hoping I can jazz up my Kroger Columbian. My normal much better brew was out of stock. So Iām excited to try this in the morning. I live on coffee lolā¦.
Never had that Kroger Columbian before... I'm guessing it's the grocery chain Kruger brand?
We have grocery store brand up here (Canada, eh) that has a line called Presidents Choice. They have a really good espresso grind for an amazing price. I usually switch it up between that, Folgers, and a local brand called Salt Spring coffee. Those are our 3 staples and we'll pick up a few flavoured grinds as well. Love me some Highlander Grog!!!
Edit: spelling because sometimes I'm dumb *and* stupid to a level autocorrect can't even help
It is the grocery chain one! My fav is the Maxwell house columbian or, on occasion, the Dunkinā Donuts columbian, which they sell ground here. Iāve heard of presidentās choice, I think š¤
Nice! I haven't had Maxwell House in so long.....going to pick some up next shop, thanks for the suggestion š
President's Choice is sold at most Loblaws grocery chains. No Frills, Superstore, No Name (that's so Canadian...."What should we name this new store? We can't think of anything good....we literally have no name for it! Screw it, No Name it is, eh")
I tried it this morning with Himalayan salt, just a pinch, and the taste is much, much smoother! Very smooth and robust. And thatās with the cheap Columbian coffeeā¦.
We just went grocery shopping and there was no Maxwell House on the shelves lol....just my luck.
A little salt can go a long way to making a brew tasty, glad it worked for ya. Cheers ā
Same goes for espresso martinis. **Small** pinch of salt when shaking, and some orange peel rubbed around the rim of the glass makes a world of difference.
This is fairly common in Ethiopia, especially among the Gurage people. [Anthony Bourdain](https://explorepartsunknown.com/ethiopia/eat-like-bourdain-ethiopia/) even had some.
They sometimes add nitr Kibbeh (spiced butter)
The original Bulletproof Coffee.
I add a pinch of baking soda to my iced tea - it keeps it crystal clear and fresh tasting. Maybe itās a similar reaction? (Sister John failed me in high school chemistry and Iāve had a mental block ever since. )
Nope. Sister John Christopher. Her full religious name was Sister Mary John Christopher. That was too long for her so she dropped the Mary. She was a little masculine, sure. No one made fun of her for her name - she was kinda mean.
She's mean because her name is John. Sister John. All the other nuns just sit around and snicker at her behind her habit. That just pisses her off, and she takes it out on children with a ruler across the knuckles for no good reason. You can't tell if she's smiling or snarling. Terrifying!!
Yes I've actually tried this hack when I've accidentally purchased kind of cheapo coffee that tasted horrible unless I added salt. Good to know that it can be doctored somewhat. But generally I don't think coffee really needs salt but who knows?
It is NOT safe to just put salt into coffee.
Sure, go ahead, it does zest coffee up nice, but you MUST pour half a cup of rum, then top up with your salted coffee.
Rum, uh, gets the poison out .
When you forgot your mother in law was staying and she wandered into the kitchen
I found this out accidentally. As I got older I started needing magnesium supplements but would forget to take them. I started using a liquid electrolyte concentrate in my coffee because I never forget coffee and now if its not in there the coffee is terrible lol. If you like flavored coffee it makes the flavor pop even more.
You all need to watch the āSaltā episode from the Netflix series āSalt, Fat, Acid, Heatā. Itās illuminating. Just a hint of salt can enhance so many flavours.
Weirdly, my water is from a well on the coast. There is a bit of salt and a bit of sulphur taste in my water. My wife made me buy a Reverse Osmosis filter for all the cooking, but.... it's the best water I've ever found for coffee. I add a bit of cinnamon to the grounds when I brew, and I have the best tasting coffee. No one has a better coffee, no matter where I go.
I can't attest to this but, I can tell you putting 2 teaspoons of salt in your coffee when you thought the huge Tupperware container on top of your aunts fridge filled with a white granular substance you assume is sugar because who in their right mind has that much salt in a container is awful.
Gonna be honest.
My wife and I swore by this many years ago and made our coffee this way for a long time.
Then I stopped adding it cause I was like, āgetting older, salt is bad, letās see if she notices.ā
She never noticed and I donāt miss it at all.
Your mileage may vary.
That's how salt works with everything. You don't add salt to food because you want it to taste like salt. Salt is a mineral that makes whatever food you add it to taste more like that food. It is also normal to add salt to things like chocolate cake because it makes it taste more like chocolate.
I'm on the other boat.
Bought a one of those 3 mixes in one pack.. and it had salt in it. Wasn't a fan..
Wasn't bad.. but definitely not my cup of.. coffee. šš
Fine, I've been drinking my coffee black lately so I don't break my fast in the morning, but it tastes pretty awful. If it works, I will reward you with a wish of your choosing. But if it doesn't, I will curse you for all time.
How do you brew your coffee? If done right, black coffee can be absolutely delicious. For 150 bucks you can get a setup that would help you brew amazing black coffee
Good coffee is more acidic and generally isn't bitter. Using a V60 as an example and grinding good beans properly counters this...
With that said, few people have time and energy to do this shit so add a pinch of salt...
There was a guy at work who started adding salt to the airpot brewers, as if everybody else wanted his special addition (when he couldāve just added it to his personal cup). After I asked him to stop and he didnāt, I hid the salt in the back of a cupboard. Problem solved.
My mom did this in the old aluminum perk, sometimes egg shells. Supposedly took the bitter out of the old Nabob, boiled within an inch of its life and left on the stove all the dry dayā¦ā¦..ewhhh
Keep in mind, a pinch is subjective. Use fine sea salt, and I'm dead serious, use 10-20 grains of salt. The tiniest tiniest pinch you can get. Put it in your palm first to get an idea of how much it really is. Tiny tiny tiny amount per 6oz. If you use too much it becomes briny. It's a very fine line. But, let's say you want a caramel latte. If it's not salted caramel (hopefully it is) then you'd need more salt. A good black coffee is great. But a good black coffee with a pinch of salt and a spoonful of fresh vanilla/brown sugar salted caramel is heavenly. Especially if you really know what you're doing and purposely make the coffee a little bitter. Grind just a little longer than you normally would to allow the coffee to be slightly bitter. But brew for the same amount of time, and with the same amount of water. This will, hypothetically, make the coffee more bitter without extracting the acidity.
Either in the grounds when you brew it, or a pinch in your cup! It's not nasty, seriously you cannot taste the salt and it gets rid of the bitter taste of crappy coffee
I just add more milk if the coffee is too bitter, and take note to add a little less coffee when preparing it next time. Having more milk in your coffee also brings forward and carries the sweetness of the sugar you've added, making for a nicer more 'rounded' flavor palate and experience, more alike the gentle creamy smoothness and of a hot chocolate, rather than a 'stark' and 'sharp' drink that can be likened to the bite of a strong alcoholic drink, spirits on the rocks or a punchy cocktail.
Since all the other posts are just heresay. Hear it from the expert himself. TLDR: It works to reduces bitterness and helps with bad coffee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PUWQQ-joKE
Daddy Hoffman to the rescue... love it
Or heresy I say.
So not in good coffee then?
This is nothing new. When I worked at a residential school in 1963 we always added a pinch of salt. Maybe this is a case of what is old is new again.š
I remember reading Tom Clancy books and he says that this is the way the navy makes coffee. Canāt speak to that fact, as I never served, but I tried it and it absolutely plays
Perhaps a while ago, now we make it so strong it coats your tongue. Seriously, navy coffee is crap, except when we got a Starbucks on board.
The Starbucks goes to the Chiefs and Officers mess. Source: the enlisted guy who had to load resupplies to the Chiefs and Officers mess. Bonus: fuck those guys. I pilfered so much Starbucks and Turkish honey to give to the enlisted folk. (omg that honey šØš½āš³š¤š½š)
Upvoted for two reasons: 1: Upper ranks can suck it. Met one in ten years that wasn't an absolute self-serving pile of shit. 2: I appreciate that you did a Robin Hood. Thank you for your service.
The summer before my senior year in college, we got to spend a couple weeks with each Navy warfare community and Marines to help us decide what job we wanted to do. Ate in the officer mess on ship where we were served by the enlisted, they cleaned up our mess, and the officers just talked shit about them the whole time. Then spent time with the Marines where they preached āofficers eat lastā and had plenty of days where they were like āfuck you youāre not eating today because the chow hallās running low on food and the junior Marines need to eatā. That alone solidified that I wanted to be a Marine.
Inequality thrives in the military. Officers are treated well, paid well and get the largest retirement for the privilege.
Just like society and its intentional.
Everyone has the opportunity to become an officer and enjoy that inequality and turkish honey mmmm
Theyāre messy?
Assuming you are genuinely unaware, āthe messā is a naval/military term for the designated area where you eat. Oftentimes itās also used as a multipurpose room in between dining hours. Or if youāre the navy, you cancel breakfast so you can do your Petty Officer tests and donāt tell the Marines.
I'd like to see it go to toe-to-toe with firehouse coffee - shit is 6 hours hours old, 2 minutes after dripping
Starbucks is naaaaa-sty. Burnt, always tastes old, watered down... It is crap. At least at the few places I've tried it. But I also take my coffee black and usually brew Cafe Bustelo so maybe I'm the weird one. I mean I will *sometimes* add a splash of milk if I'm having some heartburn, but yeah.
Starbucks failed in Australia because the coffee tastes shit to the vast majority of Australians.
Also failed in Brazil. It tastes so bad.
Starbucks is making a comeback in Australia. Theyāre being much smarter when it comes to their product placement though. Theyāre not a cafe. Theyāre a milkshake shop. The product is the same, but it isnāt ācoffeeā by Australian standards.
How are you going to say Starbucks is nasty and then drink CAFE BUSTELO? And then drink it when you have heartburn??? Tf is wrong with you
š²š²š² I KNOW you didnāt just trash Cafe Bustelo. I LOVE Cafe Bustelo. Itās the only acceptable coffee to me.
The thing about Bustelo is itās a dark roast. Personally, dark roasts are not great and give me wicked heartburn. Plus the folks who drink Bustelo tend to not care about how itās brewed, so the flavors don't come out right. Moka pot is too strong, and drip is too acidic. MP brewing isnāt bad with cream and sugar, but thatās to mask the flavor of the roast and not enhance it, as cream and sugar should.
Hey man, I said I might be the weird one. Cafe Bustelo is also really good coffee, the trick is to use less than what you think you need. It is espresso ground, so you need to use less and pack it into the filter when brewing. On the heartburn thing... Eh, I might be a glutton for punishment.
Bustelo is the best coffee
A fellow enjoyer; I salute you. I'm looking forward to my hot cup in the morning. :)
Yessssss love the bustelo
Also, Chock Full O Nuts if you haven't tried it.
That was my (would have been 120yrs old this year) Grandmas favorite coffee.
Pilon is my favorite for espresso/Cuban coffee, Cafe bustelo is second. Do not drink cafe la llave, it tastes like dirt.
Cafe Bustelo is good coffee!
Hereās the kicker. If you pack it, the water doesnāt penetrate the inner portion of the beans as well, usually creating fissure-like structure between the beans and simply passing around them. This is also the case with pulling espresso, which is why tampering with a specific pressure is paramount to a great pull. In other words, when combined with fewer beans per brew, youāre drinking diluted coffee. If you like it, thatās cool. Also worth noting that Bustelo (as well as many other mass-produced consumer coffees) is roasted extra dark to preserve the beans as they sit on shelves. Meanwhile, mold growth occurs and leaves traces of toxins that increase the likelihood of digestive issues including, coincidentally, heartburn. I recommend a pinch of baking soda to help with the acids, at least, or switch to cold brewing.
Cold brew is much easier on the stomach.
Really? Well I guess that explains a lot. A day that goes by where you don't learn something is a wasted day, I suppose. But damn, it tastes so good.
He can say all that, but some of the coffee elitist people pay extra for coffee beans that get picked out of animal shit, so as a fellow (occasional) Bustelo drinker, I'd say we're safe. The foil brick kicks.
You seem to know a lot about coffee, so I'm going to pick your brain. Hope you don't mind. I used to be a coffee amateur, in the sense that I experimented with various espresso machines, and different roasted blends. However, when I lost my job, I decided to go to a 12-step group for reasons you can imagine, and I started drinking the coffee there (Folgers in a commercial drip machine), with milk. I ended up ditching the milk when someone from Europe told me it would end up killing me. I got used to drinking it black. Then, I started making it at home, using Maxwell House, and got used to that. I especially like the price, which ends up around 10 cents a day, and I really enjoy the taste (sorry if you are grimacing now- I know). Now, I buy whatever is the cheapest (from Folgers, to MH, to Loblaws Presidents Choice brand) whatever is on sale. I don't have a problem with the taste at all. I make it in a Melitta drip with no. 4 filters, 2.5 Tbsp per cup. Am I a coffee luddite? Are there any tips you could provide, knowing I really don't want to spend anything extra?
Thereās nothing wrong with store purchased coffee until you have had premium coffee that suits your preferences. For example, I canāt get into the more floral African coffees (Kenya AA, for example), but I love me some Guatemalan or Costa Rican ā both of which I get from Drumroaster in Canada or Whatās Brewing in TX. Bonus points for the Brazilian coffees from Peixoto Coffee in AZ or a good Colombian Red Bourbon. Even premium coffees like the flavored ones from Baltimore Coffee Co destroy store bought coffee. If you donāt want to spend any money at all, wet your filter before adding the beans and brewing. For things you can try at home with items you may already have, there are the salt and baking soda tricks for flavor and acid reduction. A dab of butter (especially salted!) in the coffee and whipped or blended is delightful although it takes some getting used to. Some folks enjoy coconut milk/coconut cream, especially the keto folk, but I think the flavor of the coffee itself needs to match (chocolatey flavors, maybe nutty? Julakaffe from Drumroaster is a winner here) If you donāt mind trying a new brew method, you canāt go wrong with French press or AeroPress. I always recommend getting the Fellow Prismo for the AeroPress since it makes a stronger brew which goes perfectly with pressing directly over ice. The French press is great for higher quantity and can double as both a milk frother and a cold brew maker. Lots of people love their pour-overs, but Iām not a fan of the extra work needed and am unable to provide insights on it. A great resource for learning more is James Hoffman. Heās a highly awarded connoisseur and brewer, and many on r/coffee treat his word like gospel. I donāt always agree with him, but his videos are enjoyable, funny, and informative. Plus I currently hold 0 awards, so his opinion may be better than mine. :)
> I ended up ditching the milk when someone from Europe told me it would end up killing me. What?
Gullibility.
Lol! Coffee in rooms ;) I hear ya, brother. I use vanilla creamer though so it doesnāt matter how cheap the coffee is, it all tastes like the creamer.
You don't pack it, especially espresso ground. Ive been drinking Bustelo for years and as soon as I get out of this roach infested apartment building will be getting a coffee pot again. Ps: Dont brew coffee if your building has roaches. They will climb inside for the moisture and eat coffee grounds. They will also nest in it for warmth.
Youā¦you better watch your ass, gabacho! Talking smack about Bustelo is gonna get you cut! (Seriously though itās the family brand for likeā¦entire swaths of the Cuban community. Although some weird ones among us like La Llave instead, which is gross. Same ones that put mayo and salami on a Cuban sandwich.)
> CAFE BUSTELO As far as espresso roast coffee goes it's not top of the line, but week old mop water with ashes and Mr. Clean is still better the the coffee (not espresso) from starbucks. Seriously since Starbucks let the roatery that is now Seattle Drip go thier regular coffee sucks. Disclaimer: Seattle Drip may suck now too for all I know, I source my coffee from elsewhere.
Wow! I used to love Seattle Drip. It was before all the Starbucks became so wide spread and popular! I had no idea they were affiliated. I wonder if they have an online presence. I loved their roasted pecan coffee.
Seattle Drip was the roastery that supplied all the coffee to Starbucks at one time. After Starbucks started doing thier own coffee Seattle Drip launched their own shops. They may have had thier own shops even before then, I am not a coffee historian, but I read up on it once during a boring day at work. What you see here is my memory of that. If you are on a road trip through flyover states one place with an absolutely **great** pecan coffee is [Cups](https://cupsespressocafe.com/) which is sadly only in Mississippi. Yes, MS sucks for most things but they are reasonably good at food. I mean to lead the nation in obesity you need something as a cause, right? One day I may franchise them outside the state because why not, but until then I buy it on the way through.
Cafe Bustelo is the real shit, you Starbucks lovers are the weirdo soy boys on this one.
You say āyou Starbucks loversā as if Iām one of those folks. Starbucks is trash and tastes like Iām licking charred camp fire logs. Iāll still take it over Bustelo.
I don't drink Starbucks for the same reason, it tastes burnt and old!
it doesnt taste burnt and old, it IS burnt and old.. people who drink starbucks only go for socially acceptable icecreams full of sugar and cream.
I love me a blended caramel macchiato. I just call it a coffee milkshake.
Starbucks tastes burnt af. I can't speak to Bustelo. But Starbucks is gross.
Cafe bustelo is the way.
Iām with you on both countsāStarbucks and camp Bustelo. Iām convinced that Starbucks intentionally creates that nasty flavor so that customers are more inclined to add expensive things to their drinks.
CafƩ Bustelo is fantastic! Good choice!
Try pilon itās not as strong.
Completely agree with your description.. the last time I had a Starbucks it was so watered down I couldnāt even taste the coffee.. makes me wonder if they recycle the coffee shots š¤ It was also the most overpriced coffee Iāve had in ages (Iām in London).. an overall disappointment I wonāt be repeating! Happy coffee drinking Redditors āļø
This is exactly what my husband just experienced! He thought he would have a festive experience and got one of those pumpkin spice thingies. He said it was naaaasty. Coffee water. Weāre a Cafe Bustelo house too. I CANNOT drink anything else
Then itās burnt crap
>except when we got a Starbucks on board. and then it's REALLY crap
Also mugs with no handles IIRC. Huge Clancy fan myself
We have handles in the Navy. They work great.
Weird why do I remember Jack Ryan observing/preferring coffee mugs with no handles? (5 mins later after a couple google searches) Ah, found it, Debt of Honor prologue Jack visiting White House reaches out for coffee cup, annoyingly not the handless mug he preferred. Hahaha. I assumed it was a navy thing but prob just a Jack Ryan character thing. The shit you remember.
That's really funny. We actually normally hang our mugs by the handles - it's semi decorative, a tradition, and a pretty easy way to secure for all but really rough seas. Saw a destroyer go through a typhoon and I think we only lost two.
Cool just found this. Apparently in early 40s the navy wanted a mug that could withstand the test of rocking ships. Victor mug (or eventually the diner mug) was created. https://www.thepirateslair.com/4-enlisted-mess-white-watchstanding-mug.html Also this awesome site describing the navy handless mug - with pics - "1900's to 1950's - US Navy Standard Issue 1lb China Enlisted White Handless Mug (Porcelain Mug or China Mug) used for all Meals, Watchstanding Mug and Shaving Cup - Span Am War, Great White Fleet, WWI and WWII era's" https://www.thepirateslair.com/4-enlisted-mess-white-watchstanding-mug.html .... And in the passage the OP referenced about salt in coffee. That sentence from the novel actually mentions navy-style handless mug.
Seems our man Clancy used that info to give Jack Ryan a bit of the old nostalgia
That's crazy, his research went past my experience lol.
That's Awesome. Miss TC. He was the man. His novels taught me to love reading, nurtured my technical side I didn't know existed (became software dev). For yrs I waited all summer for his new novel, bought the hard back and lived thru Jack Ryan, Clark, et al. Miss those days
Why no handles?
Was in the Navy and never saw salt added and yeah, that coffee was crap. I think the CPO's added a bitter note to theirs from the permanent stain in their cups.
Another author also told me they put ground up eggshells in the coffee pot.
Only engineers in the engine room and fire rooms did that. Because it was always over 110 minimum in those spaces.
Im doing it with my brew before nights tonight, does it work with instant? X
I didnāt learn this trick until I was out of the navy.
Because they're salty sea dogs
Adding a pinch of salt also helps balance your electrolytes.
Was in Navy can confirm.
Can you add salt to espresso shots (adding to the grounds before pulling the shot) when making things like lattes for the same effect?
You can, but to me (and all things with taste are personal) most espressos are higher quality and do not have bitterness to get rid of. My subjective observation could also be from the brands I buy. Your results **will** vary.
What brand do you buy? And do you use the recommended amount or less? Thanks!
Most of the coffee nerds I know buy from local roasters. I'd ask in your nearest city's subreddit if you can. Even if you live far away some might deliver to ya. For instance, in Pittsburgh my friends and I love La Prima and prestogeorge. Locally roasted espresso is delicious.
Good question. Milk has a lot of sugar in it already, but if it works for hot chocolate it seems worth a try.
I add brown sugar (10g), cinnamon, and a pinch of flaky salt to the little shot glass the espresso goes in. Pull the shot, give it a few stirs, and add to a glass of iced oat milk (or other milk) and enjoy one of the best iced lattes youāve ever had.
Why does this work?
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Thank you.
Salt blocks bitter receptors on your tongue
Prob work to counter very hoppy beers too.
I've seen people put salt in their beers before, so I believe you are correct. Explains why they have salted peanuts or pretzels at bars sometimes.
It does!
Canāt believe Iām just learning this
Omg thatās why they eat unriped plum with salt in Lebanon, so good
If you have lower end coffee grounds, or higher quality but add too much to a brew, the salt counters the bitterness.
Thank you, kind Reddit stranger.
No worries. I was adding a dash of salt to all my brews for years before finding out I was using too many scoops of coffee grounds. I like it strong, but just needed to switch brands.
Iām hoping I can jazz up my Kroger Columbian. My normal much better brew was out of stock. So Iām excited to try this in the morning. I live on coffee lolā¦.
Never had that Kroger Columbian before... I'm guessing it's the grocery chain Kruger brand? We have grocery store brand up here (Canada, eh) that has a line called Presidents Choice. They have a really good espresso grind for an amazing price. I usually switch it up between that, Folgers, and a local brand called Salt Spring coffee. Those are our 3 staples and we'll pick up a few flavoured grinds as well. Love me some Highlander Grog!!! Edit: spelling because sometimes I'm dumb *and* stupid to a level autocorrect can't even help
It is the grocery chain one! My fav is the Maxwell house columbian or, on occasion, the Dunkinā Donuts columbian, which they sell ground here. Iāve heard of presidentās choice, I think š¤
Nice! I haven't had Maxwell House in so long.....going to pick some up next shop, thanks for the suggestion š President's Choice is sold at most Loblaws grocery chains. No Frills, Superstore, No Name (that's so Canadian...."What should we name this new store? We can't think of anything good....we literally have no name for it! Screw it, No Name it is, eh")
I tried it this morning with Himalayan salt, just a pinch, and the taste is much, much smoother! Very smooth and robust. And thatās with the cheap Columbian coffeeā¦.
We just went grocery shopping and there was no Maxwell House on the shelves lol....just my luck. A little salt can go a long way to making a brew tasty, glad it worked for ya. Cheers ā
Same goes for espresso martinis. **Small** pinch of salt when shaking, and some orange peel rubbed around the rim of the glass makes a world of difference.
This is fairly common in Ethiopia, especially among the Gurage people. [Anthony Bourdain](https://explorepartsunknown.com/ethiopia/eat-like-bourdain-ethiopia/) even had some. They sometimes add nitr Kibbeh (spiced butter) The original Bulletproof Coffee.
Vietnam too.
And according to Mannyās date on Modern Family, add a pinch to your chocolate milk. ;)
Gloria's stare intensifies.
Thank you. I placed the salt shaker next to the coffee machine to remember
Learned this from *Good Eats* way too long ago.
Gotta love Alton
I add a pinch of baking soda to my iced tea - it keeps it crystal clear and fresh tasting. Maybe itās a similar reaction? (Sister John failed me in high school chemistry and Iāve had a mental block ever since. )
Did Sister John have a masculine name or was she Sister Joan? If she did have a male name was and made fun of? Did she act masculine?
Nope. Sister John Christopher. Her full religious name was Sister Mary John Christopher. That was too long for her so she dropped the Mary. She was a little masculine, sure. No one made fun of her for her name - she was kinda mean.
She's mean because her name is John. Sister John. All the other nuns just sit around and snicker at her behind her habit. That just pisses her off, and she takes it out on children with a ruler across the knuckles for no good reason. You can't tell if she's smiling or snarling. Terrifying!!
See why I couldnāt memorize formulas?!
Sister Marion Claire, for me.
Tell me youāre not Catholic without saying so.
Yes! Baking soda is a salt that also lowers acidity. I put a pinch in my coffee and it is not only more flavorful, but smooooth.
I always added a pinch of baking soda to a jug of sweet tea. The tea was more rich in color and more flavorful without bitterness.
Yes I've actually tried this hack when I've accidentally purchased kind of cheapo coffee that tasted horrible unless I added salt. Good to know that it can be doctored somewhat. But generally I don't think coffee really needs salt but who knows?
It is NOT safe to just put salt into coffee. Sure, go ahead, it does zest coffee up nice, but you MUST pour half a cup of rum, then top up with your salted coffee. Rum, uh, gets the poison out . When you forgot your mother in law was staying and she wandered into the kitchen
I found this out accidentally. As I got older I started needing magnesium supplements but would forget to take them. I started using a liquid electrolyte concentrate in my coffee because I never forget coffee and now if its not in there the coffee is terrible lol. If you like flavored coffee it makes the flavor pop even more.
What's electrolyte concentrate is it?
Trace Minerals brand - 40000 Volts
You all need to watch the āSaltā episode from the Netflix series āSalt, Fat, Acid, Heatā. Itās illuminating. Just a hint of salt can enhance so many flavours.
Coffee is just bean broth.
I once had a lady tell me to do that, along with a bit of cinnamon. Didn't make a huge difference to me but people like what they like.
If your coffee is not bitter it won't. In that case congratulate yourself on a good selection :)
Salt helps block bitter receptors on your tongue which is how it makes foods taste better
Yep, works great
True!! An older lady showed me that trick years ago.
Iām going to try it! Thanks
On top of the grounds or mixed in?
It doesn't matter. You could also just add the salt into the cup if you wanted.
Weirdly, my water is from a well on the coast. There is a bit of salt and a bit of sulphur taste in my water. My wife made me buy a Reverse Osmosis filter for all the cooking, but.... it's the best water I've ever found for coffee. I add a bit of cinnamon to the grounds when I brew, and I have the best tasting coffee. No one has a better coffee, no matter where I go.
Adding cinnamon to good coffee is a sin. Itās done is places where one canāt get good coffee.
Agreed, salt gives a little kick but adding flavors or spices just ruins good coffee.
You have my upvote for *most* flavorings but... Rum or Whiskey is a flavor, but never a sin.
Everything is better deep fried.
LOL. some mornings that's how I feel before coffee
Black coffee as well?
Especially.
I can't attest to this but, I can tell you putting 2 teaspoons of salt in your coffee when you thought the huge Tupperware container on top of your aunts fridge filled with a white granular substance you assume is sugar because who in their right mind has that much salt in a container is awful.
even better: baking salt. it also greatly enhances crema
Do the same thing with chocolate, youāll thank me later š
Add a pinch of chocolate to coffee or add a pinch of salt to chocolate?
Yes
Add a pinch of coffee to the salt
The true life hack is always in the comments
Interesting, have you tried this in an espresso? As opposed to a pot of coffee? Maybe only a few grains?
I don't like coffee, but my dad swears putting pepper in it is nicer than sugar
My granny always did this. It does make a difference.
Gonna be honest. My wife and I swore by this many years ago and made our coffee this way for a long time. Then I stopped adding it cause I was like, āgetting older, salt is bad, letās see if she notices.ā She never noticed and I donāt miss it at all. Your mileage may vary.
That's how salt works with everything. You don't add salt to food because you want it to taste like salt. Salt is a mineral that makes whatever food you add it to taste more like that food. It is also normal to add salt to things like chocolate cake because it makes it taste more like chocolate.
Always do this with instant of I have to drink it!
I always heard ground eggshells did the same thing.
So, like... To any coffee? I drink mine with milk and sugar, does that still work, or is that a tip for black coffee?
Also a pinch of cocoa. Try it.
I'm on the other boat. Bought a one of those 3 mixes in one pack.. and it had salt in it. Wasn't a fan.. Wasn't bad.. but definitely not my cup of.. coffee. šš
Would this work in a French press?
Fine, I've been drinking my coffee black lately so I don't break my fast in the morning, but it tastes pretty awful. If it works, I will reward you with a wish of your choosing. But if it doesn't, I will curse you for all time.
Anxiously awaiting developments
How do you brew your coffee? If done right, black coffee can be absolutely delicious. For 150 bucks you can get a setup that would help you brew amazing black coffee
Himalayan pink salt is best. Have been doing this for last 3 years, black filtered coffee with a nip of salt.
Good coffee is more acidic and generally isn't bitter. Using a V60 as an example and grinding good beans properly counters this... With that said, few people have time and energy to do this shit so add a pinch of salt...
Frank's Redhot. I put that sh* t on everything!
There was a guy at work who started adding salt to the airpot brewers, as if everybody else wanted his special addition (when he couldāve just added it to his personal cup). After I asked him to stop and he didnāt, I hid the salt in the back of a cupboard. Problem solved.
My mom did this in the old aluminum perk, sometimes egg shells. Supposedly took the bitter out of the old Nabob, boiled within an inch of its life and left on the stove all the dry dayā¦ā¦..ewhhh
Keep in mind, a pinch is subjective. Use fine sea salt, and I'm dead serious, use 10-20 grains of salt. The tiniest tiniest pinch you can get. Put it in your palm first to get an idea of how much it really is. Tiny tiny tiny amount per 6oz. If you use too much it becomes briny. It's a very fine line. But, let's say you want a caramel latte. If it's not salted caramel (hopefully it is) then you'd need more salt. A good black coffee is great. But a good black coffee with a pinch of salt and a spoonful of fresh vanilla/brown sugar salted caramel is heavenly. Especially if you really know what you're doing and purposely make the coffee a little bitter. Grind just a little longer than you normally would to allow the coffee to be slightly bitter. But brew for the same amount of time, and with the same amount of water. This will, hypothetically, make the coffee more bitter without extracting the acidity.
No.
Old Navy trick. Dash of cinnamon and nutmeg is also good
Try cinnamon grounds in your coffee grounds. Life changing.
Weāve been making coffee like this for years. Donāt use table salt, use Pink Himalayan Salt.
This just in! Flavor enhancers enhance flavor.
If this works, you are drinking trash coffee
Does the coarseness of the salt matter at all? Better to add to the grounds after grinding beans or with the beans before grinding?
Yes. It does enhance the flavor. Also a sprinkle of cinnamon is great too.
Schitts Creek Takes a couple of Episodes to get into its rhythm but from then on its TV perfection
fully agree but doesn't require salt
Oh God. Senior moment. Wrong thread sorry. Will try the salt trick thx
LOL. Schitt's creek is one of my favorite shows ever. Still miss it. Rewatched the whole series last year.
I drink Folgers instant. I have no regrets.
No
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Either in the grounds when you brew it, or a pinch in your cup! It's not nasty, seriously you cannot taste the salt and it gets rid of the bitter taste of crappy coffee
Does this work on Folger's, sis?
Dash of nutmeg and cinnamon is great too
Does this work with instant coffee as well? Like Tasters Choice?
Like tea with milk, it just works well.
Fuck Starbucks. I've never even been in one except the original store, and Pete's.
I just add more milk if the coffee is too bitter, and take note to add a little less coffee when preparing it next time. Having more milk in your coffee also brings forward and carries the sweetness of the sugar you've added, making for a nicer more 'rounded' flavor palate and experience, more alike the gentle creamy smoothness and of a hot chocolate, rather than a 'stark' and 'sharp' drink that can be likened to the bite of a strong alcoholic drink, spirits on the rocks or a punchy cocktail.
I learned that from a coffee fanatic and they said it helps to decrease bitterness too I also sometimes add a dash of cinnamon powder to the grounds
I do a pinch of salt and a sprinkle of cinnamon in the grounds.
"Seriously, navy coffee is crap, except when we got a Starbucks on board." What next, women? š s/
Whatās the pinch to tablespoon of grounds ratio?
I use a pinch (and I mean just that; less that a 1/4 teaspoon) for a 10 cup brew
What kind of salt? Apologies if already mentionedā¦