For coffee lovers, nothing is more upsetting than a cup of coffee that is bitter. Home-brewed coffee that is so bitter that you can’t taste any of the other tastes is simply awful. It’s unpleasant to the taste buds and depresses the mood, which is a horrid way to begin the day.
Even though the bitter taste is a key component of coffee taste, some people do not enjoy it. Although many coffee aficionados believe that bitterness is what distinguishes and great coffee, many individuals find that when coffee tastes bitter it stops them from drinking coffee.
If you want to learn about “How to make the coffee less bitter?” then you are in the right place as this blog, we’ll tell you tips and tricks to get that coffee sweet. Here are 10 ways you can make your coffee taste less bitter.
1. How To Make Coffee Less Bitter – Cream and Milk?
The creamy flavor of milk and cream may instantly balance out any cup of coffee’s intense bitter flavor. Moreover, it adds extra calories to your black coffee and transforms it into an excellent breakfast beverage.
However, if you prefer your coffee black and to cut back on the calories that milk or cream might add to your drink, you need to look at the other hacks in this blog.
2. Bitter Coffee From Scalded Beans
Although coffee is made using hot water (unless cold-brewed), boiling water will scorch the beans and bring out the bitter flavors. Burnt grounds will taste harsh, just as blackened toast does. You may prevent scorching your coffee by using freshly boiled water.
Coffee should be made using water that is approximately 200°F. If your kettle has a thermometer, heat the water to anywhere between 195°F and 205°F. If you don’t have a temperature-display kettle, you can boil water for 30 seconds before making your coffee.
3. Use Salt to Cut the Bitterness In Your Coffee.
You might think salt is an odd addition to coffee, but it can help moderate the harshness and even bring out the mild sweetness. You need to add a tiny pinch to your black coffee, and it will taste so much less bitter.
Everyone who bakes knows that salt brings out and enhances the sweetness in baked products, and the same is true for the little sweetness coffee possesses. However, when it comes to salt, make sure to just use a little sprinkle, or else your coffee will taste salty. In this scenario, little is more.
4. Extraction From Coffee Grounds
Coffee tastes the best when it is extracted properly, not too little, or too much. Under-extracted coffee has a thin texture and a sour flavor, whereas over-extraction gives you bitter coffee. An over-extracted coffee is any coffee lover’s nightmare.
When you reach the sweet spot, which is between 18 and 20% extracted, you will be able to taste the sweetness of the coffee. It will not be a horrible bitter coffee. Make sure you extract your coffee well to get the sweetest tasting coffee.
4. A Dash of Cinnamon Is All You Need
If you enjoy the flavor of cinnamon, the good news is that you may minimize the bitterness of your coffee by adding a pinch. Cinnamon also comes with lots of health benefits, making it an even greater addition to your coffee.
Remember that the quantity of cinnamon is important here. Start with a tiny quantity of cinnamon and gradually increase the amount to your preference, as a large amount of cinnamon at once can damage the taste of your coffee. After all, cinnamon has a strong flavor.
5. Choose a Lighter Roast of Coffee
If you’re done everything correctly but your coffee still tastes bitter, it’s possible that you don’t like the roast. Try switching to a lighter roast and see if those coffees suit your tastes better. Some folks just do not prefer dark roasts over medium and light roasts.
Brewing, the final stage in making a cup of coffee, is a complex process involving several variables. Make sure that while brewing, your grind, time, and ratio are proper. If they are, but the coffee is still bitter, try a milder roast level. You’ll eventually come upon a well-roasted, well-brewed cup that tastes just perfect.
6. Butter and Oil Make Coffee Taste Less Bitter
Commonly known as bulletproof coffee, this is a unique blend of ingredients. Coffee, butter, and oil are the only components required for bulletproof coffee and bulletproof coffee is rarely bitter.
This coffee is ideal for a keto diet or to enhance your metabolism. Simply combine a typical cup of coffee with a spoonful of oil and a tablespoon of butter until the mixture is creamy. The amount of oil and butter can be adjusted to taste.
7. Quality Of Water
When making coffee, always use filtered water since contaminants in the water might impact the flavor of the coffee. During brewing, the molecules in hard water tend to bind to the aromatic ingredients in roasted coffee beans.
Magnesium-rich water will likely extract more taste from a coffee bean, thus the bitter coffee. Soft or distilled water, on the other hand, accomplishes the reverse and has a more difficult time extracting the bitter taste.
8. Coffee Brewing with Honey
Honey has long been used as a sugar replacement, and it works well in this situation. After all, sweetness is the most effective in combating bitterness.
When it comes to adding honey, once again, pay attention to the amount because it is easy to overdo it. Begin with a tiny amount of honey and gradually increase it to your liking.
9. Addition of Sugar or Creamer
Black coffee always has some bitterness to it, which is a feature that coffee enthusiasts enjoy. The condition is caused by an excess of bitterness.
If you are completely opposed to the bitterness, you may add some creamer to the black coffee and enjoy it. Adding a little sugar will also help.
10. Cleaning Your Equipment
Coffee with metallic, bitter, or astringent flavors is frequently blamed on the barista or the coffee beans. They are frequently caused by filthy equipment. If oils are not taken from your coffee maker regularly, they will get rancid.
Water flow is impeded if your net showers and group head assembly become clogged with coffee oils. As a result, there is channeling and uneven extraction. This results in a bitter cup of coffee.
We recommend that you backflush your coffee machine as much as possible during the day with plain water. If not cleaned properly, dirty portafilters and baskets can also cause coffee to taste ashy and bitter. You should clean these parts regularly. Clean your coffee grinders properly to remove any extra coffee grinds.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Nothing beats a fresh cup of coffee to get your day started correctly! I hope this blog has answered your question, “How to make coffee less bitter?” The ingredients you use, as well as your coffee beans, brewing methods, and coffee machine, all have an impact on how your coffee tastes. If all else fails, you may get your favorite coffee brewed by a barista at your local coffee shop.