If black coffee tastes harsh and bitter to you, the problem usually isn't your taste buds. It's the coffee. Stale, dark-roasted or badly brewed coffee is hard to drink without milk and sugar. Good, fresh coffee brewed well can taste sweet, fruity or chocolatey on its own. Here's how to make the switch.
6 tips for learning to drink black coffee
1. Start with fresh, speciality coffee
This makes the biggest difference. Freshly roasted speciality coffee has far more sweetness and flavour than supermarket coffee that's been sitting on a shelf for months. Look for a roast date on the bag, and use the coffee within a few weeks of it. Here's more on how long fresh coffee lasts.
2. Choose a lighter or medium roast
Very dark roasts taste smoky and bitter, which is why they're usually drunk with milk. Light and medium roasts keep more of the coffee's natural sweetness and fruit, so they're much easier to enjoy black.
3. Grind just before you brew
Ground coffee loses its aroma quickly. If you can, buy whole beans and grind them just before brewing, ideally with a burr grinder. Here's how to choose between beans and ground coffee.
4. Use the right amount of coffee
Coffee that's too weak often tastes thin and bitter, not milder. A good starting point is about 55 to 60g of coffee per litre of water, or roughly two level tablespoons per mug. Weigh it if you can. Our guide to how much ground coffee to use has more detail.
5. Don't use boiling water
Water straight off the boil can scorch the coffee and bring out harsh flavours. Leave the kettle to stand for 30 seconds to a minute first, so the water is around 90 to 96°C.
6. Take it slowly
If you usually add milk and sugar, cut down gradually over a couple of weeks. Try your first black coffee with a naturally sweet coffee, and let it cool a little. Flavours are easier to taste when coffee isn't piping hot.
Can salt help?
A tiny pinch of salt in your coffee can take the edge off bitterness, because sodium suppresses bitter tastes. It's a handy trick while you're getting used to black coffee, but fresh, well-brewed coffee shouldn't need it. Read more in our guide to why coffee tastes bitter.
Why drink it black?
- You taste the coffee itself. Coffees from different countries and farms taste completely different, and black is the best way to notice it.
- Almost no calories. A mug of black coffee has only a couple of calories. Milk, sugar and syrups can add a lot more.
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