Adding Salt in Coffee Might Be Your New Favorite Morning Hack

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We’ve answered the questions of whether or not coffee is good for you and the best time to drink it, but there’s a new caffeine hack taking over the internet: adding salt in coffee.

Personally, I love putting salt in coffee; possibly even more so than sweetener. But my really unpopular theory is that I’m pretty sure you’d like it too. Hear me out!

I first discovered the salt-in-coffee phenomenon whilst scrolling through TikTok, because that’s how I hear about everything nowadays. I happened upon a video from content creator Eli Rallo—back then, she still went by @thejarr—where she salted her coffee and swore by the unconventional practice.

After my immediate, visceral response—something like, “Ew, why?!”—my mind made like the math-lady meme with coffee beans in place of numbers and started to wonder: “Why not?”

Think about it: Coffee is bitter. And salt is known for offsetting bitterness. Why wouldn’t the two go hand in hand? Within minutes, I had convinced myself: I headed straight to my kitchen, made myself coffee, and salted it accordingly. After taking a sip and loving it—and then several more—I knew I’d never prepare my morning coffee the same way again.

I know I’m not completely alone in my salt-in-coffee enthusiasm—thousands of others on TikTok swear by the practice—but it never ceases to raise eyebrows in public. However, plenty of other people seem curious about it in general. Plus, as someone who needs more salt and sodium than the average person due to a chronic condition, it’s been an absolute game changer.

Who is putting salt in coffee?

Apparently, lots of people. “While it may seem unusual to some, the idea of salting coffee has been around for quite some time and is actually fairly widely known, especially among those who are deeply interested in coffee culture and experimentation,” Jennifer Pallian, RD, a registered dietitian, tells Glamour, noting that it’s actually a well-known tradition in various cultures.

“In Turkey, adding salt to coffee is a well-known tradition in the context of marriage proposals,” Pallian explains. “The bride-to-be serves salted coffee to her future husband as a test of his patience and character. This ritual is an important part of Turkish wedding customs and has deep cultural significance.” It’s also common in Scandinavia and Taiwan, Pallian adds.

“In Taiwan, the trend of adding salt to coffee has gained popularity, especially through the introduction of ‘sea salt coffee,’” she says. “This beverage typically combines iced coffee with a salted cream topping, creating a balance of sweet, salty, and bitter flavors.”

Johny Morrisson, founder and content creator of Coffee About, notes that Vietnam’s salt coffee, known as ‘ca phe muoi,’ has recently gained immense popularity on social media. “This beverage features sweetened condensed milk, coffee, and salted cream,” he says of the now TikTok-viral drink.

It’s no wonder mainstream US café menus have since started to catch on. “We are seeing an increase in salt-inspired coffee drinks on mainstream café menus,” Morrison adds. Some such examples? Starbucks’s Salted Caramel Mocha, Dunkin’s Iced Salted Caramel Latte, and Wawa’s Sea Salt Coffee.

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How does salt in coffee impact the flavor?

Does salt actually reduce bitterness in coffee? “From a science perspective, it’s true that salt can reduce perceived bitterness; a small amount of salt impacts taste receptors and signals your brain that the flavor is less bitter,” Heather Perry, CEO of Klatch Coffee, tells Glamour.

Beyond just cutting bitterness, adding salt can also amplify the sweet and savory aspects of coffee, bringing forward subtle flavors that might otherwise be overshadowed, adds Pallian. “This can result in a more complex and enjoyable taste experience, where the rich notes of the coffee are more pronounced.”

Does that in turn “improve” the quality of your cup of coffee, from a technical standpoint? Maybe. “Your personal coffee enjoyment is highly individual, and will vary depending on the specific varietal of coffee, the roast, and the brewing method,” Perry says. “High-quality, fresh-roasted specialty coffee probably doesn’t need salt.” In fact, adding salt could actually mask the spectrum of flavors your roaster has worked so hard to incorporate, she and her team add.

Which types of coffee should you salt?

“Adding salt is beneficial for lower quality coffees like cheap robusta blends or instant coffees, as it can mask harsh flavors and reduce overwhelming bitterness,” says Morrisson. “Higher quality specialty coffees, particularly light or medium roasts, may not need salt and could even be negatively impacted by it.”

In fact, that might have something to do with why salt in coffee is more popular in some places than others. “The vast majority of coffee you’d taste in a café or from a specialty coffee roaster in the United States will be arabica, but robusta is popular in some countries like Vietnam,” Perry explains. “Generally, robusta is more bitter than arabica, which may explain why the idea of salting coffee is more common where robusta is served.”

Salt is also a nice complement to other flavors popular in some regions, due to coffee commonly being served with condensed milk or other sweet ingredients, she adds.

How to add salt to coffee

There are countless recipes available online and especially on TikTok, from the aforementioned sea salt coffee to the now-viral salted maple latte. However, there are a few ground rules to keep in mind before you begin.

“If you do decide to experiment with salt, don’t overdo it; you don’t want to overpower the flavor notes or, worse, taste a salty cup of coffee,” says Perry. “Adding salt also won’t fix poor quality coffee, stale coffee, or errors in brewing.”

With that in mind, Pallian says that the best way to add salt to your coffee is to add a small pinch directly to the coffee grounds before brewing. “This method allows the salt to evenly distribute throughout the coffee, reducing bitterness during the brewing process,” she says. “It integrates the salt into the coffee more naturally, leading to a smoother, more balanced flavor.”

If you prefer more control over the final taste, you can also add salt into your brewed coffee. “It’s much easier to control dosage this way,” says Perry. “You prepare the coffee first, assess its bitterness, and then start adding salt, increasing the amount until the perfect taste profile is achieved.”

Finally, there’s the saline-solution method. “Make a 20% salt solution (20% salt, 80% water) and add it directly to brewed coffee,” says Perry. “This method allows for more accurate and consistent dosing compared to trying to measure tiny amounts of dry salt. This is the method actually used by baristas in coffee shops as it is easy to standardize the taste this way.”

Which types of salt to use

“Historically, sea salt is probably the most common type used, so that might be a good starting point for those who want to experiment,” says Perry. “You can also try kosher salt.”

While you can use iodized salt, it’s not necessarily recommended. “Some people may notice a slight difference in taste due to the iodine,” says Pallian. “While the amount used in coffee is typically very small, iodine can sometimes impart a subtle metallic flavor.”

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Pros and cons of salt in coffee

Aside from potentially improving the taste, increasing your salt and sodium intake can have health benefits. For one, sodium is an electrolyte essential for fluid balance, muscle function, and nerve transmission, and a little salt can help replenish electrolytes lost during intense physical activity, according to Pallian. For people like me, who have dysautonomia, this can really work wonders in how I’m feeling that day.

However, it’s definitely important not to overdo it. “Excess sodium can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke, and high sodium intake can strain the kidneys and contribute to kidney damage,” Pallian adds. “It can also cause bloating and swelling due to water retention.”

When it comes to taste, however, there aren’t really pros or cons. “There’s no right or wrong way to enjoy coffee; do what works for you,” Perry concludes. “There is a huge diversity of coffee varietals, roasts, brewing methods, and ingredients to try, and it’s okay to experiment. Don’t be afraid to make the coffee your own! Adding a pinch of salt is just one of the multitude of options that can impact your enjoyment of coffee.”

Danielle Sinay is the associate beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.

Originally Appeared on Glamour