Salt coffee has become a trending “sensation” among coffee lovers—but does this way of drinking really offer health benefits?
Normally, people add a bit of sugar or cream to their coffee. Yet some choose to stir in a pinch of salt instead of something sweet. Salt coffee is not a new beverage, but recently it has surged in popularity and sparked debate about whether adding salt to coffee is actually good for you.
Alton Brown—The Chef Who Popularized Salt Coffee
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Alton Brown, a famous food science expert and cookbook author, sparked global curiosity in 2009 when he mentioned on a show that adding a pinch of salt to coffee can neutralize bitterness. However, Brown was not the first to add salt to coffee.
Historical records show that adding salt to coffee is a traditional practice in places like Hungary, Scandinavia, Turkey, and some coastal regions where slightly salty water is used to brew coffee.
Health Benefits of Coffee
Coffee itself provides many health benefits. It is rich in key nutrients such as magnesium and antioxidants, helps prevent brain-related conditions like Alzheimer’s and memory decline, increases adrenaline and energy levels, and supports fat burning.
How Salt Reduces Bitterness
Scientifically, sodium—the main component of salt—can neutralize bitterness. When salt is added to coffee, both bitter and salty flavors are activated. The salt suppresses the brain’s ability to detect bitterness and does so more effectively than sugar.
Clare Thornton-Wood, a registered dietitian, explained in an article for the UK’s Royal Society of Chemistry: “Salt can suppress both bitter and sour flavors. Adding salt to coffee is a quick trick to reduce bitterness.”
Enhancing Flavor Without Extra Sugar
Adding too much sweetener, syrup, or cream can cancel many of coffee’s natural health benefits and increase the risk of weight gain and other health problems. Salt, on the other hand, can bring out coffee’s natural flavors while helping you cut back on sugar.
Lowering Coffee’s Acidity
Dr. Daryl Gioffre, a nutrition and longevity expert and author of Get Off Your Acid and Get Off Your Sugar, noted that salt coffee not only enhances flavor but also helps neutralize coffee’s natural acidity.
Acidic foods and drinks can irritate the digestive system—especially for those with acid reflux or heartburn—and high acidity can lead to inflammation, fat buildup, fatigue, digestive issues, poor sleep, and weakened immunity. Dr. Gioffre explained: “If we neutralize the acidity in coffee, we can enjoy all of its benefits. And salt can do just that.”
Important Precautions
Salt coffee is healthy if consumed in moderation—both in caffeine and salt. Too much salt can irritate the stomach lining, raise blood pressure, and increase the risk of heart disease.
Adding salt also raises your overall sodium intake, so it’s important to balance salt consumption from other foods throughout the day. Dr. Gioffre suggests using Celtic sea salt, Himalayan salt, or sodium bicarbonate, and recommends: “Add only about 1/4 teaspoon of salt to a freshly brewed cup of coffee. The heat will help the salt dissolve quickly.”