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Who in their right mind would put salt in a cup of coffee? Someone stuck with a seriously substandard cup of coffee, that’s who. “I will never suffer through another bad cup of coffee at a fast food joint, restaurant, gas station, etc., as long as I have salt to add to the cup,” says rworange.
A very judicious sprinkle of salt (just a few grains, really) indeed takes the edge off a bad cup of coffee, taking away the sharp bite and making it mellow and smoother. It won’t become great coffee, but it will be decent. However, adding salt to decent, non-bitter coffee can make it worse, making the subtle defects more obvious. (No word on salt’s effect on really good coffee.)
Some additional findings from rworange: Less is more–you don’t want salty-tasting coffee. Add only the tiniest bit and taste; when it has mellowed the brew, stop. And it makes no difference in flavor whether salt is added to coffee grounds before brewing (1/8 tsp. is plenty for a 10-cup drip coffee maker) or to a finished cup.
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Salt doesn't remove bitterness / acidity - but greatly diminishes your taste buds from perceiving bitterness - so, yes this does 'work' - but not due to a chemical reaction.
I've always put salt in my brewed coffee. I use sea salt, just a couple of shakes from the salt shaker, I think it really adds to the flavor of the brew.
Here's a link to another post on the topic of salt in coffee and some of my thoughts.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/370705
..."I remembered that my parents added a small bit of butter (smaller than a pea) to a bitter cup of coffee. Maybe it's the salt in the butter that fixed the bitterness???"
I think more salt is not something we all need, especially in coffee.
Tom Clancy mentioned it in his early novels, I think the 1st time Jack Ryan met Adm. Greer at CIA. Salt from the sea air, rinsing dishes, even water in port cities has some traces of sea salt (Iodine), think island scotches. Proballly not meant for high end coffees, but just like salt on the rim of a margarita, a little salty coffee can remind you of a sailing holiday.
Eh, I would prefer some cinnamon.
no no no--throw it out
Reduces the acidity in th bean, ergo the brew...
wasn't the 1st guy who discovered this just some drunk in a diner who used the wrong white crystals at the table...i know i poured some salt in my coffee by accidrnt before...
I was taught this by a former boss who told me it was something he learned in the Navy. People at work often wondered why the coffee tasted so much better when I made it.
I first came across it when working at a coffee shop in high school. And old trick.
this is an old 'greasy spoon' trick. been around forever.