Menu
Author:
Kaelin Harris
If you’re a coffee drinker, then you already know that it’s magical. What’s not to like? The aroma? Amazing. The taste? Magnificent, right? So, why are we talking about it at all, if it’s already the full package?
Well, we’re talking about it because how we drink our coffee, believe it or not, might impact our health – in positive ways if we drink it sans cream or sugar.
What?! Yep. You read that right. Drinking black coffee may just have some benefits. Great. Let’s start! If you’re a lover of coffee, moreover a lover of coffee with cream and sugar, then you might be in for a bit of a surprise.
Listen, a cup of plain black coffee, without all the added extras, has fewer calories than a cup with cream and sugar. Not only that, coffee contains vitamins and minerals such as niacin, manganese, potassium, and magnesium, which are all essential to we humans.
Furthermore, if you’re lactose intolerant, there’s no need to go hunting for dairy alternatives, or worrying about running out of it at home, (even if you aren’t lactose intolerant), because your coffee doesn’t need that in it when you’re drinking it plain.
Coffee by itself is an acquired taste for many people. In comparison to when milk or cream is added, it’s a little bit harder to get down, and especially if you’ve been putting a couple of teaspoons of sugar into your brew over the years too.
Here’s the deal: We know it can be a total game-changer in the flavor arena; drinking coffee without the goodies added in. But if you think of it as the goody itself, it can take your coffee imbibing experience to a whole new level.
First off, you’re probably wondering why you even need to drink your coffee black. Imagine experiencing the flavor of just the coffee; being able to pick up on the subtle fruity notes of a light roast, the balance of acidity and warmth from a medium roast, and deep smoky sensations lacing through a dark roast.
Instead of just reading about how people discern the flavor of coffee, you can taste these highly distinguishable features for yourself.
Your palate might take a little training, but once you’re able to tantalize your taste buds with the flavor profile of different coffee roasts alone, you won’t look back!
Now, that’s not to say you can’t take baby steps towards the goal of drinking straight-up plain cream and sugar-free coffee. That’s one of the best ways to go about it. Here we’ll take a look at some simple steps to cream-and-sugar-free coffee success.
Different types of coffee each offer something unique to the drinker. There are countless kinds of coffee out there and the key is to find one that you really take a shine to.
Imagine if you never tried anything new. You wouldn’t know all the many things you’d end up really liking. So, do a little research; read about the different roasts, take note of the flavor profile descriptions, and what piques your interest.
Do you like fruity notes, a residual grassy flavor, or a deep bold taste? Whatever takes your fancy, go with your gut and venture out from there.
Once you’ve narrowed down your pick (or picks), decide on the brewing method. Different methods will extract the flavors from your roasts in unique ways and highlight varying notes.
If a roast didn’t taste so great in a drip brewer, try a French press, for example. You could always try an espresso machine, or use an uncomplicated method such as the basic ‘pour over’. The goal is to experiment and find one that works.
Finding the right grind size can determine the trajectory of your black coffee drinking endeavor (even if just for that cup).
A coarse grind means that the coffee particles are larger and not tightly packed. When water passes over and through them, it does so with greater ease.
Also, its surface area will be smaller which means that contact with the particles is lessened resulting in a weaker brew; which might, in fact, be a good option when starting. A grind size that’s too large, however, can leave you with a cup of coffee that tastes a tad sour.
A fine grind means that the smaller particles are more tightly packed which allows the water to pass more slowly over and through them.
What results is a more concentrated extraction of coffee flavor. Just keep in mind that a grind that’s too fine, can leave you with a cup of coffee that’s a smidgeon on the strong side.
It’s easy to want to dive in headfirst, go cold turkey, and sure, this method works for some people, however, for others, it might just put them off black coffee for, well – a long time.
What are we talking about then? A good suggestion is to slowly and gradually reduce your cream and/or sugar intake.
Now, here’s the key: before you begin your attempt to reduce the cream and sugar, measure the amount you put into your coffee. Then when you commence the gradual decrease, you’ll know how much to reduce it by each time.
As a bonus, you’ll become more aware of the amount of cream/milk and/or sugar you’re taking in. The point is that over time, your taste buds will become accustomed to less sugar or cream/milk and that it’s a more palatable way to start enjoying coffee black; when you get there, of course!
Huh? Yeah, it sounds a little odd but some people feel as though using a certain mug makes their coffee taste better – or worse. The mind is a powerful thing, truly.
Maybe there is something tangible to it though. Perhaps the materials the mug is made from, enhance the flavor of the liquid therein, however, research suggests that the shape, color, texture, and size of a drinking receptacle, has an impact on the drinker’s perception of how the drink tastes.
Studies have shown that many people associate shorter mugs with a more bitter taste and taller vessels with greater aromatic experiences of the coffee held inside them.
So, there we are! Changing up your mug could make a difference in the success of your black coffee drinking journey.
Everyone will have their own success story, or maybe even what didn’t make their attempt at going milk-and-sugar-free a fruitful one.
That’s alright! How each person drinks their coffee is totally up to them. There’s no real right or wrong way to do it. It’s just a matter of personal preference.
No one’s way is better than anyone else’s. The fact is that you won’t know what you like until you try it so why not try something new and explore different coffee territory!
Take it Step by Step: 5 Methods to Work your Way Towards Drinking Black Coffee
https://www.homegrounds.co/how-to-drink-black-coffee/
How and Why to Switch to Black Coffee
https://www.roastycoffee.com/black-coffee/
How to Drink and Enjoy Black Coffee
https://realgoodcoffeeco.com/blogs/realgoodblog/how-to-drink-and-enjoy-black-coffee#:~:text=The%20best%20way%20to%20learn,of%20coffee%20without%20any%20additives
How your Coffee Cup Makes your Coffee Taste Better – or Worse
https://perfectdailygrind.com/2018/11/how-your-coffee-cup-makes-your-coffee-taste-better-or-worse/