Salty Secrets and My Bean Scene: Authenticity Always Wins

I love salt. Have you ever tried salt bread? Not just bread with a sprinkle of salt, but REAL Salt Bread?! I am going to link you to my favorite local spot at the end because you HAVE to try the genuine article.

ANYWAY, SALT is incredible in so many ways. First off, it’s a flavor enhancer and a food preserver! I mean, think about movie theater popcorn and my Chomps meat stick when I’m on the go! Plus, it’s a hero for canker sores, ingrown toenails (so I’ve heard, lol), and sore throats. Sure, salt has gotten a bad rap concerning blood pressure and heart disease, which is serious, but overall, salt isn’t a villain for most people when used in moderation.

Now, this is where you might either love me or not love me for a moment... salt does NOT belong in coffee. There, I said it. I’m 100% standing by this and here’s why.

Coffee is perfect just the way it was created. Sound familiar? Well, here’s the scoop: not all coffee is the same. They’re all crafted differently, from diverse origins, grown in various environments, roasted, and stored uniquely. Each has its flavor, acidity, body, aroma, balance, and aftertaste. If you’ve been convinced to add salt to your coffee to cut bitterness, enhance sweetness, or balance the flavor, then you’re probably not drinking the right coffee for you!! Your coffee doesn’t need salt; you just need to find the coffee that NATURALLY has the aroma, balance, and aftertaste you love!! I promise there’s one out there for you, and I’ll share my favorites with links at the end!

I have to ask: why do you drink coffee? As a professional encourager with a background in clinical social work, I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask WHY you drink coffee before we dive into HOW you drink it. Do you drink it to wake up? Is the caffeine crucial for jump-starting your day? Has it become a habit? A ritual? Are you a social drinker? Do you love having your tumbler with you while you’re in the car or running errands? Do you crave the flavor? If you’re drinking it for any reason other than loving the flavor and enjoying it, you might want to consider tea... or keep reading so you CAN enjoy it and get your caffeine buzz too!

So, how do you take your coffee? Do you add salt? It’s okay if you do; I’ll convince you otherwise by the end ;-) Do you add lots of cream? Flavored cream? Sugar? Well, I’ve been known to enjoy a sugary, flavorful treat occasionally, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but I’m talking about your serious, start-your-day consistent morning cup of coffee. I love the taste of coffee, but I don’t love the taste of ALL coffee. I’ve discovered what types of coffee I love and what brands I can and cannot drink.

Coffee has tons of health benefits like reducing the risk of chronic diseases, improving cognitive function, providing antioxidants, etc., so I’m really committed to helping you find the bean for you.

Here’s what you need to know matters most as you find your perfect cup: origin matters, water quality matters, freshness matters, grind size matters, roast level matters, storage matters. There’s more that matters when it comes to coffee, and this is not exclusive, but it’s a very brief cheat sheet to help you get started!!

Origin:

Africa: Try this if you like fruity and floral notes (e.g., Ethiopian) These are my favorite!

Latin America: Try this if you want something bright with maybe some chocolate, nutty, or caramel flavors (e.g., Colombian)

Asia: Try this if you’re looking for something earthy and full-bodied (e.g., Sumatra)

Water: Use filtered or purified water! Chlorine and other contaminants can affect taste!

Freshness: Look for a roast date! It should be printed on the bag somewhere. The freshest coffee would be something roasted within the past two weeks! Local is probably going to be your best bet!

Grind Size: Depends on your brewing method! There are lots of factors involved in this, but in general, the idea is this:

French Press & Cold Brew: Coarse

Pour-Over/Drip: Medium Coarse

Machine Drip: Medium

Espresso: Fine

Roast: In GENERAL, people describe lighter roasts as clean, bright, crisp, and less acidic. Medium roasts are usually more complex and balanced. Dark Roasts are often bold, have a long aftertaste, and can sometimes taste bitter.

Storage: Airtight container, friends!! Buy whole beans and grind them as needed. (I grind mine once a week, so I’m set for the week.) Do not store in the fridge or freezer - that invites moisture and can change the flavor!

If you’re wondering what you’re currently drinking because nowhere on the package does it say anything other than light roast or bold roast, then it’s probably a blend of many different origins mass-produced and ground for an average drip coffee maker. The problem could be that you’re not average and that your palette requires better than that! :-)

Okay, so screenshot that cheat sheet and use it when you’re shopping for your next grind!!! Did you EVEN know there were so many factors to how your coffee tastes!!!??? So it’s not that your coffee needs salt to hide or enhance its flavor (let your coffee be who it’s meant to be! lol), it’s just that you have to find the right coffee for YOU!!!

And really, when it comes down to it, do we really want to hide a good thing? So, try being less salty and get down to the real authentic flavor of the bean. Authenticity always wins.

Here are links to all my favorite things! (Amazon links are affiliate links)

Salt Bread: http://www.amazinggrainsbreadco.com/

Coffee (roasted fresh daily and available to ship!): https://www.coffeelabs.com/collections/all-coffees

Love the taste of coffee but don't always want the caffeine? Swiss Water Decaf is processed chemical-free and it's flavor is intact!: https://www.swisswater.com/

Airight Coffee Storage: https://amzn.to/41MuYkf

Coffee Grinder: https://amzn.to/4bLOdip