How Do I Learn to Like Coffee?

Drinking coffee is a great way to start the day, or even as a social afternoon pick-me-up. But what if you don’t like the flavor of coffee? Is there anything you can do to fix that issue and learn to enjoy drinking it?

Unfortunately, we can’t change your taste buds. However, we can give you some advice on how to select and modify your coffee to provide you with the best chance of liking it possible.

In this article, you’ll learn the following information about liking coffee:

1. How to enjoy black coffee
2. The different flavors of coffee that you find from different regions
3. The different brewing methods
4. Interesting additives that still keep your coffee black and sugar-free
5. Whether or not coffee is an acquired taste
6. The health benefits of black coffee

How to like black coffee?

If you have tried to drink black coffee in the past and the flavors did not impress you, hope not lost – you have simply tried the wrong blend.

Coffee is very similar to wine. The taste depends on where, when, and which climate the beans were grown in. Depending on these factors, coffee beans can deliver a variety of flavors, including fruity, sweet, creamy, or chocolatey flavors.

Region

The region the beans come from changes the flavor of the coffee. Here are the most popular regions:

1. Central America: Most coffees that you’ll find in the United States come from this region. These beans produce well-balanced coffee that has a slightly acidic flavor with a hint of sweetness.
2. South America: Brazil and Colombia are the most popular regions from South America for coffee beans. These beans are known for their nuttiness, smoothness, and sometimes chocolate flavor. They do not tend to be very acidic.
3. Africa: Ethiopia and Kenya are the main producers in Africa. The Ethiopians beans can be sold as “natural” or “washed.” Natural beans are fruity and heavy, and washed beans are much lighter and have a slightly floral flavor. Kenyan coffees are known for being both sweet and savory.
4. Indonesia: With a wide selection of climates in Indonesia, they produce some very unique blends. They are typically dark roasted and earthy.

Finding the right flavor profile for you is the first secret to liking black coffee.

Brewing style

The second secret to liking black coffee is figuring out which brewing style produces the best tasting cup for you.

There are many options available here, including the following:

1. Espresso machine
2. Aeropress
3. French press
4. Coffee percolator
5. Coffeemaker

Each manner of brewing the coffee creates a slightly different taste, which also depends on the ratio of coffee grounds (and how finely ground they are) to water.

If you use too much water compared to the number of beans you’re using, your coffee will be very weak and with little flavor. If you don’t use enough water compared to your bean count, it will be incredibly strong and possibly bitter.

A couple more tips for brewing the best tasting coffee possible include keeping your machine of choice clean and buying the beans whole and grinding them at home.

A dirty machine will pick up all the leftover gunk from previous brews and alter the taste of the coffee, and grinding your beans before each brew will ensure freshness.

Keep in mind as well, that there are many different ways to drink coffee. Black coffee can be hot, iced, cold brew, decaf, espresso, decaf, or an americano.

Additionally, the flavors are easier to understand when the coffee isn’t steaming hot. By letting it cool down for a few minutes before the first sip, you’ll be introduced to new flavor profiles.

How to drink black coffee?

Oddly enough, a recent study has shown that the color of the mug you drink your coffee from can trick your mind into perceiving a different taste.

In a tasting of the same coffee served in a clear mug, a blue mug, and a white mug, the sippers who drank from the white mug felt like their coffee was much bolder, stronger, and bitter.

Could the color of the mug subconsciously make us change our thoughts on what we are tasting? Is it the intense contrast of the color of the black coffee against the white cup?

Other advice we have for you includes keeping your coffee free of milk and sugar but adding other flavorings if you must. While milk and sugar are the most common coffee additives, there are many other options to choose from:

1. One popular recipe using alternative additives is known as Bulletproof Coffee. This recipe combines black coffee, butter, and oil.
2. Other popular additives to black coffee include cinnamon or vanilla extract.
3. If you feel like your black cup of joe is too bitter, a touch of salt will counteract the bitterness.

Is coffee an acquired taste?

For many people, yes, black coffee is an acquired taste. Many blends are known to be bitter, and some people can’t handle the bitterness.

However, if you don’t enjoy the flavor, the benefits of the caffeine jolt can still outweigh the bitterness. As mentioned above, finding the blend that fits your desired flavor profiles is the secret to enjoying coffee.

How to enjoy black coffee?

It is never anything that should be rushed. If you don’t have time to enjoy it in the mornings, take it in a to-go cup. Additionally, many people enjoy eating a snack with their coffee.

The snack is typically something sweet, such as cookies or a pastry. Try to pick an absorbent food like bread, as it will make it easier for your stomach to digest the black coffee.

If you are a person who typically drinks your coffee sweet — with the additions of milk, cream, or sugar — and are looking to get back to the roots of coffee and enjoy the natural flavors, cut back on the additives little by little.

Measure out how much of each additive you have been using, and use slightly less each day. You may find that once you have discovered the complexity of black coffee, you will actually prefer it.

Are there any health benefits to drinking black coffee?

Black coffee tends to be cheaper than coffee with milk or sugar, and it is also much healthier for you.

1. It has been said that black coffee is high in antioxidants, improves cardiovascular health, improves memory, and has vitamins such as B2, B3, B5, potassium, and magnesium.
2. It is also great for your liver, as it helps to prevent cancer, cirrhosis, and fatty liver disease.
3. Black coffee has also been shown to boost your mood, helping to alleviate stress and depression.
4. Additionally, it has little to no calories.

Summary

As a quick recap, here are the key points that you can take away from this post:

1. Each region, blend, and brand has a unique flavor. Take a look at the flavor profiles to decide which one suits you best.
2. Buy whole beans and grind them before you brew each coffee. This helps to keep the flavors robust and the coffee fresh.
3. There are many ways to drink black coffee. It could be an americano, hot, or iced, just to name a few examples.
4. The accompaniment of food can make drinking coffee more enjoyable. Think pastry, cookies, cinnamon roll.
5. Black coffee has excellent health benefits. It is high in antioxidants and great for your liver. And each cup has about one calorie in total.

Sources

1. Serious Eats
2. Roasty Coffee
3. Health
4. India Times