LifestyleCoffeeIf you're a coffee lover, you'll want to try this simple trick to make your morning brew taste even better and reduce bitterness - and the ingredient is probably already in your kitchen cupboard13:40, 12 Jul 2026On a Monday morning before heading to work, there's nothing quite like beginning your day with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. However, it appears you might be missing out on an even smoother, richer taste by adding one ingredient that's likely already sitting in your kitchen cupboard.‌Specialists at America's Test Kitchen suggest adding a pinch of salt to your morning beverage can help diminish bitterness, providing you with a more balanced cup of coffee to energise your day. The suggestion has also been endorsed by Perfect Daily Grind, which states salt helps "balance the flavour profile of bitter robusta coffees and coffees with very dark roast profiles."‌Sara Marquart, former head of flavour at The Coffee Excellence Center, explained: "The addition of salt in coffee dampens bitterness without using other additives."‌"Salt naturally brings out the sweetness of coffee and maintains pleasant aromas."If people are sensitive to bitterness, even in specialty coffee, adding salt is a good alternative to using milk and sugar."The technique gained considerable attention in 2009 when food science authority Alton Brown featured it on an episode of Good Eats.‌He advised adding half a teaspoon of salt for every cup of water and two teaspoons of ground coffee, maintaining it helps neutralise bitterness and enhance the drink's overall taste.Content cannot be displayed without consentBrown said: "Not only does salt cut the bitterness, it also smooths out the stale taste of tank-stored water.‌Research has proven that salt is actually better at neutralising bitterness than sugar."While Brown wasn't the first to suggest adding salt to coffee, he played a significant role in bringing the technique into the mainstream.Even now, countless coffee enthusiasts still refer to it as "the Alton Brown trick."Article continues belowThe quirky tip has sparked debate online, with one TikTok user commenting: "Interesting."Another added: "Works in beer too."A third offered their own twist: "I add a sprinkle of cardamom to my morning coffee. It takes away any bitterness."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌CoffeeFood and drink