We are accustomed to popular recipes where milk, cream and all sorts of sweeteners are used as additives to black coffee. But oriental gourmets approach the issue of improving the taste of an aromatic drink from the other side - adding spices or salt. So why do they add salt to coffee? This is not just a matter of taste; in the hot climate of arid deserts, this recipe helps to cope with dehydration.
Why is salt added to coffee?
Sodium ions in table salt enhance the aroma of coffee and neutralize the excessive bitterness of low-quality or over-roasted beans. It was for this purpose that sugar and dairy products were originally used in Europe.
Salt also softens hard water, which also has a positive effect on the organoleptic properties of the drink - the sourness becomes less pronounced, the drink is balanced in terms of sharpness and softness.
Coffee with salt also restores the body’s salt balance, which is disrupted by excessive sweating in the hot climate of the Middle Eastern countries. It turns out tasty and healthy at the same time.
It only makes sense to add salt when preparing coffee in a Turk (cezve). The smaller the grind, the better. In all other cases, salt is useless due to the grinding of the coffee beans being too coarse or the nature of the brew. Few people like instant coffee with salt.
Who came up with the idea of salting coffee?
Residents of hot countries in Africa and Asia were the first to salt a drink from grains. In this way, they achieved maximum effect from the drink and could enjoy its unique taste. Initially, such a drink was available only to rich people, because salt was a very expensive spice.
Interesting: it is not caffeine that makes coffee bitter, but antioxidants that are formed in the beans during the roasting process. The longer the roasting lasts, the more bitter the taste will be.
Related material: Coffee with cinnamon
Classic coffee with salt
Traditional oriental cooking recipe and serving tradition.
Ingredients:
- water – 180 ml;
- ground coffee – 2-3 heaped teaspoons;
- salt – 1 pinch (on the tip of a knife);
- sugar – 0.5 teaspoon or to taste.
Recipe
1. Warm the cezve, then add salt, sugar and coffee. Shake several times, then pour in cold water (pre-cool in the refrigerator or with ice).
2. Boil the coffee over low heat until foam appears, then remove from heat and leave for 20-30 seconds.
3. Repeat heating the Turk until foam appears 2-3 more times.
4. Rinse the serving cups with boiling water and discard the water.
5. Pour the finished coffee into cups without straining. Let it brew for 30-40 seconds. If the grounds have not settled, you can precipitate them with 2-3 drops of cold water. Traditionally, oriental coffee with salt is complemented with a glass of cold boiled water.
Benefit
Consuming caffeine in large quantities can cause mineral deficiency in the body. 3-4 cups of strong espresso per day washes out up to 1,200 mg of sodium, with a daily value of 1,500 mg. Thus, to compensate for the lack of this substance, you need to introduce more salty foods into your diet. The benefit of coffee with salt is to replenish the lack of sodium in the cells, especially if you drink more than 4 cups a day.
Arabic coffee with salt and pepper
Pepper adds spicy notes and enhances the aroma, the main thing is not to overdo it.
Ingredients:
- ground coffee – 3 teaspoons;
- water – 150 ml;
- salt - on the tip of the knife;
- black pepper – 1 pea.
Recipe
1. Pour coffee into the pot and add water.
2. Heat over low heat until foam appears, then remove from heat and add peppercorns.
3. Heat again until foam forms, add salt. Heat a third time.
4. Pour the drink into cups without filtering the grounds.
The benefits and harms of salted coffee
Salty espresso not only tastes unusual, but is also healthy:
- normalization of metabolism;
- stimulation of the body's protective functions;
- first aid for colds accompanied by cough. The spice acts as an antiseptic for the throat cavity;
- normalization of food poisoning.
The harm to the body lies in the ability of salt to retain water. Frequent excessive consumption of the drink can lead to swelling. In addition, fluid retention is a serious burden on the kidneys. Salty coffee is not recommended for gastritis and ulcers, as such a cocktail will cause additional irritation of the stomach walls. For diseases of the cardiovascular system, doctors recommend that patients limit the consumption of any spices.
Creamy coffee with salt
It is considered more of a women's recipe. Requires heavy natural cream.
Ingredients:
- ground coffee – 2 teaspoons;
- cream – 3 teaspoons;
- water – 150 ml;
- salt – 1 pinch;
- sugar (preferably cane) – 1 teaspoon;
- vanilla sugar - to taste.
Recipe
1. Combine cream and sugar (regular and vanilla) in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture becomes thick.
2. Add coffee and salt to the Turk. Pour in water. Cook until foam appears, then leave for 1-2 minutes and strain from the grounds.
3. Pour coffee into cups, add creamy caramel and stir. The drink is ready.
Salt and bitterness: scientific facts
Only a small percentage of the bitterness of coffee is due to the caffeine content: the majority of it is caused by the other two components - chlorogenic acid lactones and phenylindanes.
Green coffee does not initially contain these components - they are released during roasting during the breakdown of chlorogenic acid.
Phenylindanes create a sensation of bitterness, and their concentration is related to the duration of roasting: the longer it is, the higher their content.
However, the bitterness of the drink is also affected by the extraction process. Violating the brewing process, such as leaving the coffee in the French press, using too hot water, or choosing the wrong grind size, can all lead to over-extraction and an overly bitter taste in the final brew.
According to Sarah, “Bitterness in coffee most often manifests itself in an over-extracted brew that has a harsher, more bitter taste.”
Our taste buds are capable of detecting sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami flavors , but our biological response to bitterness is different. When a person eats something bitter, calcium ions are sent to his brain. And while salt can enhance sweetness, sourness, and umami, it reduces our perception of bitterness.
“Bitter components activate our taste buds and send a signal to our brain that we have eaten something bitter. And salt, or more precisely salt ions, activates the salt receptors in our palate,” notes Sarah.
Salt ions bind to the salt receptors on the tongue and interfere with our perception of bitterness, thereby balancing the taste sensation.
As Sarah explains, “When bitterness and salt receptors are activated simultaneously, this results in what is called ‘crossmodal perception,’ which suppresses bitterness and enhances other tastes, such as sweetness.”
This means that when salt is added, the sweetness of the coffee is naturally enhanced. This is why salt is often added to the rim of margarita glasses: it brings out the sweetness of the lemon and tequila.
Coffee with salt and cinnamon
It has a mild taste and characteristic aroma of cinnamon.
Ingredients:
- ground coffee – 2 teaspoons;
- cinnamon – 0.5 teaspoon;
- water – 200 ml;
- sugar – 1 teaspoon;
- salt – 1 pinch.
Recipe
1. Pour sugar and coffee into the pot. Pour in water.
2. Cook until foam appears. Add salt and cinnamon.
3. Boil again, let it brew for 2-3 minutes, pour into cups, after filtering through a strainer or coffee filter.
The effect of coffee with pepper on health
If you consume this coffee in moderation, both components will be beneficial to your health. Pepper is a strong antioxidant and has antibacterial properties. It improves digestion and helps counteract viruses. Coffee doubles the benefits of pepper.
By adding coffee with pepper to your daily diet, you can prevent cancer and Parkinson's disease. Although coffee gives you energy throughout the day, it is important not to drink it on an empty stomach, as there is a risk that the pepper will harm the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.
Benefits of coffee drink with pepper
The main property of this unusual combination is its refined taste and exciting aroma.
There are many varieties of pepper spice obtained from plant fruits, but the most famous ones are always on sale, and each of them has its own advantages.
- Black pepper. It has a fragrant aroma and helps improve digestion. In hot countries, not a single dish or product can do without it. Even bananas are sprinkled with hot spices to protect themselves from harmful bacteria. The coffee drink is often brewed with pepper and salt . Coffee acquires brighter shades, because both seasonings can complement and enhance its aroma if their quantity is moderate.
- Red pepper (chili) . Stimulates appetite. Connoisseurs know its ability to improve well-being in cases of shock and fainting. Hot fruits stop stomach bleeding, and hot baths with pepper improve blood circulation in the lower extremities. A study published in 2006 by Cancer Research showed that red peppers can kill cancer cells.
- Allspice. Its beneficial properties are determined by pimento oil, often used to make liqueurs. The cosmetics industry produces soap, perfume and many perfumes based on the product.
Peppered coffee is also combined with other additives: cardamom , vanilla, cinnamon and almost all known seasonings.
Individual methods of brewing coffee have some characteristic features, interesting facts, and behind each idea there is a whole world and its own history.
The best peppered coffee recipes
There are many ways to prepare a savory aperitif. Gourmets experiment with different varieties of pepper, adding:
- black;
- red burning;
- white;
- pink;
- Kayensky et al.
There are also many additives that help reveal the taste and aroma of the drink:
- cinnamon;
- turmeric;
- cardamom;
- vanilla;
- honey;
- salt, etc.
The aperitif is based on natural, finely ground coffee. If previously pepper was used to hide its shortcomings, now they use a quality product.
The type of coffee must correspond to the recipe; if you are going to brew an Ethiopian drink, it is advisable to take beans grown in this country.
To prepare it, use a copper pot; it reveals the flavor more vividly. There is no need to stir the contents during cooking. It is also undesirable to boil for a long time.
With black pepper
Black pepper improves the activity of the gastrointestinal tract. In hot countries, it must be included in the diet to reduce the risk of food poisoning. Salt is often used together with hot spice; both seasonings enhance the aroma of the main component.
Compound:
- black pepper powder – 1-1.5 g;
- allspice – 1 g;
- coffee – 2 tsp;
- water – 180 ml.
Cooking sequence:
- Heat the cezve and pour all the ingredients into it.
- Add water, place on the stove and wait until it boils.
- Remove the Turk from the oven for 4-5 seconds.
- Repeat heating 3 times.
- Remove the coffee and let the sediment settle.
- Pour the drink and serve.
With red ground pepper
Hot pepper stimulates appetite, stops bleeding in the pelvic organs, regulates vascular activity, prevents the occurrence of malignant tumors, and restores the condition after fainting.
Compound:
- red pepper powder – 1 g;
- coffee – 2-3 tsp;
- water – 200 ml;
- sugar – 0.5 tsp;
- butter – 1 tsp.
Cooking sequence:
- Hold the coffee powder in the cezve over the fire for a little while.
- Dilute with water and place on the stove until it boils.
- Add sugar and paprika.
- Return the cezve to the oven, wait for foam and leave for 2 minutes.
- Pour into a cup and add butter.
With red pepper
You can use either fresh or dried peppers. It stimulates appetite, relieves fainting states, and stimulates blood circulation.
Compound:
- coffee – 2 tsp;
- chili pepper;
- water – 180 ml.
Cooking sequence:
- Boil the coffee by skimming and placing on the stove three times.
- Place a pepper pod in the cezve and cover with a lid.
- Leave for 1-3 minutes to gain spiciness.
- Remove the pepper from the Turk and pour it into a cup.
With pepper and cinnamon
This aperitif has a bright aroma and taste. It invigorates and tones.
Compound:
- coffee – 2 tsp;
- cinnamon – 1 g;
- black pepper powder – 1 g;
- water – 180 ml;
- sugar – 0.5 tsp.
Cooking sequence:
- Pour the coffee into a warm cezve.
- Add all ingredients except pepper.
- Boil the mixture and pour the foam into a cup. Do this 3-4 times.
- Remove the Turk from the oven and pour in the pepper.
- Let it sit and pour into cups.
With chili and honey
The aperitif warms and invigorates. This drink is good for preventing respiratory diseases during the winter season.
Compound:
- chili pepper;
- coffee – 2 tsp;
- honey – 2 tsp;
- milk – 80 ml;
- water – 120 ml.
Cooking sequence:
- Brew the coffee, bringing it to the third foam.
- Separately, boil the milk with the pepper.
- Combine settled coffee without sediment with strained milk.
- Add honey and pour.
Los Humeros (Mexican)
This is a national recipe for brewing coffee with chili peppers. Named after the famous volcano in Mexico, the taste of the drink is equally explosive. Has a strong antioxidant effect and stimulates digestion.
Compound:
- red pepper powder – 1 g;
- a pinch of salt;
- coffee – 2 tsp;
- butter – 0.5 tsp;
- sugar – 1 tsp;
- water – 100 ml.
Cooking sequence:
- Pour the coffee into a dry cezve and heat it a little over the fire.
- Pour in water, add sugar, stir.
- Wait for foam and remove from oven.
- Add butter, paprika and salt.
- Return the Turk to the fire and wait until it boils.
- Pour into a cup and serve.
5 spices (oriental)
Gourmets come up with different combinations of seasonings that reveal the taste of the aperitif. Traditionally, turmeric, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and vanilla are used. But there are unusual additives: bay leaf, salt, which add piquancy to the drink.
Compound:
- red pepper – 1 g;
- cinnamon powder – 0.5 tsp;
- cardamom – 2 pcs.;
- cloves – 2 pcs.;
- turmeric – 0.5 tsp;
- coffee – 1 tsp;
- milk – 50 ml;
- water – 150 ml.
Cooking sequence:
- Pour coffee and all seasonings, except turmeric, into a cezve and fill with water.
- Place on the stove and boil three times, removing from heat for 4-5 seconds each time.
- At the same time, boil the milk with turmeric added to it.
- When the coffee has settled, pour it into a cup, mix with milk, honey and serve.
With coconut milk
This aperitif is rich in vitamins and microelements, speeds up metabolism, and has an antioxidant effect, for which it is valued by adherents of a healthy lifestyle.
Compound:
- coffee – 2 tsp;
- red pepper powder – 1 g;
- water – 100 ml;
- coconut milk – 50 ml.
Cooking sequence:
- Brew classic coffee in a cezve, removing it from the stove three times when the foam rises.
- Add a spicy ingredient.
- Pour in coconut milk and stir.
- Boil again.
- Let it sit and pour into a cup.
Subtleties of cooking
In order for the drink to be of the highest quality, it must be brewed in a Turk, or cezve. The flavor will not fully develop if you cook it with a French press, or just steam it in a cup. Turka is an ideal option for achieving maximum aroma and comfortable bitterness. It is advisable to use peppercorns, grinding them during cooking. This also applies to coffee.
It would be a good idea to rinse the dishes from which the drink will be consumed with boiling water. This will keep the contents warm longer.
Ground black pepper or peas work best with coffee. Although ground red and chili peppers are also used in some recipes, sometimes the coffee with it turns out to be very spicy.
When using fresh chili peppers, cut off a piece the size of a pea, but no larger. It is advisable to carry out this procedure with gloves and under no circumstances touch your face with your hands.
Cooking features
The variety of salted coffee recipes is impressive. For example, in Ethiopia, guests are served two cups at once. One of them contains a strong drink with a lot of salt, the other contains no additives. It is believed that it is easier to achieve the desired taste by gradually adding salted coffee to regular coffee than by adding crystals. Moreover, it is customary to ask the guest which drink he prefers: with sugar or salt.
Coffee with salt, as a rule, is not filtered. The grounds remain in the cup and gradually settle to the bottom. A couple of drops of cold water helps speed up the process.
Basic Rules
For those who have decided to make coffee with salt for the first time in order to discover the taste of their favorite drink in a new way, simple recommendations will help.
- You should give preference to finely ground coffee;
- It is best to choose a copper, brass or ceramic Turk;
- no additives will correct poor quality coffee beans;
- The drink is traditionally served with a glass of water.
Recipes
Classic recipe
The classic coffee genre in the oriental style does not accept a drink without salt and provides the following ingredients:
- 2-3 tsp. finely ground grains;
- 200 ml of cold unboiled water, which is best pre-cooled with ice;
- 1 tsp brown cane sugar;
- a pinch of medium-ground sea salt.
All ingredients are poured into the Turk. To mix them, you should gently shake the container several times. The mixture is poured with fresh ice water.
The drink must be brewed in several stages over low heat. It is better if the stove is electric.
Ancient legend
Coffee with salt is present in the legends and traditions of eastern countries. In Turkey, there is still a ceremony with coffee during matchmaking. So, if an unloved man proposes, a girl can serve him salty coffee, thereby showing her disdain. In this case, the salt will exceed the permissible limit. But a girl can ruin coffee in another way.
Other eastern traditions are also associated with coffee. If the parents liked the future groom during matchmaking, they can ask their daughter to serve coffee, thereby marking their loyalty. Then the girl serves delicious coffee, not spoiled by salt.
