<p>The fundamental science seems to be: <a href="http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/content/20/6/609.abstract" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sodium salts suppress the perception of bitterness</a>. It specifically mentions caffeine, which is one of the bitter components of coffee. This <a href="http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodchemistryfaqs/f/Does-Salt-In-Coffee-Reduce-Bitterness.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">About article</a> lists a few more references to the same thing: The sodium ion works by "interfering with the transduction mechanism of [bitterness]."</p>

<p>The point is, it's a change in <em>perception</em>; e.g., the salt is not chemically changing the bitter compounds, just interfering with the bitterness receptors in your tongue. Conversely, the article seems to suggest that the bitterness doesn't reduce the perception of saltiness; this to me suggests that your coffee will taste salty. <em>Caveat emptor!</em> There's a bit more discussion on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste#Saltiness" rel="nofollow noreferrer">saltiness</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste#Bitterness" rel="nofollow noreferrer">bitterness</a> sections of the Wikipedia article on taste.</p>

<p>This question from <a href="https://cooking.stackexchange.com/q/9292/25286">Seasoned Advice</a> discusses the same and provides some additional links. The <a href="http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/Season13/salty_desserts/salty_sweet_trans.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Good Eats</a> article linked from that question is interesting. A <a href="https://cooking.stackexchange.com/search?q=salt+bitter+bitterness">search at Seasoned Advice</a> discusses related topics of salt and bitterness.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-23T10:56:21.590Z
From the article above: The effect (of reducing bitterness) occurs below the level at which the salty taste would be registered.
Dmitry Romanov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-17T14:26:10.390Z
2015-02-17T14:54:46.447Z
2017-04-13T12:33:37.573Z
hoc_age
<p>Although this was kind of asked in <a href="https://coffee.stackexchange.com/q/14/127">this question</a>, it was as a side-question that wasn't really answered.</p>

<p>I've heard people say you should put salt in coffee to reduce bitterness. Does this actually work? If so, why?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-17T14:28:27.877Z
See also [this Seasoned Advice](http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/9292/does-putting-salt-in-coffee-really-remove-bitterness) question; I wasn't fully satisfied with the answer, so I expanded below.
hoc_age
<brewing-process><flavor>
Does adding salt to coffee reduce bitterness?
fredley
# Does adding salt to coffee reduce bitterness?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-17)

Although this was kind of asked in [this question](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/q/14/127), it was as a side-question that wasn't really answered.

I've heard people say you should put salt in coffee to reduce bitterness. Does this actually work? If so, why?

**Tags:** brewing-process, flavor

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: See also [this Seasoned Advice](http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/9292/does-putting-salt-in-coffee-really-remove-bitterness) question; I wasn't fully satisfied with the answer, so I expanded below.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-02-17. Score: 8

The fundamental science seems to be: [Sodium salts suppress the perception of bitterness](http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/content/20/6/609.abstract). It specifically mentions caffeine, which is one of the bitter components of coffee. This [About article](http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodchemistryfaqs/f/Does-Salt-In-Coffee-Reduce-Bitterness.htm) lists a few more references to the same thing: The sodium ion works by "interfering with the transduction mechanism of [bitterness]."

The point is, it's a change in *perception*; e.g., the salt is not chemically changing the bitter compounds, just interfering with the bitterness receptors in your tongue. Conversely, the article seems to suggest that the bitterness doesn't reduce the perception of saltiness; this to me suggests that your coffee will taste salty. *Caveat emptor!* There's a bit more discussion on the [saltiness](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste#Saltiness) and [bitterness](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste#Bitterness) sections of the Wikipedia article on taste.

This question from [Seasoned Advice](https://cooking.stackexchange.com/q/9292/25286) discusses the same and provides some additional links. The [Good Eats](http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/Season13/salty_desserts/salty_sweet_trans.htm) article linked from that question is interesting. A [search at Seasoned Advice](https://cooking.stackexchange.com/search?q=salt+bitter+bitterness) discusses related topics of salt and bitterness.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: From the article above: The effect (of reducing bitterness) occurs below the level at which the salty taste would be registered.  

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