Why You Should Drink Your Coffee Black

Coffee to milk and sugar ratio is definitely a very personal preference. Will you drink your coffee black? Well, you might want to.

If you’re the type to drink your cream and sugar with a dash of coffee, then you’ve probably shuddered and made a face at a friend or family’s cup of black coffee. You’ve probably asked yourself many times “why do people drink black coffee?” Now if you drink your coffee black, then you have probably gotten many reactions to your cup of joe, some of disgust and some of amazement. Well, black coffee drinkers may be up to something here and we are here to tell you why you should drink your coffee black!

What is Black Coffee?

Black coffee is essentially brewed coffee from coffee grounds or instant coffee. It does not contain any added ingredients such as milk, creamer, sugar, or condensed milk. People usually call it black coffee rather than just coffee because plain coffee without add-ons are dark and look almost black in color. It can taste more bitter and slightly acidic, but the taste of coffee will vary depending on type of bean and which region it is from. Professional coffee reviewers for example evaluate the true taste of coffee while drinking it black. 

Why Do People Drink Black Coffee?

Black coffee isn't for everyone, but it has more going for it than you might think. Here are just a few reasons to skip the cream and sugar.

Nothing Added

While it might be tempting to add a bunch of sweets to your coffee, it can all add up. Milk, sugar, whipped cream, chocolate or caramel syrup can turn your daily coffee into something closer to dessert. Black coffee keeps it simple: it's just coffee and water, with no added sugar or cream. If you're curious what's in your usual coffee shop order, most chains post nutrition information for their drinks.

Cost Efficient

A cup of black coffee is probably the cheapest type of coffee you can drink and get at your local coffee shop. Even if you decide to brew your own cup of joe at home, no need to spend extra money on creamer, sugar, or milk! Using instant coffee is even more cost efficient! (no machines, no capsules - pure coffee).

Your Caffeine, Straight Up

Coffee contains caffeine, which is a big reason so many people reach for a cup in the morning. When you drink it plain, you get your coffee and its caffeine without the syrups and sweeteners on top.

Experiencing the True Taste of Coffee

An added bonus of drinking your coffee black is that you get to experience the true taste of your coffee. Without the cover up of milk or sweetener, you are able to taste the true flavor of your coffee beans and grind.

How to Taste and Evaluate It

Now you might be thinking, “well I’m no coffee professional so how do I know how to taste it?” While taste is definitely a matter of preference, there are still things you can look for when drinking a cup of black coffee. The main four things to look out for are sweetness, acidity, body, and cleanliness.

When coffee beans are roasted, a sugar browning reaction occurs and can create a sweet aroma to your coffee. Different types of coffee produce have different levels of browning. The taste of coffee can also come from the coffee bean itself as it is a seed of a fruit. As a result, it can have floral or fruit-like aromas. This can depend on which region the coffee bean originated. Cleanliness of the coffee can refer to if there is a residue left on your tongue. If there is a chalky or salty residue left, this can indicate that the coffee was over-brewed or over-extracted.

What Different Types of Coffee Taste Like

Coffee beans from different regions have different types of taste. Each region’s coffee beans tend to have a certain kind of aroma or flavor, but it is not set in stone and many times flavors can overlap.

• Colombian coffee: Sweet like caramel or maple syrup
• Central American coffee: Fruity like mango, pear, or pineapple
• Kenya and Rwanda coffee: Acidity of raspberry, orange, or grapefruit
• Brazilian coffee: Nutty and chocolatey
• Indonesian coffee: Roasty and earthy or spicy like clove or nutmeg

What Research Says About Black Coffee Drinkers

Science says black coffee drinkers are psychopaths… Well at least that’s what many articles have touted. However, it is not as simple as many articles have made it seem. Many of these headlines are based on one research study, published in the journal Appetite, where the researchers studied taste preferences and personality traits. They concluded that “bitter taste preferences are positively associated with malevolent personality traits.”

However, one study is just one study, and taste preferences are shaped by many things, such as the food culture you grew up with. The researchers themselves found that when participants rated how much they liked specific foods on their “bitter” list, those ratings didn’t show the same link to antisocial personality traits.

So if you prefer to drink your coffee black, no need to fear about what people will think about your personality. The only thing you’re guilty of is enjoying coffee the way it actually tastes! And if you’re a “milk and sugar with a dash of coffee” type of person, we hope this article has convinced you to go easy on the cream and sugar for your next cup of joe!

An easy way to get your black coffee fix in is with Waka Coffee. Waka Coffee is a high end instant coffee made with 100% Colombian Arabica beans. It is also easy to take around with our small individual serving packets. No need to wait in line at your local coffee shop or wait 20 minutes for your coffee to brew. You can enjoy a cup of black coffee on the go, wherever and whenever!

Try the best instant coffee for black coffee here.