How To Get Used To Black Coffee And Enjoy It!

How to get used to black coffee and enjoy its taste is a question that passes through the minds of many coffee lovers that want to enjoy more health benefits while they drink their coffee black and savor the natural tastes and nuances of their specialty coffee beans without the influence of other factors like milk and sugar.

By the time you have read this article, you will have a grasp of what is required of you to adjust your taste buds and change your coffee choices and start really enjoying the flavors of coffee with the spoils of milk and any additives.

Keep reading as we dive into this topic and discuss some strategies to get you enjoying fresh coffee as it was originally intended – black.

What Is Black Coffee?

This might seem to be the simplest of questions. Black coffee is a coffee brewed without milk and, in the strictest sense, no sugar either.

Black coffee is made free from anything else other than the brew itself. That means no milk substitutes, no cream, no milk and no sugar or any sugar alternatives.

There is no set brewing technique or method preferred for making coffee this way. It all depends on what and how the drinker prefers his or her coffee.

Some common and popular ways of brewing black coffee include:

• French Press.
• Moka Pot.
• Drip Coffee Maker.
• Pour Over.
• Siphon Coffee.
• Espresso Coffee Machine.
• Cold Brew.

Brewed well with the correct water temperature with hot water (or cold water for a cold brew) and the right type of coffee beans, you really can draw out all the exquisite flavors and enjoy the real flavor of coffee.

While, for the matter of full disclosure, I am not big on drinking black coffee, I do enjoy the first few cups of coffee of a new specialty or single – origin coffee beans black to enjoy and understand the particular flavor of the beans.

Read: Coffee without sugar 

Learn To Love The Taste Of Black Coffee

Drinking black coffee is an acquired taste and I do advise that you put in an effort to get used to it and learn to love the taste. When it is brewed well and with good quality beans, you can end up with an amazing coffee.

It is obviously the healthier option, and you will understand and appreciate the unique flavors of each coffee and the differences between different beans once you try them free from cream, milk or milk substitutes.

It will take you some time to get used to it, but have a positive mind set and you will. It took me 5 weeks. All I did was gradually reduce the quantity of the milk and then a further 5 weeks to go sugar-free.

This was after I spent a short while finding a black coffee that I liked and enjoyed.

My Top Tips For Learning To Drink Black Coffee

The following tips will help you if you are genuinely ready to make the jump and start drinking, and more importantly, enjoying black coffee.

These tips are designed to help you to make switching easier and without any great inconvenience.

Reduce The Need For Milk And Sugar

Slowly reduce the need that you have for milk and sugar by measuring how much milk you take in your coffee, and how much sugar you have.

Choose one, and reduce it by 20% each week and have your coffee the say way every day for a whole week enjoying your coffee with a reduced amount of milk.

By the end of week 55, you will be milk (or sugar-free).

The next step is to cut out the other. If you reduce your milk content by 20% on a weekly basis in the step above, the next move is to ditch the sugar using the same technique and use 20% less each week.

In 10 weeks, a little over two months, you will be both milk and sugar-free and in a very simple and easy way that requires very little effort on your part.

Try Different Coffee Beans

This step is more important than you may think. If you are not one for enjoying black coffee and really want to jump aboard the black coffee train, choosing black coffee beans that taste good is an important step.

When you are gradually cutting down on your milk and sugar content, use the best tasting black coffee beans.

Get out your favorite beans and brew with them.

If you love the rich, creamy taste, use beans that produce that rich, creamy taste while black. Different beans produce different results, and you will start to notice the taste of the coffee as you reduce your milk and sugar content.

Change Your Brew Method

If there is one thing that dramatically changes how your coffee tastes, it is the brewing method. If you are not enjoying black coffee, the key is not to give up. Switch your brew method and try:

• French press.
• Moka.
• Drip Coffee.
• Siphon.
• Japanese Cold Brew.
• Pour Over.
• Moka Pot.
• Espresso Machine.

These will produce different results. Even changing the filter from metal to paper or cotton cloth can change how your coffee tastes.

Find which works best for you and your own personal tastes and stick to it.

Try Different Types of Roast

Coffee roasting is something that dramatically changes how a coffee tastes. The darker roasted beans have a stronger, deeper coffee taste than medium roast coffee beans.

It might be an idea for you to try a more aromatic lighter brown coffee beans that are either a medium or light roast, which have a lighter and brighter taste and much more flavor from their origin than beans of darker roast.

This is all part of the “black coffee process”  as I call it, if you are not a natural black coffee drinker.

The light roasts you will notice have a much lighter cinnamon-like color and have very mild floral flavor.

Medium roasts are a light to medium brown with a sweeter taste to them and a balanced acidity.

Tip Try A Dash Of Salt

This, I appreciate, seems to be a little odd. I have always ignored this “salt in coffee” thing until I tried it in Vietnam.

Salt has the effect of reducing the bitterness of coffee. A pinch is all that is needed. If it doesn’t do the trick, another pinch is needed.

Additives That You Can Consider

You can make the change to milk free and/or sugar-free by using some additives to improve the flavor. Cinnamon is a very common and popular choice, as is vanilla.

Cocoa powder in small amounts works very well with coffee. There is hardly a person that I know that does not enjoy the blend of chocolate and coffee flavors together in a well brewed cup of coffee.

Going for the unusual, a dash of salt can do the trick to tone down the bitterness. Not a lot of coffee lovers will go for this technique, but don’t dismiss it until you try it.

Flavor Your Beans And Drink It Black

When it comes to flavoring your coffee, most people will initially think of reaching for the sugary syrup. The syrups are the most convenient and laziest way of flavoring your coffee.

The best, and healthiest way is to take the flavor of what you want your beans to have and use the natural item. If you want vanilla, use a vanilla pod.

All that is required of you is to chop the vanilla pod into even parts and put them in a coffee container with your beans and leave them for 24 hours and then brew a cup of coffee with them.

It is that easy.

The best part is that it is your beans that are getting flavored and, flavored naturally. You need to remove your spice or pod from the container as they will continue to flavor your beans and bring them an overpowering flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Get Used To Black Coffee

How Long Will It Take To Get Used To Black Coffee?

Some people will get used to drinking black coffee quicker than others. For some, it can be achieved in 2 or 3 weeks. For most people, 5 weeks is a nice, easy time frame when following the techniques outlined in this article.

The objective is not to just drink black coffee but to enjoy drinking black coffee.

Can You Force Yourself To Like Black Coffee?

The easiest way of getting yourself used to and accustomed to drinking black coffee is by slowly reducing the amount of milk that you use in your coffee. Simply reduce it by 20% every week and enjoy that new taste. Then do the same the next week…and the next, until you are no longer using any milk at all.

Is It Healthier To Drink Black Coffee

Yes,

black coffee is healthier due to being rich in antioxidants and minerals. The antioxidants are said to be great for reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer. Coffee is the principal source of antioxidants for most people.

Is Black Coffee Always Bitter?

No,

black coffee is not always bitter. It mostly is, but you can control the level of bitterness by using a lighter roast and adding a touch of salt to your coffee.

Will I Ever Get Used To Black Coffee?

Yes, you can easily get used to drinking black coffee, but it may take time, patience and sticking to it. As I have outlined in this article, the secret it is to slowly reduce the amount of dairy that you use on a week-to-week basis. When you are used to being dairy free, congratulations. Repeat the same process with reducing the amount of sugar.

Is Black Coffee An Acquired Taste?

There are many coffee lovers and coffee drinkers that naturally love black coffee, however you can train yourself to not only drink but to enjoy black coffee. 

How Do You Make Black Coffee More Tolerable?

To make black coffee more tolerable, use a pinch of salt and stir well. Only a tiny pinch is needed. It is amazing what that tiny bit of salt can do. It takes the edge out of the bitterness.

Can You Train Your Body To Like Black Coffee?

Yes, you can train your body to not only like but to enjoy black coffee. It is going to take time, dedication and a continued effort. Stick to the plan, and you will eventually enjoy the flavor of coffee with no milk or sugar.

Frappé-Ing It All Up – How To Get Used To Black Coffee

If you are looking for a way how to get used to black coffee, try the techniques outlined in this article and gradually ease your way into a new different taste.

Above all, enjoy the process and enjoy making, brewing and drinking your coffee and take it easy and slowly get used to black coffee.

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Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location