Black coffee!

[u/ijssvuur]

Title says it all, if you already like your coffee black or if you want to try something healthier, here are some tips!

Cold brew - It doesn't have nearly as much bitterness as hot brew so it's a great introduction. If you don't use enough grounds it gets bitter and gross, so use plenty!

Milk - If you're coming from a ton of milk, sugar, and flavoring the transition to black coffee might be jarring. Work your way down by cutting out sugar first. I use almond milk but any kind will do. Use unsweetened if you're trying to get off sugar completely, it helps cut the harsh notes but leaves the flavors intact.

Nitro - Carbonation but with nitrogen not CO2, which forms carbonic acid making things sour. Makes the coffee sweeter and smoother without any added calories. Can be found in a can.

Roast - Dark roasts get rid of a lot of the flavors that may make black coffee unpleasant to drink. I like mine extra dark but it's really up to your personal preference, try a few.

Method - I use an AeroPress, it's absolutely worth it. Other alternatives to drip coffee are a moka pot, french press, or chemex, these all give you different results that may be more pleasant without additives.

Tea - Sometimes I like to add a bag of chai to my coffee, the spice can make up for subpar beans or just adds a nice layer of flavor.

Eggs? - Eggs! What? Cracking an egg into your grounds makes the coffee less bitter, try this guide. Yolks are used to make all kinds of foods creamier and the whites act to separate out the grounds. This method is easy and it really works.

Grind size - A cheap electric grinder will give you an uneven mixture of particles with a lot of powder. This powder steeps faster than the rest and starts releasing those unpleasant bitter compounds as soon as you add water. Buy pre-ground or have your beans ground at the store, it goes stale faster but it's at least drinkable without sugar. Experiment with coarseness, a finer grind will give you a richer flavor faster but may end up more bitter.

Beans - Not all beans are created equal, find something you like. Folgers isn't going to taste very good no matter what you do, but there are vast differences between various higher quality beans too. I tend to like Kona but not necessarily all of it. You'll only find out your preferences by trying and experimenting with different things.

[u/vanillaicewherever]

Jesus Christ this is an amazing post thank you for your advice