Coffee might be one of the most popular drinks in the world, but many people still don’t like it. Some people can’t even stand the smell of coffee. The weird thing is that some people have described it as having a weird taste and even tasting like tobacco, cigarettes, ash, burnt toast, and even popcorn.
We all know what coffee tastes, but why does coffee taste like burnt cigarette ashes to some people? What exactly is responsible for that taste?
Key Takeaways:
Coffee should not taste like cigarette ashes because it has different flavors and chemical compositions. However, if someone perceives their coffee as tasting like cigarette ashes, it could be due to several factors. One possibility is that the person has a heightened sensitivity to bitterness. Additionally, if the coffee beans were roasted to an extremely dark level, they could produce flavors similar to burnt or ashy tastes.
There are several other reasons coffee can have an off-taste. Anything from over-roasting, over-brewing, bean quality, using a dark roast, or improper storage can lead to a taste that some may describe as cigarette ash tasting.
We’ll explore why this happens and look at ways to reduce the effect to make coffee taste better.
Why Does Coffee Taste Like Burnt Cigarette Ashes?
Coffee is a delicate drink that has to be brewed correctly to get the best flavor out of it. Is there something about the brewing techniques that makes coffee bitter, or does processing or roasting influence the taste? You might also have heard about the importance of grinding coffee beans for the best taste possible.
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The roasting process is what brings out flavors and gives color to beans. The roasting process does not always bring out the best flavors in the beans. Sometimes, it can bring out the worst. If the beans are roasted for long (overly roasted) (dark roast), they can taste as some describe, like cigarettes.
Also, grinding beans expose more surface area, making them more prone to flavor loss. This can be reduced by grinding just before brewing and storing your beans in a cool, dry place, away from light.
Reasons Why Your Coffee Tastes Bitter
Your coffee’s flavor is determined by the quality of the coffee beans, the different roasting and brewing techniques employed in processing the beans, and the water used for brewing. You should also note that some coffee makers and brands are different. The taste of your coffee could also depend on other factors, including the coffee’s freshness, coffee-making skills, and equipment quality.
1. Burnt Beans (Dark Roast)
You may notice a slightly bitter taste when drinking a dark roast coffee. The taste of the coffee you brew has a lot to do with the quality of the beans you’re using and the brewing process. Dark roast coffee is more bitter than lighter roasts.
2. Brewing for long
Overbrewing can have a dramatic effect on the taste of your coffee. A cup of coffee that is brewed for too long might have a bitter taste.
3. Storage (How you store coffee)
Let’s be honest: not all coffee tastes good. This is especially true if you are a coffee connoisseur who knows that the key to a good cup of coffee is using fresh beans. The natural oils in coffee beans contribute to the overall flavor and taste.
Exposure to air can cause flavorful beans to lose their crispness and freshness, resulting in bitter coffee. Coffee beans sitting in the pantry for a long time will lose their freshness and flavor, resulting in bitter coffee.
4. Not enough sweetener or milk
Coffee has a bold taste that some enjoy when it’s slightly masked by sugar and milk. When ordering coffee at my local coffee shop, I ask for a double-double, which means 2 creams and 2 sugars in the part of the world I live. I find this to be the right ratio of cream and sugar for my taste. I’m far from a coffee connoisseur, so please, real coffee drinkers, don’t sacrifice me to the dark roast Gods. I’ve tried coffee without sugar, and it’s not my thing
Related read: Natural Sweetener for Coffee That Won’t Ruin the Taste
Also, try to avoid using polycarbonate or metal containers because beans will absorb the odors from these materials, resulting in bitter-tasting coffee. Additionally, some people just start to hate the taste of coffee altogether.
Is It Unhealthy to Drink Burnt Coffee?
Acrylamide is a chemical that forms in foods during cooking at high temperatures (above 120 °C (248 °F) and can cause nerve damage. Acrylamide is formed when coffee beans are roasted and have been proven to cause cancer in laboratory rats. The flavor of the coffee depends on the way it is roasted.
Previous studies found that high levels of acrylamide can lead to cancer in lab animals. Still, the chemical is also found in cigarette smoke and grilled, roasted, and fried foods. It was also reported in the same study that coffee’s acrylamide levels increased significantly during roasting.
Although it is not clear that acrylamide exposure causes cancer in humans, the FDA issued guidance for the food industry to reduce its level in specific foods (cereal-based and potato-based foods).
While acrylamide is neurotoxic and carcinogenic, the effects of acrylamide in coffee are still being researched. But drinking coffee is still considered safe and healthy, even when burnt. The substances in coffee that are good for the body outweigh the potential adverse effects of acrylamide.
Does Dark Roast Coffee Taste Burnt?
Most people prefer dark roast coffee because it has a more robust flavor. However, the caffeine content is the same in light roast and dark roast.
Some people experience a burnt taste when drinking dark roast coffee. This usually happens because dark roast coffee is generally roasted too long or at a high temperature.
How to Get Rid of That Burnt Taste in Your Coffee
Ask any coffee lover, and he will tell you that burnt or overbrewed coffee tastes terrible. Here the question arises: how to get rid of that burnt taste in your coffee?
You can get rid of the burnt taste by doing the following:
Ensure that the coffee is stored correctly and not exposed to heat or sunlight for extended periods.
Make sure that the coffee container is sealed properly.
Next time, try a different brand of coffee. Some brands are more acidic and thus will taste different than others.
Last but not least, ensure that water is not too hot as it may over-extract your coffee, which will cause it to taste burnt. The ideal temperature for optimal extraction ranges between 195°F and 205°F.
Related read: How To Keep Coffee Hot For Hours
How to Get the Burnt Coffee Taste Out of My Mouth?
It’s easy to get burnt coffee out of your mouth, and you need to try only one thing to do it. Drink more water. Brush your teeth or gargle with mouthwash. If you cannot brush your teeth right away, chew sugar-free gum or parsley.
Healthy Coffee Alternatives That You Will Like
It has been stated above that high levels of acrylamide can cause cancer in lab animals, causing nerve damage and increasing cancer risk. Alternatively, chai tea can help reduce the risk of cancer. The spices used to brew chai tea contributes to the soothing flavor of the tea. These include cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, and black pepper. It is also a better choice for those who don’t like the caffeine in coffee.
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Photo altered by dejittr.com | Photo attribution: Diego López, Alin Luna
