5 Reasons to Drink Black Coffee and How to Enjoy It

When I used to say I liked coffee, that actually meant that I liked cream, sugar, and flavored syrups. I had no reason to drink black coffee and I was always surprised that some people would add nothing at all to their coffee. Over time, I discovered that drinking black coffee makes life simpler and more pleasant in a number of ways. Here’s 5 reasons why you should make the switch along with some tips on how to enjoy it. 

Pin on Pinterest!

There are many reasons to drink your coffee black. We all know about health benefits but there are other reasons that might not be so obvious. This includes small conveniences in everyday life as well the opportunity to avoid the long term financial consequences of consuming too much sugar.

In this article, I will list a few of these reasons along with some resources to help you make the switch. If you are drinking sugary coffee everyday, you really need to look into making this change.

With that said, here are the tips: 

1. Life is healthier for black coffee drinkers

Depending on how much sugary coffee you drink, you may be able to cut a significant amount of sugar from your diet. Less sugar leads to more consistent energy levels and an easier time controlling weight. Sugar intake is directly related to issues like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Creamer is also a source of unwanted sugar and calories. Cream and milk naturally contains lactose, which your body breaks down as sugar.

Additionally, your teeth will benefit from you drinking coffee black as sugar can lead to cavities and gum disease. Drinking sweetened coffees or teas throughout the day is much worse for your teeth compared to drinking them in one sitting. This is because you keep your mouth in this constant state of sugar and acidity, and the damage ends up being very significant, especially between your teeth. If you switch to black coffee, you won’t wonder how much damage you are doing by sipping coffee throughout the day.

Artificial sweeteners and cream substitutes may claim to be sugar or calorie free, but their impact on health is debated. It’s important to consider the ingredient and additives you are consuming and may be best to avoid them. Why are you drinking coffee anyway? Is coffee a vehicle to deliver other additives? Or, are you actually interested in the amazing miracle of the coffee bean? It’s time to learn to enjoy black coffee and appreciate it for what it is.

2. Life is cheaper for black coffee drinkers

The biggest savings will be dental expenses (as noted above). By cutting sugary coffees out of your diet, you will generally spend less money on health needs overall.

Consider the cost of dental expenses for a moment. If you sip on sugary coffee all day every day, you won’t just get one cavity here or there. You could end up with many tiny little cavities between your teeth, resulting in you paying for multiple tooth surface repairs each visit. Is it starting to sound like I am a little too familiar with this process? This is an unbelievably large expense, and if you haven’t been to your dentist in a while, you may be in for a surprise. Make the change.

Aside from the health expenses, you also stand to save money at the grocery store. The annual price of sugar and cream can add up, especially if you enjoy flavored syrups. If you are a heavy coffee drinker, this might add up to a sizable yearly savings.

Additionally, you can save quite a bit of money at the coffee shop. Sugary espresso-based drinks are often the most expensive items. French press, drip coffee, and caffé  americanos are far less costly than even the cheapest latte.

3. Life is simpler for black coffee drinkers

Ordering black coffee at a restaurant is certainly more convenient. Your night won’t be ruined if your server forgets to bring the cream and refills are simple

If you visit a friend or family member’s home, you will be easier to accommodate and able to enjoy your coffee no matter what sweeteners your host has on hand. When they visit your home on the other hand, they may initially be frustrated. However, if you learn to make fantastic coffee at home, you can empower them by encouraging them to drink try their coffee black along with you.

Your grocery list will also be shorter and you will rarely find yourself buying sugar and cream at all. In the absence of sugar that is used specifically for coffee, you will find that you don’t need much at all for other recipes. As it turns out, the amount of sugar needed to make coffee satisfyingly sweet really adds up over time.

Lastly, you can prepare your coffee faster with less utensils and less mess.

4. Life is more interesting for black coffee drinkers

As it turns out, it’s tough to observe the subtle differences between types of coffee when your cup is overflowing with sugar. Maybe you are good at differentiating between different types of sugar, but I wouldn’t be proud of this. You may be surprised to learn that coffees come from different regions and taste totally different from one another once you have developed the sensitivity.

Roast levels also differ in flavor. Light, medium, and dark roasts each offer a new drink experience. You will find a large assortment of roasts and blends at almost any local coffee roaster and I would recommend you start learning about coffee with that step.

Read More: Coffee Bean Types

5. Life is more varied for black coffee drinkers

If you are a coffee geek like me, you might end up collecting different coffee methods and gadgets. Drinking black coffee makes these purchases much more worthwhile.

Different brew methods bring out different traits in your coffee. The same bag of beans will offer a notably different experience from a French Press compared to an Aeropress. Brew methods not only taste different, they also offer a specific feel, texture, aftertaste, and intensity.

Read More: Comparing 7 Home Brewing Methods

After drinking black coffee for a while, you will gain stronger preferences as to which roasts and coffee brewing styles are most enjoyable to you.

How Does Someone Learn to Enjoy Black Coffee?

Black coffee is an acquired taste, for sure. However, there are many things you can focus on to not only acquire the taste, but also learn to enjoy and prefer it.

The basic idea is to start with improving your coffee at home. Many people associate the taste of black coffee in general with acidity and bitterness. In reality, this only describes bad coffee. If all coffee tasted like this, it would be no wonder why we cover up the taste with cream and sugar.

I have written many articles describing how to improve your coffee and reduce bitterness. In fact, most of this site is dedicated to the idea. I’ll link to a relevant article below to help you get started, and you can go from there.

Read More: How to Train Yourself to Drink Black Coffee Everyday 

You can slowly move toward drinking coffee black or go cold-turkey on cream and sugar. Your health will benefit, and you will learn to appreciate the differences between coffee varieties, methods, and roasts. In the end, this switch will change your life for the better, in small ways and big ones, over time.

Happy brewing!