Is Black Coffee An Acquired Taste?

lukeevans85
lukeevans85 Posts: 108 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I can't do it. I just can't enjoy a cup of coffee without sugar. And a lot of it. I can do it with espresso. I'll drink straight espresso shots no problem. But when it comes to drip coffee it just tastes awful to me.

I've tried different kinds. I've bought cheap coffee, expensive coffee, etc.

So the question I guess...do you get used to black coffee? I hated gin the first time I had it too but eventually started to love it.
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Replies

  • 76tech
    76tech Posts: 1,455 Member
    Totally an acquired taste.

    There few coffees I like black. It's rare that I drink black coffee.

    And I love espresso.
  • jmc0806
    jmc0806 Posts: 1,444 Member
    it is but I made the change this year. I started slowly reducing what I put in it...

    cream and sugar
    skim milk and sugar
    skim milk and truvia
    truvia only
    then black
  • fatboypup
    fatboypup Posts: 1,873 Member
    hrmmm I thought black coffee lacked cream not sugar ..... ive been totally lying to myself
  • MarisMom5312
    MarisMom5312 Posts: 6
    I have been trying. I now put low fat milk and a little sugar in my coffee. I dont know how much farther I will be able to get lol...
  • MtnKat
    MtnKat Posts: 714
    I can't do it either. I have tried and tried. I can't stand the taste of black coffee and have to drink it with cream (and Splenda). In fact, if I have to drink black coffee, I'd rather not drink it at all.

    I just make sure I include it in my calorie count.
  • zeebruhgirl
    zeebruhgirl Posts: 493 Member
    I put like a half teaspoon of splenda in mine, best I can do haha
  • scottg1024
    scottg1024 Posts: 224
    It could be you're just not making it strong enough. I've always been a black coffee drinker (same with tea - the taste of creamer just makes me think of as a kid my mom giving me tea when I was sick) and I honestly can't stand a cup of coffee that doesn't TASTE like coffee. Now I don't care for Starbucks, but you can give me McDonald's coffee any time and that is awesome straight up. Really there's nothing nastier than tinted water - and that's what the folks at work consider coffee.
  • SuffolkSally
    SuffolkSally Posts: 964 Member
    I only ever have black coffee - very strong, without sugar, and only 2 or 3 times a week. You will get used to it given time and experience; and it tastes the best!
  • fieldsy4life
    fieldsy4life Posts: 155
    I think lighter coffee does require something extra - which is why I don't like lighter coffee. It's like fat-free Greek yogurt; it's gross without the extra flavors.

    If you like espresso, you definitely need to find a good dark roast. At work I bring the Starbucks Cafe Verona. Definitely the best thing for Keurig.

    At home I have a Tassimo machine and like the Gevalia Dark Roasts.

    But yeah. Black coffee is the way to go when you're dieting. You can cut out so much junk from going black (you may never go back).
  • LaurenLite
    LaurenLite Posts: 87
    It is, I started decreasing the sugar/milk and then when I got to almost black I started adding a little water to make it less potent. Now I like it dark, strong, black. My friends say it would take the hair off of the loup garou.

    I love my Keurig Vue because I can brew the stronger version for me and the "regular" for my friends. And yes, as someone else said, once you go black, there's no going back. It's just too sweet and unsatisfying. It's like soda- once you go completely off of it, the stuff is awful and it actually burns your throat if you even try to drink it.
  • CrystalFlury
    CrystalFlury Posts: 400 Member
    It is an acquired taste. I used to be the person who drank a little coffee with my cream and sugar. I gradually "trained" myself to try drinking it with less and less creamer. I can drink it black as long as it's a quality flavored coffee. I still need my sugar, but instead of regular sugar I use ONE pack of Sweet n Low--it's sweet enough to give me that sweet/dessert coffee taste I like.
  • Erindipitous
    Erindipitous Posts: 1,234 Member
    You can cut out so much junk from going black (you may never go back).

    I've heard this before....
  • fueledbychange
    fueledbychange Posts: 132 Member
    I started drinking coffee black when I was 12 - I loved the stuff! Still do, haha.
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    I don't think so. I began drinking black coffee when I was only 5 years old. My grandma always drank hers black, and I would drink hers. Decaf, of course. I've always loved the smell and taste of coffee. I got my first coffee maker when I was twelve and discovered the beauty of full caffeine coffee when I was in 10th grade.
  • jsidel126
    jsidel126 Posts: 694 Member
    I find strong black coffee has a bitter taste. By diluting it with milk, sugar, water, the bitterness is also diluted. I now drink it with typically no more than one packt of sugar/sweetner. I also prefer iced tea with no sugar and dilute highly sugared drinks with water and they still are plenty sweet. Its an acquired taste.

    The less sugar your consume, the less sugar you crave...
  • chinatbag
    chinatbag Posts: 249 Member
    I think it really depends. I myself really like some coffees sans creamer and sugar. Sometimes some blends of coffee just need it.

    I really prefer the taste of cold brewed coffee, it's less acidic, less bitter, and I believe it also has a higher caffeine content than say, if the same bean were to be brewed in hot water.

    So to answer your question, I guess it really is an acquired taste.
  • SBlost
    SBlost Posts: 90
    I love black coffee..now!! I hated it for the longest but I started making it straonger and I like the dark roasted the best. I love the smell of it more than the taste though.
  • lukeevans85
    lukeevans85 Posts: 108 Member
    I think it really depends. I myself really like some coffees sans creamer and sugar. Sometimes some blends of coffee just need it.

    I really prefer the taste of cold brewed coffee, it's less acidic, less bitter, and I believe it also has a higher caffeine content than say, if the same bean were to be brewed in hot water.

    So to answer your question, I guess it really is an acquired taste.

    I'm not sure I've actually had cold brewed coffee. I'll have to try that.
  • 76tech
    76tech Posts: 1,455 Member
    I really prefer the taste of cold brewed coffee, it's less acidic, less bitter, and I believe it also has a higher caffeine content than say, if the same bean were to be brewed in hot water.

    Ditto. Cold brewed is delicious black. And the caffeine content is quite a lot higher than the equivalent hot brew
  • abyt42
    abyt42 Posts: 1,358 Member
    It's a taste I acquired when I was little (we had one thermos, and were a skiing family. So, approximately, at 10, since my dad was opposed to drinking instant coffee.)

    I think, though, that very strong coffee might help you transition, since you already drink espresso.... watery black coffee is a taste I have not yet acquired (nor "diner" as a style.)
  • cheninaerin
    cheninaerin Posts: 86
    Its definitely acquired. Worth it though, black coffee is low cal and so much better than any other sugary caffeine source
  • virichi08
    virichi08 Posts: 465 Member
    YUP, TOTALLY AN ACQUIRED TASTE. I started off by reducing the amount of sugar and creamer i put in it...then on day just stopped all together and forced myself to drink it black, it's oky to me now and it only took me a week to be okay with the taste.
  • lamilli09
    lamilli09 Posts: 354 Member
    A couple things that it looks like people might have just touched on but here goes:
    - iced black coffee tastes better (to me) rather hot black coffee BUT coming up with the appropriate ratio for your personal preference is hard/time consuming
    - you can ease yourself into drinking black coffee... it's do-able. but for me, I will always prefer a lightly sweetened coffee with some milk or creamer

    Here is a recipe for cold-brew iced coffee that is a pretty good starting place: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/perfect-iced-coffee/

    BUT be warned - my boyfriend brews coffee that a spoon can stand up in (tastes like tar, he makes his coffee about 4x the recommended strength) and that recipe was still too strong for his tastes.
  • Molly_Maguire
    Molly_Maguire Posts: 1,103 Member
    I have a better idea. DON'T DRINK COFFEE. It tastes like absolute *kitten*, dehydrates you, stains your teeth, and gives you horrible breath.There is no nutritional value in it, nothing the body needs, the acids in it will shred your stomach lining and promote heartburn, and the caffeine is addictive and unhealthy for your heart. Plus cutting it out of your diet will save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I can't drink American coffee without milk, although I skip the sugar. I could drink an espresso with sugar, no milk as an after-dinner drink or demitasse, but that's very rare. I usually have a latte with milk.

    If it's an acquired taste, I'm never going to acquire it.

    I can drink certain teas black, but I prefer to add sugar, and I much prefer coffee to tea. The caffeine affects me differently.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I have a better idea. DON'T DRINK COFFEE. It tastes like absolute *kitten*, dehydrates you, stains your teeth, and gives you horrible breath.There is no nutritional value in it, nothing the body needs, the acids in it will shred your stomach lining and promote heartburn, and the caffeine is addictive and unhealthy for your heart. ...

    Caffeine, perhaps coffee in particular, I can't recall, has been found to have health benefits in moderate amounts. Among others, it increases brain acuity.
  • lukeevans85
    lukeevans85 Posts: 108 Member
    I have a better idea. DON'T DRINK COFFEE. It tastes like absolute *kitten*, dehydrates you, stains your teeth, and gives you horrible breath.There is no nutritional value in it, nothing the body needs, the acids in it will shred your stomach lining and promote heartburn, and the caffeine is addictive and unhealthy for your heart. Plus cutting it out of your diet will save you hundreds of dollars in the long run.

    While I agree with some of these things...

    I like the taste of coffee (espresso at least). There's no nutritional value to alcohol either but that doesn't mean its not enjoyable.
  • blonde71
    blonde71 Posts: 955 Member
    I used to have to drink my coffee with tons of half and half and sugar. I stopped doing that and started drinking it black and now I love it. I guess it's all what your taste buds are used to.
  • megtastic80
    megtastic80 Posts: 43
    Definately an acquired taste!

    I started at white and two (and alot of them!)
    then white and one (then the kids got into coffee and a litre of milk I'm sure so not to miss out I had to have the occasional black one)
    now black with cold water instead of milk (and definately love it more than white!)

    But yeah, the brand of coffee makes a big difference.
  • megtastic80
    megtastic80 Posts: 43
    I have a better idea. DON'T DRINK COFFEE. It tastes like absolute *kitten*, dehydrates you, stains your teeth, and gives you horrible breath.There is no nutritional value in it, nothing the body needs, the acids in it will shred your stomach lining and promote heartburn, and the caffeine is addictive and unhealthy for your heart. ...

    Caffeine, perhaps coffee in particular, I can't recall, has been found to have health benefits in moderate amounts. Among others, it increases brain acuity.

    It also raises your metabolism... Slightly

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