Coffee is naturally acidic, which contributes to its sharp, sometimes bitter flavor.
If your coffee tastes harsh or unbalanced, a simple pantry ingredient can help!
Quick Answer: What does adding baking soda to coffee do?
Adding a tiny pinch of baking soda can mellow coffee by slightly neutralizing some of its natural acids. That usually makes the cup taste smoother and less sharp, and some people notice the coffee tastes a little sweeter simply because there's less bite.
The key is using very little. Too much can make coffee taste flat or salty.
The acids in coffee give the drink its unique flavor, so you don't want to eliminate the acids completely. Without it, coffee wouldn't taste like coffee.
Let’s review whether combining coffee and baking soda is worth trying!
What is the benefit of putting baking soda in coffee?
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a versatile alkaline substance.
When it interacts with the acids found in coffee, baking soda slightly alters the pH, rendering the drink less acidic.
Lower acidity in this caffeinated beverage results in multiple benefits.
Baking soda makes cheap coffee taste better
Inexpensive coffee often tastes more bitter than usual, typically due to the use of lower-quality coffee beans.
To offset this unpleasant bitterness, people employ various methods.
Some of those methods include:
- Brewing the coffee using filtered water
- Adding milk to the coffee
- Adjusting the brew time
- Incorporating sweeteners (for example, sugar, chocolate, flavored creamers, or non-sugar alternatives)
- Adding spices (for example, cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger)
- Adding a pinch of salt
While all of these methods work, a simpler and less expensive way to enhance the flavor of inexpensive coffee is by adding baking soda.
By neutralizing the acids, baking soda makes inexpensive coffee taste smoother.
Additionally, it reduces bitterness by altering the bitter taste receptors in our tongues, ultimately enhancing the sweetness of flavors.
Inexpensive and doesn't increase caloric content
Baking soda is cheap, lasts a long time in the pantry, and you only need a tiny amount per pot.
Unlike milk, flavored creamers, caramel, or chocolate, baking soda won't add calories to your coffee. Just make sure you're using a fresh box so it doesn't pick up odors or taste off.
How much baking soda in coffee?
The easiest way to use baking soda is to mix it into your ground coffee before brewing.
You can also stir it into a finished cup, but that's where it's easiest to overdo it.
Start small and adjust once you've tasted it:
- Full pot (about 8 to 12 cups). Start with 1/4 tsp, do not exceed 1/2 tsp.
- Half pot. Start with 1/8 tsp, up to 1/4 tsp.
- Single cup. A tiny pinch (think “less than 1/16 tsp”).
If you're brewing less than a full pot, keep the same idea in mind: a very small amount goes a long way.
| Amount of coffee | Amount of baking soda |
| Full pot (8 to 12 cups) | 1/4 tsp (start) up to 1/2 tsp (max) |
| 1/2 pot | 1/8 tsp (start) up to 1/4 tsp (max) |
| 1/4 pot | 1/16 tsp (start) up to 1/8 tsp (max) |
| Single cup | Tiny pinch (less than 1/16 tsp) |
Can you add too much baking soda to coffee?
Yes. If you use too much, you'll notice it right away because the coffee starts tasting flat or salty.
The easiest way to avoid that is to measure it (especially for a pot) and start with the smallest amount listed above.
You can always add a little more next time, but you can't un-add it once it's in your cup.
Does baking soda taste good in coffee?
Most people expect baking soda to make coffee taste weird, but in very small amounts, it usually doesn't. If anything, it can make a harsh cup taste smoother and less sharp.
The only time it tastes bad is when you add too much. Then the coffee can taste flat or slightly salty.
Want more ideas? Use my Coffee Recipes Directory to find drinks that match your mood, brew style, and time.
- See hot, iced, cold brew, and Frappuccino recipes in one place.
- Browse latte, espresso, milk-based, and coffee add-in recipes.
- Get inspiration for what to make next at home.
Over 200 coffee recipes to explore.
More coffee add-ins to try
Ready to upgrade your daily coffee?
Here are some coffee add-ins to try today:
- Brown Sugar in Coffee
- Buttermilk in Coffee
- Cocoa Powder in Coffee
- Cinnamon in Coffee
- Cold Foam in Coffee
- Condensed Milk in Coffee
- Dark Chocolate in Coffee
- Heavy Cream in Coffee
- Honey in Coffee
- Olive Oil in Coffee
- Powdered Sugar in Coffee
- Vanilla Extract in Coffee
And for even more options, check out the coffee add-ins hub here!
Final thoughts
Baking soda probably isn't the first ingredient you think of for upgrading coffee, but it's a surprisingly effective little trick when a cup tastes too sharp or harsh.
Just keep the amount tiny, taste as you go, and you'll know quickly whether it's a hack you'll actually use again!
