Imagine that you have brewed a strong black coffee to release all your worries after a long and hectic day. You sit down on the porch and take a quick sip, expecting it to be one hell of a sip, but….. All you can taste is metal.
It truly can spoil your whole mood and your day. And who wants to drink a coffee that tastes like metal? Not me, at least. The biggest tip to save your coffee from tasting metallic is getting a coffee maker that has stainless steel.
Want to know some more? Well, keep reading because we have brewed a pretty comprehensive guide for you.
Why Does Your Coffee Taste Metallic?
Well, this was my signature question every time I sipped my coffee at home. But, it turned out that it wasn’t my taste buds, but the problem was pretty technical.
So, before you get into some tips, make sure to read all these reasons because they might help you in getting your caffeine game right on track.
● Roasting Mistake
Well, everyone should be allowed to make mistakes once in a while but not when it comes to roasting the beans. If you are fond of roasting your own beans, then why complain? Because the metallic taste is inevitable then.
But, if you are getting your coffee roasted by a professional, then you should know that there is a thing called a “bad batch.” So, if only one batch of your coffee tasted metallic, then there is nothing to worry about.
● Grind Is The Culprit
If you like to grind your own coffee, the metallic taste can be because you are grinding your beans too large or too small. The smaller beans are not good enough for your coffee.
And when it comes to larger beans, it results in un-extracted beans making your coffee taste like metal or straight up stale. So, getting just the right grind should be your priority here.
● Not Keeping An Eye On The Temperature
Getting just the right type of temperature is very important because if your temperature is too hot or too cool, it can result in a metallic taste in your coffee. If you keep your coffee at a lower temperature, it will take away your coffee’s aroma, essence, and flavor.
Also, if you make the coffee at a lower temperature, it will not be as strong as you want it to be. Also, coffee made at a cooler temperature is stale and is more likely to taste metallic. If you want to play on the safer side, make sure to keep your temperature around 250°F while making your coffee.
● Wrong Vessel
Imagine that you have just made a perfect cup of coffee, and it smells amazing. You are all set, and in excitement, you grab the first vessel that comes in your hands, supposedly a plastic cup.
Now, if you pour your boiling hot coffee into a plastic cup, do you think its taste will not change? Well, you can try it at home if you want a plasticky and metallic taste in your coffee.
● Not Cleaning The Machine
This is a prevalent mistake that usually results in a terribly metallic tasking coffee that can also be hazardous for health. However, your beans and vessels are not always the problem because the main problem may be your coffee machine.
If you are using the machine on a regular basis, you need to give it a good clean once a month to make sure that it is free from all the dirt and mold. There can even be build-up in your machine’s reservoir, which can contain minerals, and hence, the metallic taste is inevitable yet again.
● Metallic Water
Maybe your coffee tastes metallic just because the water you used in making it was already metallic: does it make sense? Well, the tap water we usually use is not completely safe or free from all types of chemicals. In fact, there are plenty of chemicals used to filter that water, and that is why it can be a major cause of the metallic taste in your coffee.
The water right out of your kitchen is not as safe as well because it contains different microorganisms and can also cause diseases. In the worst-case scenario, you are using hard water to make your coffee which does not only make your coffee taste metallic but a pretty significant health threat.
● Low-Quality Coffee
When it comes to coffee, do not think about saving some bucks here and there. Coffee is your safe place, and every bean of a high-end arabica coffee is worth every penny. So, buying cheap coffee might not be a good idea.
The metallic or stale taste in your coffee can potentially be because of a cheaper coffee because it was on sale, right? Cheaper coffees are also not strong and sometimes don’t even taste real. So, always go for an organic and good quality option when it comes to coffee.
Tips To Eliminate Metallic Taste From Coffee
Well, I guess it is enough about why your coffee sounds metallic, and it’s high time to get into some real stuff. So, want to know all the tips to get rid of the metallic taste from your coffee? Keep reading then.
● A Good Quality Machine
A coffee machine is the most generous gift you can give to yourself, so why not be a little generous while giving it? Getting a coffee machine of good quality will most certainly help you get rid of the metallic taste in your coffee.
Also, the machines lying around in stores develop a distinct metallic scent, and when you buy them, that scent transfers in your coffee, and you get the horrible metallic taste. So, consider buying a coffee machine that is made of stainless steel.
● Clean The Machine
Cleaning all the pieces of equipment in your coffee machine is a really massive step towards getting a better-tasting coffee. The filter holders, reservoirs, in short, everything needs to be cleaned.
If you clean your coffee machine thoroughly once in a while, you will not get the metallic taste coming from the build-up in your coffee. Also, who does not like a clean and aesthetically pleasing coffee machine? Also, dump all your leftovers once you make your coffee because it can also cause build-up.
● Embrace Your Mug
As we already know that plastic cups are not the ideal choice for hot, freshly brewed coffee; you should consider getting a mug for your office table. It is the perfect option if you are always on the go or drink coffee at the office. Otherwise, at home, glass or ceramic cups also work pretty well.
The hot coffee might make the paper cups a little softer, and it can even affect the taste of your coffee slightly, but it most certainly is not as bad as metallic coffee. And the cherry on top is that you can always use your favorite mugs in any color you want.
● Get Fresh Beans
You need to get fresh beans for your coffee. And not only fresh but simple but high-quality ones because beans can also be the reason behind the sour or metallic taste in your coffee. If you have a pack of beans lying around for a little too long, you should not use it.
As coffee also has a “best before,” the longer it stays on your shelf, the more it will become metallic, stale, and whatever. In short, beans lose their flavor eventually from the very day you open them. That is why fresh beans can give you the best-brewed coffee with that magical aroma.
● Measure Everything
This is the tip I got in my first cooking class because even though cooking is an art, there still are rules, quantities, and measurements you need to do before actually cooking something.
Measuring everything will help you make sure that you are using water, coffee, and sugar in perfect proportion and not getting overly excited and emptying the coffee jar in your machine. These measurements can help you make sure that nothing is too much or too little, which can be pretty great to get rid of the metallic taste in your coffee.
● Wash The New Coffee Maker
If you have just bought a coffee maker and are disturbed by the metallic taste it gives to your coffee, that is probably because you haven’t let that innocent machine touch the water yet. You know that machines are kept in a box for longer.
So, if you want your coffee in mint condition daily, then you need to run water in your coffee maker a few times before you start making coffee in it. It ensures that all the suffocated chemical and metallic smell is out of your coffee machine.
● Clean Your Machine With Sodium Bi Carbonate
If you want to get rid of the metallic taste in your coffee caused by your coffee machine, then you can consider cleaning your coffee machine with water and sodium bicarbonate. Do not add other chemicals and just stick to these two initiatives. If they don’t work, only then go for white vinegar.
The sodium bicarbonate will help you get rid of all the chemical build-up and the organisms that have made a house in your coffee machine. It will also clean all the minerals and things that are making your coffee taste like metal.
● Don’t Let It Brew For Long
If you think brewing your coffee for too long is a good idea, and it will give you a perfect and strong shot, then you are mistaken because if you brew your coffee for too long, it will turn bitter and not the ordinary bitter but the kind of bitter that you cannot even drink.
Also, letting your coffee brew for too long can make it taste like metal because obviously, it has been brewing for way too long in a metallic vessel so that it would take some inspiration from its surroundings.
● Use Filtered Water
As we already know that hard water and tap water can really make your coffee taste metallic, then this tip is about using a filter: yes, a water filter. This filter can help you keep all the chemicals away from your water.
And when the water you are using in coffee is pure, nothing is coming in the way of you and a freshly brewed coffee mug. That is the very reason why restaurants that specialize in coffee always have three filter systems, just to keep their water purer than ever to get the most out of their coffee beans.
● Fix The Grinder Blades
Fixing the grinder blades should be your priority because if the blades of your grinder get too close, they can produce heat, and it can potentially result in a metallic taste that you most certainly do not want.
You can get your grind fixed by a professional or just fix it by yourself to solve this problem. Close blades also result in smaller grinds which are not really what you want for your morning coffee. Smaller grinds can also taste metallic so, it is better to avoid them altogether.
How To Save Your Beans From Tasting Metallic
Your beans are the real players in making your coffee taste metallic, so; you need to play all your cards right when dealing with the beans. If you want your beans to stay fresh for longer and stop tasting like raw metal, then store them in their suitable environment.
Well, the rule of storing the beans is pretty basic yet pretty weird. You cannot expose the beans to light, air, or even heat. This means put your beans in a dark and abandoned room filled with scary paintings and never talk about it again. But, jokes apart, you can always get a container that can give all this and much more to your beans.
If your beans are exposed to heat, they will break down before you even know it. If they are exposed to air, then your food will most probably be a mess, and when it comes to light, it can cause any food to decay much quickly, so it will do the same for your beans.
If you take care of the storage of your beans properly and keep them in an air-tight container without any heat and light, your beans will last longer. And by longer, I mean around three weeks so, enjoy your favorite batch of brewed coffee for an extended time now.
How To Get Rid Of The Metallic Coffee Taste In Your Mouth?
Well, what is done is done now, and you have sipped your coffee but, if that scary metallic coffee taste is lingering in your mouth for a while, then let me tell you that it is completely normal.
To get rid of such taste, there are a few remedies that will most certainly work. So, let’s jump right into them.
● Use Mouthwash
It probably is the most common solution to metallic taste. If you think the coffee’s metallic taste is not going away, then using mouthwash can be really helpful for you because it helps you get rid of all the tastes you don’t like. You can also brush your teeth twice and use mouthwash whenever you think the metallic taste is overwhelming.
● Chewing Gum
Chewing a piece of gum or mint might help you with your metallic taste problem. You can get a gum of any flavor and give it a go, but a mint one is the cherry on top. Once you complete your coffee and the metallic taste kicks in, you can eat your chewing gum to change the taste.
● Avoid Metallic Vessels
If you already think you are tasting metal all day long, you might consider avoiding all your metal vessels because they will only worsen the situation. Your mouth will taste more metal after using all the forks and spoons.
● Eat Citrusy Fruit
Eating a fruit that has a really overpowering taste can potentially help you get rid of the metallic feel in your mouth. So you don’t have to carry it around everywhere anymore. You have got many options in citrusy fruits such as oranges and lemons, so just go for some.
● Have A Herbal Tea
Having herbal tea can also help you get rid of the metallic taste after tasting your coffee. You can also drink ginger tea which is yet another perfectly fine choice if you are too tired of the metallic taste in your mouth due to your coffee.
Conclusion
Drinking coffee can be self-care for a lot of people, and that is why it is necessary to get a perfect cup of coffee without any metal taste lingering around.
Also, you need to take care of your coffee machine and concentrate on the coffee to water ratio to make sure you don’t spoil anything.
Wishing you a happy day with your cup of coffee!