Why does my instant coffee taste metallic (what makes instant coffee taste metallic + more information)?

Making instant coffee at home is cheaper than buying coffee every time. However, sometimes, the taste is not pleasing, which has left many people wondering, “why does instant coffee sometimes taste metallic?” Stick around to find out.

Often, instant coffee tastes metalling because the water used to make it contains minerals and chlorine. The grind being too fine can also cause this taste, among other reasons. I prefer making my coffee at home to save time and money used at coffee shops. I always love my homemade instant coffee, but it started having a weird taste recently. I tried adding syrups to my coffee to add flavor, but the taste was still there. I noticed that the taste was metallic and decided to research what the problem could be. I learned the causes of the taste and how I could solve them, and I have written this article to enlighten other people that could be having the same problem, so read till the end.

What makes instant coffee taste metallic?

There are a couple of reasons why your instant coffee may have a metallic taste. This is a common problem when making coffee, and there is no need to worry. Let us look at what makes your instant coffee taste metallic.

Presence of minerals and chlorine in the water

Mostly, hard water has a lot of minerals that can cause instant coffee to taste metallic. Hard water is mainly from tap water and wells. Also, some people use chlorine to treat their domestic water, which can be another reason for their instant coffee tasting metallic. A mixture of Chlorinated water and coffee results in this taste.

Grind is too fine

When grinding your coffee, you should be careful about the grind size. When the metal grinds are too close, they heat up, and this causes the metallic taste in your coffee. This is the main reason for a metallic taste in coffee since many people tend to make sure their coffee ground is too fine.

Accumulation of Limescale on the coffee machine

When you don’t descale your coffee machine regularly as required, lime scale may be accumulated and cause corrosion of the machine. This will affect the machine’s performance and sometimes can introduce chemical flavors to your coffee, resulting in a metallic taste.

Metal Ions oozing from the coffee machine

This mainly happens when the coffee maker is new. The machine may leach metal ions that your drink will absorb and taste metallic. However, it is not a must for a new machine to cause this problem.

What should I do when my instant coffee tastes metallic?

It is very easy to solve a metallic taste in instant coffee. Below are some things you should do when your instant coffee tastes metallic.

Solve water-related causes

Water is the main reason why your instant coffee has a metallic taste. However, it is straightforward to solve it, so do the following.

• Use water filtration system to remove impurities, chlorine, and water contaminants. The water filtration system has carbon filters that remove chlorine and membrane filters to remove impurities.
• Remove water minerals by softening the water. Water softeners remove magnesium and calcium, which cause the water to be hard.

Adjust the coffee maker’s grinder

If solving water-related causes does not solve the taste of the coffee, Check the coffee maker grinder and adjust it accordingly. The grinders should not be too close since they may collide, which will cause a metallic taste.

Descale your coffee maker

You are supposed to descale your coffee machine after every three months to avoid the accumulation of Limescale. However, if you notice a metallic taste in your instant coffee, you can descale to check whether the cause is accumulation of Limescale. Also, check whether there is any corroded parts in the coffee machine and replace them.

FAQ SECTION

What should instant coffee taste like?

In some cases, instant coffee is somewhat sour. It has a bitter taste if not added sugar or syrup sweeteners. However, it should not taste overly bitter or sour.

Is instant coffee that tastes metallic bad for you?

The metallic taste in instant coffee has never caused any health-related problems. However, according to experts, you should avoid drinking it and fix the problem as soon as possible. Also, you cannot enjoy having your coffee when it has a metallic taste.

Should I drink instant coffee that tastes metallic?

No, when you notice that your instant coffee has a metallic taste, it is best to fix the cause before you consume too much of it.