If you're like most people, you probably enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning to help wake you up—which can be even more needed when you're recovering from covid and feel like you need all the energy you can get.
But if you're still feeling the effects of covid, you may have noticed that your favorite coffee doesn't taste quite the same as it used to. Some people who've been through it have said that coffee began to taste a little strange or even “unpleasant.”
That’s unacceptable. As if the virus wasn't already a pain in the ass enough.
There's a lot we still don't know about covid, but one of the things that seem to be universally agreed upon is that the virus can screw with your sense of taste and smell. And for some people, that includes making their coffee taste flat, bitter, or just plain "off."
If that's the case for you and you're struggling to get your coffee fix, here are a couple things you can try to make it taste better.
Why Does This Happen?
There are a few possible reasons your taste reception may be very different when you have (or have had) covid-19. For one, it can cause changes in your sense of smell, which can affect your ability to taste. And the virus can also cause inflammation in your throat and sinuses, which can also impact your sense of taste.
Coffee is a complex beverage, with hundreds of different compounds that contribute to its flavor—so the changes in taste can be more profound than in simpler beverages.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to improve your coffee taste while you're recovering.
Some Things You Can Try
The first two ideas come thanks to user Jerry101 on Coffee Stack Exchange—and according to one user, the turmeric and pepper may have done the job. So we'll start with that one.
#1 - Try Combining Turmeric and Black Pepper
As Jerry101 writes: "You can get Turmeric powder with black pepper in 1000 mg capsules. The intent is to reduce inflammation such as arthritis. The black pepper is supposed to make it more effective and it adds to the taste. Sometimes I open my daily capsule and pour it into coffee. The result is kind of gritty but tasty."
One follow-up post indicated that they used black pepper and turmeric from their spice cabinet (instead of the capsules) and it seemed to work; adding milk seemed to help as well.
#2 - Try Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Adding unsweetened cocoa powder to your coffee may also help improve the taste, according to Jerry101. A teaspoon or more of unsweetened cocoa powder dissolved in a cup of coffee could influence the aroma and taste of your cup of coffee enough to make it more enjoyable.
#3 - Experiment with Heavy Flavored Creamers and Syrups
This may seem a little obvious to most, but it's worth mentioning in case you're a coffee purist who would normally never dream of considering something like this: Add a good amount of a flavored syrup or a flavored creamer to your coffee. It can help to mask any unpleasant tastes and make your coffee more enjoyable.
You might have to experiment with different flavors, since again—tastes can be all over the map when you're still recovering from covid.
Conclusion
If you're dealing with a loss of taste and smell due to covid, there's not much you can do to improve your sense of taste other than wait it out.
These are just a few ideas to try if you're struggling to make your coffee taste better while you're still recovering from covid-19. Hang in there—hopefully, one (or a combination) of these will work for you and help you get your coffee fix.
