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My great-aunt mentioned her 'church basement coffee' and it got me digging
She said they'd add a pinch of salt and a whole egg, shell and all, to the grounds to make a huge pot clear for a crowd. I tried it with a single cup, and it really does settle the grounds and cut the bitterness. Has anyone else's family used this method, or know where it came from originally?
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victor_adams952mo ago
That egg trick is actually just for clearing the grounds, not cutting bitterness. The salt is what takes the edge off the coffee. My grandma always used a quarter teaspoon of salt in the basket before brewing a full pot. The egg thing was common in Scandinavian communities for big church gatherings.
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lane.drew2mo ago
Scandinavian church coffee" is such a specific image. Your grandma's salt trick is the real deal though, it totally works.
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patriciaellis1d ago
Oh wow, the egg trick! My dad used to do this for big family reunions. He'd crack a whole egg into the grounds, shell and all, then pour boiling water over it in this old enamel pot. The egg would cook and float to the top, and the coffee came out crystal clear. Never tried the salt part though, I just remember the cleanup being a pain because you'd have to fish out this weird eggy coffee blob. But it really did work for making a big batch without any grit.
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