Get the Bitterness Out of Cheap Coffee With an Egg
If you don’t carry your beans with you wherever you go – and I know people who do – chances are good that you will one day find yourself in a situation where only cheap bitter coffee is available. Fortunately, there is an easy way to turn bitter coffee into a rich and mellow beverage. You just need an egg.
Egg coffee has actually been around for a while, according to Eater, and is made by mixing a beaten egg with coffee grounds, boiling the mixture, and letting it steep for ten minutes. There is no need to strain, as the egg and the ground will solidify on top, forming a kind of cork. When cold water is added to the mixture for a cup of coffee, the cork sinks to the bottom of the pot, taking away the thick and bitter taste. To understand how it works, you have to understand the egg:
Egg white, or protein, is a powerful brightening agent used both in consommé and in removing deposits from red wine. When egg whites are exposed to high temperatures, such as boiling, their whites break down. These newly separated proteins then bind to other macromolecules that may be present in the liquid, such as tannins (in wine), cellular material (in consommé), or other impurities that can cause bitterness.
The result is a lush cup of light coffee with a “rounded juicy taste that is completely devoid of bitterness.” Bonus: you don’t need any fancy equipment, which means you can have smooth and delicious coffee anywhere, even at the campsite.