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Coffee affects the perception of flavors
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Coffee is a drink that probably causes the most discussions. Its effect on the human body is multifaceted and varied, and not always beneficial. And yet many of us cannot imagine the morning without our favorite drink. A new study by scientists has demonstrated another property of coffee, which also applies to a drink that does not contain caffeine.
The results of the study were published in the journal FoodsFoods.
According to researchers, coffee can significantly increase a person's sensitivity to sweets and decrease it in relation to bitter products. It turns out that avid coffee drinkers begin to feel the bitter taste worse over time.
It is noteworthy that the scientists conducted their experiment using not only regular coffee, but also a decaffeinated drink.
More than one hundred and fifty volunteers took part in the study. They were asked to taste and smell different concentrated liquids, both sweet and cloyingly bitter. Food acids, sugar, salt and even quinine were used to prepare the liquids. Then the participants drank a cup of coffee and tasted the liquids again.
Regardless of what drink was offered to the participants (natural espresso or decaffeinated coffee), after the experiment, an increase in sensitivity to sweetness and a decrease in sensitivity to bitterness were clearly detected. It is worth noting that among the volunteers were both avid coffee lovers and those people who did not particularly indulge themselves in coffee. The big coffee lovers had a lower sensitivity to bitterness, and they felt sweetness even in minimal concentrations.
In addition, the pattern of drinking a glass of water between coffee and concentrated liquids was also investigated.
Scientists have announced the conclusion: it is inappropriate to use water to reduce the feeling of bitterness in the mouth. It is much more effective to drink a cup of coffee, which will lead to a strong drop in the sensitivity of receptors to bitterness. However, this phenomenon is temporary.
Interestingly, it feels better to drink coffee with dark chocolate rather than with a milk or chocolate bar. This combination removes the "sugary" taste, as the bitter aftertaste of dark chocolate is dulled. For example, scientists have found that people who do not consume dark chocolate because of its excessive bitterness, quite comfortably eat a few pieces in combination with a cup of espresso.
In conclusion, the experts traced a number of additional properties of the drink – in particular, its effect on vascular tone. Thus, coffee with caffeine dilates blood vessels (including coronary vessels), relaxes muscles, which can be dangerous for patients with cardiovascular pathologies and pregnant women. However, this is already a topic for future experiments.
Original source of information: MDPI