When pairing black coffee with non-dairy creamer, what's the optimal amount for achieving the best flavor balance?

Many people find black coffee too bitter and astringent, so they add non-dairy creamer for coffee to improve the flavor. However, they struggle to find the right amount. Too little and the coffee still tastes bitter, while too much overpowers the coffee's natural flavor, leaving it like "creamer water." While there's no absolute "optimal amount," there's a basic ratio to use. Adjusting based on your taste preferences can help you find a balance.

Memorize the basic ratio

The most common basic ratio is 10 to 15 grams of non-dairy creamer for coffee per 150 ml of black coffee. This amount neutralizes the bitterness and astringency of black coffee without overpowering the coffee's aroma, resulting in a smooth and rich coffee experience. For example, if you're brewing 150ml of black coffee in a pour-over pot, add a 10g bag of Non-dairy Creamer for Coffee. Stir thoroughly and take a sip. If it's still a bit bitter, add more, 3-5g at a time. Don't add too much at once. If you're using instant black coffee, use the same ratio. Non-dairy Creamer for Coffee can reduce the powdery feel of instant black coffee, making it smoother and less intense.

Adjusting Based on Coffee Strength

The amount of Non-dairy Creamer for Coffee you add should vary depending on the strength of your black coffee. You can't use the same amount regardless of strength. For example, if your pour-over coffee is ground finely and brewed for a long time, the coffee will be stronger and more bitter. In this case, you'll need to add more than the base ratio, for example, 15-20g for 150ml of strong black coffee, otherwise the bitterness won't be overcome. If your coffee is weak, such as Americano made in an Americano machine, which has a light bitterness and a bland taste, add less, 8-10g per 150ml. Adding too much will make the coffee "cloying" and lose its aroma. Judging the strength of a coffee is also simple: look at the color—a darker color with noticeable lingering is a strong coffee, while a lighter, more translucent color is a weak coffee. Adjusting the amount based on the color is generally a surefire way to go.

According to personal taste preferences

Everyone's tolerance for bitterness varies. Some can tolerate a slight bitterness, while others can't stand it at all. In this case, you need to adjust the amount according to your taste. If you prefer a stronger coffee flavor with a slightly bitter taste, add 2-3g less than the base ratio, for example, 8-12g per 150ml. This way, you can enjoy the coffee aroma without being too bitter. If you can't stand the bitterness at all, add a little more, but don't exceed 20g, otherwise it will overpower the coffee flavor and become like "drinking a non-dairy creamer for coffee." In addition, if you like it sweeter, you can add a small amount of sugar, but don't add too much sugar, otherwise it will overlap with the sweetness of the Non-dairy Creamer for Coffee and become too greasy, which will affect the taste. Non-dairy creamer itself has a sweet taste, so most of the time it is enough without adding sugar.