| This is actually a practice that is not common today | | | | As mentioned earlier, in order for the shells to |
| but it was common in the United States during the | | | | de-acidify the coffee, they need to be in broken |
| depression era and before that. Cookbooks in the | | | | small pieces. The best way to do this is after you |
| 1930s included them as an ingredient in coffee | | | | break the egg for cooking purposes, rinse the shells |
| recipes. It's interesting that this practice has mostly | | | | and bake them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about |
| disappeared. | | | | 10 minutes. After baking, break up the shells into little |
| So what exactly is the reasoning behind that? The | | | | pieces and add a heaping teaspoon to your coffee |
| answer is simple...to get a smoother tasting cup of | | | | grounds. Some people like to actually grind the shells |
| coffee and it works. First, we'll look at why putting | | | | in a food processor or coffee grinder. |
| shells in brewing coffee works and then we'll see | | | | You can store the ground egg shells in a plastic bag |
| how to do it. | | | | or airtight plastic container and use them as |
| Coffee contains acids. These acids in coffee have | | | | necessary. |
| varying degrees of taste to them. Some coffee can | | | | A word of caution: don't use egg shells without either |
| be so acidic it tastes bitter. In addition, some of the | | | | washing them in hot water or baking them first. Raw |
| acids in coffee cause an undesirable reaction in | | | | egg left on the shell can contaminate your coffee |
| sensitive people. There is nothing worse than | | | | and make you sick. Baking the egg shells removes |
| heartburn after drinking your morning cup of coffee. | | | | this danger. Also, don't do this if you have egg |
| Egg shells contain calcium. The calcium carbonate in | | | | allergies, for obvious reasons. |
| the shells neutralizes some of the acids that are | | | | You know now why people put egg shells in brewing |
| present in the coffee. However, in order for this to | | | | coffee. At one time, this was a tried and true |
| work well, they must be in small pieces and added to | | | | method of making a great cup of coffee, but that |
| the coffee grounds. Large pieces of shells won't | | | | was before coffee makers became so fancy. |
| work as well. | | | | |
