Black or White? How Milk Affects Coffee Flavour

When it comes to enjoying coffee, the world is divided into two camps: black coffee lovers and those who prefer to enhance their brew with a splash of milk or cream, otherwise known as “white coffee”. Understanding how milk affects the taste of coffee can help you appreciate each style, whether you’re a purist or someone who enjoys a richer, creamier cup.

Defining Black Coffee and White Coffee

Black Coffee is the simplest form of coffee. Brewed without any additives like sugar, milk, cream, or flavouring, black coffee allows you to experience the unadulterated flavour of the coffee beans. As dark roasts may be too bitter to be drunk without additional ingredients for most palates, medium to medium-dark roasts are usually preferred. Drunk black, these roasts provide a balanced body and flavour, allowing you to enjoy the coffee in its pure form – just as it was meant to be.

White Coffee, depending on where you are in the world, could mean different things. For this article, when we say “white coffee”, we’re referring to the British/Australian definition – coffee that has been lightened with milk, cream, or another “whitener”. This is not to be confused with other definitions, which could refer to half-roasted beans, or Ipoh white coffee, a regional favourite where coffee beans are roasted with margarine before being brewed – a kopitiam staple that would be familiar to most Singaporeans.

How Milk Affects Coffee Taste

Black Coffee offers the most "pure" taste of the coffee beans, which can vary depending on the roast level. With medium to medium-dark roasts, you’ll get more body and complexity, balancing acidity and bitterness. It’s also worth noting that freshly roasted coffee beans provide a fuller flavour, allowing you to savour all the subtle notes and characteristics.

At Six Four Coffee, we prioritise quality by ensuring that our freshly roasted beans are delivered close to their roast date. This commitment allows you to savour the full flavour and subtle characteristics of our coffee, with both the roast date and batch clearly indicated on the packaging.

White Coffee, when prepared by adding milk, dramatically alters both the texture and flavour of your coffee:

1. Texture: Adding milk to coffee gives it a smoother, creamier texture, which enhances the mouthfeel. This creamy, velvety texture can be particularly appealing for those who enjoy a richer, more comforting cup.

2. Flavour: The fat content of milk helps to neutralise the acidity of the coffee, reducing any sour or overly bright notes. It can also soften bitterness without eliminating it entirely. Milk enhances grainy, sweet, chocolatey, and nutty flavours, which pairs particularly well with earthy and chocolatey coffee beans. At Six Four Coffee, our blends are crafted to perform well both black and with milk, so whether you like it pure or creamy, we’ve got you covered.

   
   

The Changing Taste Profile: Black vs. White Coffee

To give you a better idea of how our signature coffee blends change with milk check out the infographic below. See how the taste profiles of our coffee differs and choose your perfect way to enjoy our beans.

Ready to Try for Yourself?

Whether you prefer the boldness of black coffee or the creamy richness of white coffee, Six Four Coffee has a blend that’s perfect for you. Explore our range of expertly-roasted beans and find your ideal cup today.

Shop our coffee blends here and enjoy the perfect brew, black or white.