Why WWII Navy Veterans Added Salt to Their Coffee

[rangerrebew]

Why WWII Navy Veterans Added Salt to Their Coffee
 
Military.com | By Blake Stilwell

In 1914, Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels banned alcohol from all U.S. Navy property, and ever since the cup of coffee has replaced the sailor’s grog aboard American ships.

Those black beans became just as important for fueling the Navy as diesel fuel or uranium. Descendants of sailors who fought in World War II might have noticed their dad or grandpa adding a dash of salt to their morning coffee and wondered why on Earth they would do that.

There are actually two reasons “old salts” have been known to do this (and it’s not why they’re called old salts).

https://www.military.com/off-duty/why-wwii-navy-veterans-added-salt-their-coffee.html

[PeteS in CA]

My parents didn't serve in the military but they did the pinch of salt thing with some restaurants' coffee.

[Elderberry]

On the Lex, we had an 80 cup coffee maker in the ET Shop. On an in-port  Friday,  E3 Kelly, who lived on board, would make sure that no one unplugged the pot. When I was in on a Sunday(duty weekend) he would still be drinking on that same batch of coffee. No amount of salt would help that coffee.