Egg Drop Coffee or Egg Shell Coffee

I noticed two references to eggs or egg-shell in coffee recently, and it got me thinking.

In "The Big Store" a Marx Brothers film, Wacky, played by Harpo Marx, is preparing breakfast for his boss, Groucho. He cracks an egg into a skillet then drops the egg shell into the bubbling coffee pot.

The second reference comes from a Clifford D. Simak science fiction book I have just re-read titled "Way Station". The main character in "Way Station" offers an alien guest some coffee with an egg in, saying to his guest, "I'll make a big pot of it. I'll break in an egg so it settles clear..."

Why add an egg or egg shells to coffee?

It seem obvious from the Clifford D. Simak reference above, just why the egg shells used to be added to coffee - it settles the coffee grounds in the brewed coffee, and in researching this it seems that as well as clearing the coffee, egg shells also neutralise some of the acidity, making a more mellow drinking coffee.

Why add an egg or egg shells to coffee?

Also, in many, many places on the web, egg drop coffee is talked about - where a whole egg is added to the coffee - white, yolk, shells and all. It is often reported as a scandinavian recipe or perhaps an old Lutherian recipe.

Recipe for egg drop coffee

Here is a generic recipe for egg drop coffee if you would like to try it yourself.
Mix ground coffee with an whole egg and half a cup of cold water. Add this mixture to the boiling water (however much you need for your coffee) and once it bubbles back to the boil remove from the heat. Add the crushed eggshells and another cup of cold water to the coffee mix and serve as you like.

Egg drop coffee

I've tried it and it tasted OK, if a little bland. I couldn't particularly taste the egg or egg shells - they added no distinct flavour to the coffee I brewed. If it was less acidic, which the mellowness of the coffee seems to bear out, then this could be a good, organic way to prepare a milder, less irritating to the stomach, good cup coffee - and that can't be a bad idea!

Egg shells and coffee

I'm going to save eggs from other culinary uses and try just dropping the shells into the coffee pot - supposed to clear the coffee and also take away some of the acidity.

Egg shells and coffee - UPDATE

I've tried several times just dropping a little crushed eggshell from boiled eggs into my coffee - and I have to report In like it. It makes the coffee ever so slightly less bitter and I am enjoying it, a milder, creamier taste too.

I find that I'm using up all the egg shells for coffee as fast as they are available - how many eggs can I eat? Going to try toasting the eggshells when I have a surplus and see if that makes any difference to the flavour of the coffee.

Hard Water or Soft Water for Tea?

I've also written about hard or soft water for tea - what tastes best?.