A University of Innsbruck study with over 1,000 adults found a curious link: people who prefer bitter flavors — like black coffee, tonic water, or dark chocolate — scored higher on traits tied to the ‘Dark Triad’ (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism).
But hold on — this doesn’t mean every black coffee drinker is a psychopath. Researchers stress it’s only a correlation, not a diagnosis. The connection may come from a shared appetite for intensity and novelty rather than taste alone. 