Coffee has a pH of 5 on the scale and is an acidic drink, but is not acidic enough to be officially considered an acid. The acidity in coffee is far less than most other beverages out there, such as orange juice, beer, and soda.
The acidity levels and its taste are the determining factors of a coffee cup’s quality. This is because many coffee-lovers use the term ‘acid’ positively as a flavor note.
In this article, we will look at where coffee gets its acidity, the potential drawbacks, and ways to reduce acidity levels in coffee.
How Does Coffee Get Balanced Acidity?
Green coffee beans contain some excellent and harmful forms of acids, such as quinic acids and chlorogenic acids.
During the roasting process of coffee, a lot of acids are removed. That is the reason, in low-quality coffee, the right balance between aroma, acidity, and body is not achieved during the process of roasting or extraction; it may result in heartburn sensations and other health problems.
Is it Bad that Coffee is an Acid?
Coffee is an acidic beverage and is not harmful to humans. However, high intake may aggravate some health conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, acid reflux, inflammation, and even gastric ulcers. The acidic nature of coffee has a slight laxative effect on some people.
According to the Perfect Daily Grind, acidity is a venerable but confrontational quality in specialty coffee. Acidity levels are what bring complementary harmony to the coffee cup. It can either destroy the cup or make it.
Where Does Acidity Come in Coffee?
The acidity in coffee comes mainly from the soil in which the coffee plants are grown, but other factors also play into it, such as whether the coffee is a dark or light roast, and brewing time.
The more acidic the earth is, the more acidic the coffee will be. Similarly, the coffee produced in high elevation and volcanic areas like Peru and Ethiopia is notoriously more acidic.
Tasting methods are acidity, a key factor affecting acidity. Darker roasts generally have a higher edge than lighter roasts because the roasting process burns off much of the acid in the beans.
The brewing methods also define the acidity levels in a cup of coffee. Because, if the coffee is brewed for a duration of time, it will result in a more acidic beverage. Similarly, if the coffee is brewed for a more significant amount of time, it will result in less acidic coffee.
How to Reduce Acid Levels in Coffee?
Here is a list with a few tips on how to reduce acidic levels in coffee:
- Buy coffee grown at lower elevations as it will lower the acidity level.
- Roast at higher temperatures and for longer times to reduce acidity.
- Opt for a darker and longer roast coffee.
- When it comes to brewing processes, Aeropress and drip-brewed coffee tend to be lower in acidity.
- As lower water temperatures extract less acid, cold brew coffee can be an excellent alternative for those looking to reduce acidity from coffee.
- Adding one to two crushed eggshells is a novel method in reducing coffee acidity and works because of eggshells’ alkalinity.
- A quarter teaspoon of baking soda is also very effective at reducing coffee acidity.
- Adding milk also reduces the acidic levels of coffee slightly due to its somewhat alkaline nature.
- Coffee acid reducers that are commercially available are another method that will neutralize coffee acid by up to 90%.
What are the Benefits of Acidic Coffee?
Coffee is acidic in its most organic form and serves excellent benefits for the body, such as:
- Lower blood pressure.
- Improvement in heart function.
- Amino acid conversion.
One of the hundreds of many acids present in the coffee, named Chlorogenic acid, acts as a corrosive agent to lower blood pressure and improve heart well-being. While Quinic acid helps convert a number of amino acids such as nicotinamide and tryptophan via the GI tract.
What are the Benefits of Low Acidic Coffee?
There are many health benefits of low acid coffee as well, such as:
- Avoiding heartburn.
- Reduction in teeth damage.
- Reduction in digestive system issues.
Coffee with low acids is very beneficial for workout enthusiasts as it helps them avoid burning sensations and heartburn after each workout.
Since strong acid coffee affects our teeth, intake of low acid coffee reduces the risk of teeth damage to a great degree.
People with medical complications such as dairy or gluten intolerance, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and gastric ulcers should avoid high acidity and drink low acid coffee.
What are the Side Effects of Acidic Coffee?
- Due to acidity in coffee, mixed with caffeine, this can increase your gastrointestinal secretions’ acidity, which ultimately leads to acid reflux. This condition is often accompanied by chest discomfort due to mild or severe burning sensations.
- The tangy and bitter jolt that coffee provides is due to the acidic nature of coffee. However, people who do not have a strong digestive system are advised to lower their coffee intake levels, despite enjoying the bitter taste.
- Besides triggering digestive discomfort, a more acidic coffee may lead to side effects such as heartburn and inflammation.
What Are the Top Acids Present in Coffee?
Countless compounds are responsible for the acidity of coffee. The most essential nine acids present in coffee are:
- Phosphoric acid.
- Linoleic acid.
- Quinic acid.
- Chlorogenic acid.
- Lactic acid.
- Malic acid.
- Palmitic acid.
- Acetic acid.
- Citric acid.
Is Cold Brew Coffee Less Acidic?
People susceptible to heartburn and acid reflux type medical conditions should seek alternatives with low acidity levels, such as cold brew coffee as the acidity is significantly lower.
Since the coffee solids are suspended long enough in the water to make the brew, the acidity levels of the coffee fall significantly.
The volatile compounds present in the coffee are not extracted because heat is required to do so, so these compounds end up being unextracted, making the cold coffee brew much less acidic.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.