Mark MorphewThe morning routine of grinding coffee and making a brew to kick-start your day is enjoyed by millions of people across the globe. There’s nothing better than a strong coffee to prise open those tired eyes.
Unfortunately, some can’t enjoy coffee to its fullest and suffer from heartburn, acid reflux, or even tooth decay. What gives the coffee beans their tart, bright flavors and transforms a coffee from grainy, dull inertness to lively complexity can actually cause havoc for some coffee drinkers, and it’s all to do with the acid found in coffee.
To good news is that you don’t have to skip your cup of Joe if you’re suffering from a sensitive stomach. You can now find many coffee brands in today’s coffee industry tackling this small market niche by producing coffee beans with low acidity.
A handful of companies now specialize in low-acid coffees, which have started to gain popularity with coffee drinkers who have sensitive stomachs and are still looking for their morning pick-me-up but without the unwanted side effects.
However, this new breed of coffee bean can be hit or miss, and many coffee roasters are trying to jump on the bandwagon to make a quick buck. Now I’m not trying to paint all coffee roasters with the same brush, but some are definitely offering inferior beans.
In this detailed guide, you will learn everything there is to know about acidity in coffee and why you might want to stay clear from it, and some of the best low acid coffee beans to help relieve your stomach without skimping on flavor.
Top Rated Low Acid Coffee Brands
I’ve navigated through the minefield that is low acid coffee, and I’ve picked out a handful of brands that are what they claim to be. Rest assured that any of my recommended low acidity coffee beans below are guaranteed to be gentle on the stomach and teeth.
Tieman’s Fusion Coffee
My first recommendation is a bit of a strange one but definitely ticks all of the boxes for low acidness. Tieman’s is actually a coffee and tea infusion; sure, I understand this isn’t going to be for everyone, but I must admit it does taste pretty damn good.
This infusion is a blend of Arabica coffee beans sourced from Colombia, Guatemala, and Ecuador. The high-quality coffee is then mixed with various teas such as Matcha Green Tea, Rooibos Red Tea, and Goji Berry powders. This unique Tieman combination produces a smooth, creamy coffee hybrid that makes a refreshing change from a regular cup of Joe.
This hybrid coffee infusion is jam-packed full of healthy antioxidants, and it is also guaranteed to be gentle on your stomach with the added benefit of giving your body’s immune system the kick-start it needs.
Notes: Naturally infused with Matcha Green Tea, Rooibos Red Tea and Goji Berry powders
Puroast Organic House Blend
If you’re not interested in a coffee tea infusion, my next choice for a reduced acid coffee is this offering from Puroast. Puroast Organic House Blend boasts up to 70% less acidity when compared to other popular coffee brands. These coffee beans are sure to keep the morning heartburn at bay.
Puroast Organic doesn’t just contain low tartness, but it also comes loaded with up to 7x more antioxidants than green tea. Compared to other regular coffee brands, Puroast contains up to 5x more antioxidants – it’s a win-win!
The Puroast Organic House Blend coffee is a perfect choice for the health-conscious. On top of the antioxidants, the coffee beans are 100% certified. They are gluten-free, calorie-free, have no additives, and one of only a handful of beans that are certified Kosher organic coffee.
Notes: A full-bodied, strong coffee with no bitter aftertaste
Don Pablo Subtle Earth Organic Coffee
One of my personal favorite brands of coffee is Don Pablo. These whole beans have been slowly roasted and come packed full of flavor and body with notes of honey and even hints of chocolate.
Don Pablo contains hardly any tartness, which is known to upset throats and stomachs, so it’s a perfect option for people who suffer from things like indigestion. Also, the lower acid content is also good for your teeth!
Organic coffee beans do tend to have lower acidity levels than the regular stuff, and Don Pablo Subtle Earth is a great example of one that’s both eco and stomach-friendly. Also, they are reasonably priced, making these beans an excellent choice for your regular daily brew.
Notes: Rich and chocolaty with a profound depth of flavor, velvety body, and low acidity
Flax Coffee Flaxseed Blend
Sorry I couldn’t help myself. This strange hybrid coffee combines roasted flaxseed with roasted Arabica coffee beans. The end result is a uniquely flavorful low acid blend of coffee that has a well-rounded, buttery mouthfeel with fruity flavors reminiscent of apple cobbler.
As strange as it sounds, flax seeds are naturally alkaline, making them an obvious choice for neutralizing coffee’s acids. Not only that, but flaxseeds are also packed with healthy vitamins and minerals and omega-3 fatty acids.
Apparently, Flax Coffee also has the added benefit of assisting in weight loss, mainly due to the metabolism-boosting effect of omega-3s. It’s worth pointing out that this claim comes directly from Flax Coffee, so don’t expect to drop a dress size overnight, I’m sure it has some benefit, but it will take more than a morning brew to shift the pounds.
Flax coffee ensures that the roasting process is slow and at low heat, all of which help reduce the acid content as well as helping to highlight the nutty, smooth flavor of this hybrid coffee blend.
Notes: Has nutty and sugar flavors with a rich well-rounded experience
Java Planet Organic Medium Dark Roast
Typically, most low acid beans are of a darker roast, which helps to remove a lot of the tartness. However, many coffee drinkers (myself included) find that darker roasts are too bitter. This is where Java Planet coffee saves the day; this is a lighter roast that is also light on acidity.
Java Planet delivers an intense flavor profile, which is rare when looking for a coffee with mild acidity. You’ll experience a range of chocolate and floral notes with a hint of allspice and hibiscus, finishing off with a dark chocolate finish.
Many of the best coffee brands almost always forget to put a roast date on their packaging. This is where Java Planet gets a big thumbs up from me, and they boldly display their roasting date so you know just how fresh your beans are.
Java Planet’s Colombian coffee is far from boring and stands out from the other low tartness coffee blends in the marketplace.
Notes: Smooth, full-flavored coffee without the bitterness or burnt taste
Mommee Coffee Low Acid Organic Coffee
Drinking coffee while pregnant is usually a bad idea. Sure, you can drink decaf, but even that can cause heartburn and increase nausea. I’ve found a brand of coffee that will ease your craving for coffee! It’s aptly named Mommee Coffee.
Mommee Coffee is not only low in acidness, but it also contains roughly half the amount of caffeine as regular coffee, allowing moms a guilt-free experience when going through pregnancy. Mommee Coffee also comes in four different caffeine levels for women in every stage of pregnancy, so depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, you can choose the appropriate caffeine level.
These beans have been organically processed and contain no harmful or unwanted ingredients. You can rest assured that no nasty chemicals pass through to your unborn child.
Testing has shown that Mommee Coffee is five times lower in acid and notably lower in chlorogenic acid, which is considered the major contributor to acid reflux.
Notes: This medium-dark roast is sweet and smooth
How is Low Acid Coffee Produced?
Low acid coffee is typically produced in two distinct ways, using inferior tech methods to reduce acidity. One popular method used is to roast the coffee beans very slowly or to use an interrupted roasting technique.
Another way to reduce the acid in coffee is by targeting the beans in their raw green state by removing the outer waxy layer through a steaming process.
Both of these methods help to remove the acidity, but unfortunately, the aromatics of the coffee are often reduced as a result.
There isn’t an exact science for removing the acidity, but to help with the whole process, many companies are buying their green coffee beans from specific regions in Indonesia and Brazil that are known for growing naturally lower-acid coffee beans.
It’s worth pointing out that coffee beans grown at lower elevations typically have lower acidity.
Does Decaf Coffee Have Less Acid?
If you love coffee but suffer from a sensitive stomach resulting in acid reflux switching to decaf coffee might be the answer to your prayers. Sure, you will be losing out on caffeine, but that rich coffee flavor can still be enjoyed.
According to research (1) carried out by Dionex, a company that’s part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, discovered that decaffeinated coffee is less acidic when compared to regular everyday coffee.
However, this is where it gets a little confusing. The coffee beans used to produce the best decaf coffee are typically higher in acidity because they can retain their flavor after processing to remove the caffeine.
So even though decaf has been shown to help reduce stomach acid issues, the bean actually starts with more acid when compared to regular coffee beans.
With that said, all coffee will cause the stomach to create acid, regular, decaf, light to dark, and the scientific results are inconclusive at the time of writing.
Some studies have indicated that drinking decaf is more gentle on the stomach, while other studies have shown no difference. It could all be simply down to the type of coffee bean used; there are so many variables that there is no definite answer.
My advice is that if you suffer from acid reflux after drinking coffee, try decaf. If that doesn’t help ease your symptoms, try a selection of beans from lower elevations. If that doesn’t help, I’m afraid it’s time to ditch the coffee for tea or cold brew coffee.
Choose Cold Brew Whenever Possible
The good news is you can still enjoy your caffeine kick-start and the rich, bold flavors of coffee with less acidity by switching to cold brew coffee. The best method for reducing acidity is by brewing cold brew.
In fact, cold brew coffee has been shown (2) to be up to 70% less acidic when compared to a regular cup of hot coffee brewed from the same coffee beans. The only problem with this brewing method is you need to plan ahead because it can take up to 12 hours to make a good quality cold brew coffee.
Making this type of brewed coffee isn’t hard, and one of the easiest ways is to use a French Press to make cold brew coffee; the coarse grind also helps to lessen the acidity even more!
Add Milk or Cream to Your Coffee
What’s the common ingredient found in over-the-counter antacids? Calcium.
Calcium is an active ingredient typically found in antacids because it helps to neutralize acid found in the stomach, so by adding milk or cream to your coffee, you will get a similar effect.
By simply adding a splash of milk or cream to your coffee, you can help to reduce the acidness. Both of these additions to your cup of Joe will help line your stomach. Low-fat milk will be your best option if you’re looking out for your waistline.
1-tablespoon of low-fat milk has hardly any trace of fat but has the added advantage of containing a tiny bit more calcium than regular heavy cream.
References
(1) Live Strong. https://www.livestrong.com/article/543945-acid-levels-caffeinated-vs-decaf-coffee/
(2) The Daily Beast. https://www.thedailybeast.com/coffees-dirty-little-secret
When he's not fiddling around with a new coffee gadget, you'll find him busy doing DIY projects around the home and taking his German Shepherd for a walk, who funnily enough is called Kona!
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