Is Coffee Acidic?
Have you had to stop drinking coffee because it upset your stomach? Unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon. Plenty of people have to give up their beloved cups of joe because of unpleasant side effects.
You may have heard that these side effects can be caused by coffee that’s too acidic. In this article, we’ll discuss whether coffee is acidic, how it can affect your health, and how you can make it less acidic.
What Is pH?
Before we discuss whether coffee is acidic, let’s have a little review of high school chemistry. pH describes how acidic something is. A pH of seven is neutral, while zero is acidic and 14 is alkaline.
Technically, everything below seven is acidic. However, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Many parts of our body are acidic — for instance, our skin has a pH of 4.7, saliva has a pH of 6.7, and stomach acid has a pH of around 2.0.
Is Coffee Acidic?
Now that we’ve finished our review, let’s take a look at the question of the hour. Coffee is almost always acidic, with a general pH of around 5.0, opens in a new tab. However, the specific acidity of the coffee you drink will depend on how strong it is, how it’s been roasted, and how you prepare it.
Many sources disagree on whether the acidity of coffee is enough to cause an upset stomach. Humans eat many acidic things, such as vinegar (with a pH of 2.5), raw onions, (5.5), and tomatoes (4.0). Many of these things are even more acidic than coffee but generally don’t seem to spark as much debate.
That said, lots of people feel that drinking coffee is the reason behind their upset stomachs. Many people even report symptoms like indigestion, bloating, and nausea going away after changing their coffee habits.
How Can You Make Coffee Less Acidic?
If you feel like coffee is causing your symptoms of indigestion, you certainly aren’t alone. Take some time to change up your caffeine routine to see if it helps you feel better. If you feel better after changing your coffee intake, congratulations — you can now work on making some permanent changes to feel better.
If you don’t feel better after a few days of adjusting your coffee intake, you should consult a doctor. Indigestion can be a symptom of other food intolerances, illnesses, and medical conditions. It’s best to work with a healthcare provider to narrow down potential causes and make sure you correctly treat the issue.
That said, if you have determined that coffee is your culprit, you don’t have to give up your morning cuppa. Here are a few things you can do to minimize your upset stomach as you enjoy the rich, earthy taste of your favorite brew.
Opt for Darker Roasts
If you’re a fan of breakfast blends, you might want to replace them with a hearty Columbian or French roast blend. We know the sharp flavor of light roast coffee makes a great pick-me-up, but unfortunately, light roast coffee is far higher in acidity than dark roast coffee.
Light roast coffee has an average pH of 4.10, opens in a new tab, while dark roast coffee tends to hover around 5.0. Even the source of the beans themselves can cause slight variations in pH, depending on the soil and growing conditions.
Light roast coffee also tends to have more caffeine than dark roast coffee, which may also contribute to discomfort. Caffeine can relax the esophageal sphincter, opens in a new tab, which is why signs of drinking too much caffeine can often include indigestion.
Drink It With a Meal
Drinking coffee on an empty stomach can increase your odds of experiencing indigestion. We know it might be tempting to drink a plain cup of coffee while you scroll through your socials or plan out your day, but you might want to hold off on that cuppa until you’ve had breakfast.
This is one of the easiest adjustments you could make, although it might also be the most inconvenient. If you’re used to grabbing coffee on the go, try carrying around a protein bar or other snack you can use to help your drink go down more easily.
Add Some Milk
Dairy milk has a pH of about 6.8, which is just below neutral. If you like to take your coffee black, we hate to burst your bubble — but you may want to consider adding some milk to your coffee.
You won’t have to resign yourself to drinking milk-filled lattes for the rest of your life — even a splash of milk can help lower the acidity of your coffee. Unsweetened almond milk can have a similar effect, as its pH is very similar to that of milk, opens in a new tab.
Try Functional Coffee
Finally, you can swap out your coffee for some functional coffee. Functional coffee is simply coffee that has some added benefits and is designed to support your health.
For instance, our Mushroom Coffee+ features coffee extract to give you the same kick and taste as coffee, but without the overwhelming acidity and side effects of caffeine, opens in a new tab. Our blend also boasts the benefits of lion’s mane mushroom, chaga mushroom, collagen protein, and L-theanine. All of these can combine together to support focus, sleep, gut health, and more.
The Bottom Line
Coffee is one of the most beloved drinks throughout the world, but there are some people who swear that it gives them indigestion. This could be because coffee is somewhat acidic, falling at around 5.0 on the pH scale.
If coffee is causing some symptoms of stomach upset, you can try drinking darker roasts, drinking your coffee with a meal, adding some milk, or swapping it out entirely for functional coffee. To learn more about the benefits of functional mushroom coffee, visit the Everyday Dose blog, opens in a new tab today.
Sources:
Acidity and Antioxidant Activity of Cold Brew Coffee | PMC, opens in a new tab
Acids in brewed coffees: Chemical composition and sensory threshold | PMC
Can Coffee Cause Heartburn? | Gastroenterology Associates of San Antonio, opens in a new tab
Start your day
The Right Way
