If you suffer from acid reflux and you’re a coffee lover, you may think you have to give up your favorite cup of java to save yourself some discomfort. But you may be interested to know that low acid coffee is a viable option for you, so you can enjoy that perfectly roasted cup of coffee without feeling awful afterwards.
Low acid coffee is ideal for those who have acid reflux, GERD and other gastrointestinal issues. Basically, low acid coffees are coffees with a pH of 5 or above (water is neutral with a pH of 7).
Factors That Affect Coffee Acidity
There are a multitude of reasons why some coffees are considered less acidic than others.
The biggest contributing factor is the altitude at which the coffee was grown. In general, the lower the altitude, the better the acidity factor. The origin as well as varietal or cultivar of the coffee will also contribute to the acidity. And finally, the processing method used to strip the coffee seed, in addition to the roasting process, will all contribute to the coffee’s acidity.
Indonesian and Brazilian coffees are the most popular countries of origin when it comes to low acid coffee beans, but those hailing from Greece, Guatemala, Peru, and Mexico are also good candidates for low acidity coffee. Each country, and region within that country, has naturally receptive soil and lower altitudes that are conducive to producing the best low acid coffee.
Typically, when someone describes the acidity of coffee, they are referring to the flavor notes more so than the actual acids that are contained within the coffee.
Each cup of coffee usually contains about 30 different acids. Whether they are low acid or not will depend on how those acids interact with each other, as well as with your stomach.
So how can you enjoy your favorite morning coffee without the stomach upset? Basically, it all comes down to research, reading labels, and buying from reputable Boston coffee companies.
The Roasting Process
As noted above, the roasting process has a lot to do with the acidity of the coffee. Roasting is pretty straightforward: it involves applying heat to coffee beans. However, the real magic occurs with the chemical in the coffee beans during this process. This complex reaction results in a wide variety of flavors and compounds that you ultimately taste in the finished cup.
In general, darker roasts are lower in acid but can also boast some sour, bitter notes.
When deciding which low acidity coffee is best for you, sample a few and listen to what your body tells you and how your stomach reacts to the coffee.
Low acid coffees vary greatly in terms of flavor profile just like their acidic counterparts. However, all lower acid coffee share common flavor profile traits, such as cocoa and nutty nuts with syrupy, heavier bodies.
In the end, it will all come down to experimentation, so try our best selling small batch coffees today and give your stomach a rest!