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What Is Low Acid Coffee 

 August 15, 2016

By  Enda McLarnon

Low Acid Coffee - Understanding Reflux & Heartburn

In this article I am going to cover off by explaining exactly what is low acid coffee. I am guessing that if you are on this website, you already have a great liking, for a decent cup of coffee.

Many of us do. There are however some people, and I genuinely feel for them, who may suffer from stomach problems, if they drink a cup of their favourite brew.

I know at least one chap that I work with you really enjoys his coffee. However, depending on the state of his tummy, coffee can just make that a whole lot worse.

It really is hard to explain to people how irritating this can be. For most of us we just make a brew and enjoy it. In his case, and indeed for many others they may have been diagnosed with some type of ulcer.

What many buyers don't know is that it is the acid in the coffee that gives us the flavors that many of us love. That’s great, unless you are one of those folks who is afflicted with acid reflux or heartburn.

Often people suffer from what is called acid reflux disease.

Acid Reflux and Heartburn in Coffee Drinkers

Most coffee drinkers are never troubled when they have their brew. Even though there are around 30 different types of acid, the vast majority of coffee drinkers are not impacted by those.

For those not that familiar with this acid reflux is like a burning sensation that you get in the upper portion of the tummy. It feels though quite a lot like heartburn. The proper name for this is Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or GORD for short.

Thankfully for most people it does not happen all of the time. For some though it can be quite a severe and life long problem. You can usually identify it from the burning sensation but it may also result in bad breath, felling bloated and perhaps belching more than you should.

How to Treat GORD?

Most people get the best relief by changing their diet. There are also over the counter medicines available that can really help a lot. If it is a persistent problem then it is always wise to contact your doctor.

Drinking Coffee with Acid Reflux

low acid coffee

It is well known that coffee can be very acidic. Depending on the amount of coffee that you drink, then it is easy to see that can lend towards giving health problems.

For most people 1-2 cups of coffee a day are pretty harmless. However drinking 5-6 cups a day could lead to stomach problems for almost anyone.

For those with a potential ulcer or a sensitive stomach, then the amount of acid in regular coffee is simply too much. It will only make the problem worse and no-one wants that to happen.

There is however some good news for coffee lovers because there is something called low acid coffee. 

This contains up to 70% less acid than the normal coffee types that you would buy. Many of them also contain a ton of antioxidants, up to seven times as many as ordinary coffee.

The image on the left is one from a brand called Puroast As the packaging states, this type of low acid coffee is ideal for coffee lovers who may suffer from, heartburn, ulcers or acid reflux

Research from Dr Taka Shibamoto from the University of California revealed the following:

Acid levels were tested in a study, and Puroast® has on average 70% lower acid than brand coffees.

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This lower acid level is achieved by using a slower roasting method. In addition to this there are no additives or substitutes used. There are a few brands who are now producing those. You can therefore get these in your favourite roast types.

Does Low Acid Coffee Taste Different?

Acid in a coffee functions to give a sweet and tart taste to most coffees. When this is reduced you do lose that tart taste. As a result coffee will taste smoother. When I tried my first cup I did notice a difference. After a few cups though I easily acquired the smoother taste.

The roasting method of the beans seems to be the single thing that changes the amount of acid. Some companies who make low acid coffees steam the bean initially. Some don't do this part but they do what is called interrupted roasting.

The video below explains more about the health benefits of drinking low acid coffee.

Is Low Acid Coffee Worth a Try?

If you suffer from heartburn, ulcers or acid reflux but still love your coffee, then the answer has to be yes. It is a little more expensive than what you would pay for regular coffee beans. I think however that your tummy deserves to have that and be treated well.

Something like this one from Lean Caffeine seems to be a popular choice.

This is a dark roasted, low acid grounded coffee full of depth and flavour. It is a smooth yet bold coffee with rich teasing aromas that delight in every sip. Perfect for keto, paleo or low carb diets and makes a great bulletproof coffee

So hopefully you know a little more about these types of coffees than you did before. At least people who suffer from any type of sensitive stomach now have an option to continue drinking coffee.

Enda McLarnon


Enda McLarnon has a Business Management Honour's Degree and applies his professional insight, to analyse and write helpful product reviews with tips and useful advice. I am also a coffee lover and enjoy tasting all of the coffee types the world has to offer.

Enda McLarnon

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