The answer to this question is an absolute yes! Coffee is acidic as it contains acids, which can be harmful to some people. It might give you heartburn, as it happens in most cases.
But don’t you worry about it, we have got you covered. This article will provide you with a detailed insight into how acidic coffee is, how it can affect your health, and how you can overcome it(the burn).
Coffee Acidity: Good or Bad?
Eight hundred fifty different substances combined in a coffee bean give coffee its distinct aroma and unparalleled taste. However, the acid in coffee is not related to its sourness. Instead, multiple factors give coffee its unique acidic pH.
The acidity of substances is measured on the pH scale: Any substance or compound with a pH level of 7 is considered neutral. The implication values below 7 mean acidic.
Coffee lies around 5 on pH level whereas fruits juices of orange and tomato range around 3 & 4 respectively.
Though coffee is acidic, it doesn’t mean that it’s terrible for your health. Coffee contains malic and phosphoric acid, which adds to coffee’s sweetness. However, it also consists of various other acids like acetic and citric acid, which result in the sourness of the coffee.
When coffee degrades, it leads to the production of Quinic acid in coffee beans. This acid is the main reason why the pH of coffee is low. Quinic acid has various side effects on our digestive system, and the major one is heartburn. But there is also a solution to this problem: a carafe(insulated) for coffee.
10 Tips To Reduce Coffee Acidity
Use Coffee Beans With A Low Acidity Level
You can find various types of low-acid coffee on the market. Few of them are grown and produced naturally, while others are made by adding other substances. We suggest you try the low-acid coffee as they work.
Recommended Arabica Beans
Arabica beans are a good substitute for your daily coffee beans, which are acidic and cause heartburns and other issues. These coffee beans are low on acidity and you can use them daily without any problem.
Keep In Mind The Altitude & Soil Conditions
Coffee grown at different altitudes and on different soil types plays a vital role in the acidic nature of coffee. For instance, coffee beans grown on volcanic soil are likely to be more acidic, and the same goes for the coffee beans grown at high altitudes.
We suggest you buy your coffee from established firms and always check for soil and geological detail, i.e., where they are grown and which type of soil is used for their cultivation. We know it’s not easy to always look for these details, but you can ask the coffee provider about the details if it’s not mentioned on the bag.
Experiment With Various Coffee-Growing Regions
Coffee is produced worldwide and is almost available in every corner of the world. But coffee grown in different regions has a unique flavor, aroma, and shape, no two coffee beans grown in two other areas can be found alike. For example, coffee beans produced in Kenya are more acidic than the coffee beans cultivated in Brazil or Sumatra, as these two regions have some of the finest low sour coffee beans.
It’s All About Roast!
Apart from taste and aroma, roasting does affect the acidic nature of coffee. Coffee beans that are roasted lightly tend to be more acidic and have a touch of taste-alike citrus fruit. As citrus fruits have a high level of malic acid, they may change the taste of coffee but can be harmful as they also increase the acidity level.
Coffee beans that are lightly roasted are in good demand these days, and they are pretty famous amongst coffee lovers around the globe. As we said that these lightly roasted coffee beans are more roasted. As an alternative, you can try “French Roasts” or “Espresso,” which are a much better option if you are not a fanatic about “Light roasted” coffee.
Keep An Eye On Extraction
You must be thinking that finding a perfect coffee bean is the only thing you need to do right! But that’s not correct. After getting the ideal and suitable bean for you, the brewing process also affects the acidity of coffee.
Brew time and grind size actively play a crucial role in the pH of coffee. If you brew your coffee for a shorter period or your length of the grind is too dirty, it can cause to increase in the acidity of your coffee.
Both brewing time and grind size should be perfect if you want a perfectly brewed coffee for yourself. We suggest the coffee lovers find the best and authentic recipe and follow it, as typical coffee needs to be brewed flawlessly.
Pour In the Milk
As the pH level of milk is high, people sometimes take it as a medicine in case of acidity or heartburn. Similar is the case with coffee, as you can add cream or milk to balance the pH of coffee.
Usually, lightly roasted coffee beans don’t go well with milk, especially those extracted from soy milk plants. Therefore, you can add cream or milk to make it less acidic, as this will indeed work!
Use Eggshell
You can add eggshells to coffee to balance its pH level. What eggshells? Yes, you heard it right. Eggshells act as a neutralizing agent when you add them to the coffee, and it will balance the low pH of coffee, wiping out the bitterness.
Season With Salt
You might be aware of this hack, as it does work pretty well. You can add salt to your coffee during the brewing process, as this will increase the pH of coffee by making it sweeter. But keep a check on the amount you add, as there is a saying that everything is not good.
Make A Cold Brew
The simplest of them all is to add cold water to your brewed coffee. Don’t you believe us? It has been proved to increase the pH of coffee by 60%. Now believe us for sure, right!
The Result
The acidity of coffee is directly affected by the brewing process and how they are grown and produced. Following the tips and suggestions given, you can quickly increase the pH of coffee, making it less acidic and healthy to drink.
