HOW TO MAKE COFFEE LESS ACIDIC? (11 SIMPLE TIPS)

Looking for tips on how to make coffee less acidic?  In this article we give you our best tips on how to make your coffee less acidic.   

Neutralizing the acidity in your coffee can be the secret to a better mood and healthier lifestyle. 

Food acidity is measured by its pH levels on a scale of 0 to 14. The lower the pH level, the higher the acidity. Coffee has an average pH value of 4.85 to 5.10, which is considered acidic. Although it’s less acidic than drinks like beer or orange juice, if you’re drinking coffee every day, then all those cups will pile up. So let’s find out how you can make coffee less acidic and maybe even taste a little bit better.

IS COFFEE ACIDITY BAD FOR YOU?

First off, should you even be concerned about coffee acidity?

Not all acids are bad for you. This rule applies even to coffee and its acidic pH levels. A neutral pH sits comfortably at 7. Unfortunately, the coffee we love to drink sometimes hits 4 to 5 on the acidity scale. Thankfully though, the acidity there is mild compared to orange juice, which is pH 3.

While the acidity in coffee is relatively mild compared to other foods, it can cause acid reflux and heartburn for some people. This article will give you our best tips on how to avoid acid reflux and heartburn while still enjoying your favorite cup of coffee. 

1. TRY COLD BREWING

Let’s start with the cold brew method.

Grind your coffee grounds coarsely and then mix them together with room temperature water. You can either leave it on your table for 6 hours, occasionally giving it a mix, or put it into your refrigerator overnight. Just remember to sift and filter through the coffee with a paper filter when you’re ready to drink it. 

This makes sure that all the coffee grounds that didn’t dissolve are removed from your cup.

If you’re considering this method, keep in mind that hot brew coffee has more antioxidants than cold brew. For those of you who are drinking coffee for the antioxidants, you’ll want to take note. 

Anyway, there are still other ways you can make your coffee less acidic, so let’s press on!

2. ADD BAKING SODA AND OTHER ALKALINE INGREDIENTS

One effective way to bring down the acidity of any of your drinks is to mix it with a chemical base. Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is an excellent example of this and neutralizes the acidity in coffee effectively. Unfortunately, it does add its own flavor to your cup of coffee.

Don’t fret! You can also try almond milk, cinnamon, and butter. That should give you a wider variety of choices to choose from to help you make your coffee less acidic. Simply add a sprinkle of any of these ingredients, and you’re good to go.

Almond milk is a great alkaline and easy-to-find substitute for milk and coffee. While we do recommend almond milk, you can’t just try any milk from the fridge. Some types of milk are more acidic than others, so if you want to add a bit of dairy to your coffee, you should first check if your milk is acidic or not.

3. DRINK DARKER ROASTS

Darker roasts are known to have less acidity than their lighter counterparts. The roasting process continually removes acidity the longer the bean is under heat. This makes darker roasts have less acidity than light roasts. While lighter roasts might taste milder, their natural acidity is much more present. 

There’s even more to this than just how much acid is in the bean. When you drink a darker roast, your stomach doesn’t have to work as hard to digest the nutrients in your coffee. This means you’ll be producing less gastric acid, thereby lowering your acidity altogether.

4. TRY COFFEES FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

On the topic of trying out a different type of coffee bean, different countries will produce unique coffee beans that might be less acidic than the one you’re drinking.

The altitude and soil of where these coffee beans are grown play a considerable part in the acidity of the coffee grounds you drink. Countries like Sumatra, Nicaragua, and Brazil are known to have naturally low-acid coffee beans. So finding a manufacturer from there would be an excellent investment of your time. 

Just keep in mind to look at the roasting and manufacturing process of the beans as well. At the end of the day, the acidity of the coffee beans should easily be on the bags that you’re buying. 

5. USE A LARGER GROUND SIZE

The flavor of your coffee will differ between ground sizes, and so will the acidity. 

Finer grinds are more reduced and offer a larger surface area when mixed with water.

These smaller grounds extract the most acidity and should be what you avoid. Go for a larger and coarser ground and just let your coffee brew for longer than usual. That should give you a similar taste, with lesser acidity.

6. TRY A LONGER BREWING TIME

The more time your coffee stays in the water, the more acidity gets extracted from it. However, suppose you lessen your brewing temperature and let your coffee steep in the heat longer. In that case, you can enjoy a flavorful cup of coffee that’s less acidic.

Turn down your temperature just below boiling, like 80°C to 85°C (176°F to 185°F). A hotter temperature will heat up the oils in your coffee grounds more, which extracts more acidity than necessary. A lower temperature might take longer, but it will be less acidic while having all the flavor you’re used to. 

That being said, it’s best to drink your coffee within the hour that you make it. Don’t leave coffee in a thermos or some other warm area for too long. 

Prolonged exposure to any type of heat will eventually extract more oils and acids from your coffee beans. Depending on the warmth of your thermos, this will also produce quinic acid, which is bad for your stomach.

7. USE A PAPER FILTER

While metal filters are a much more eco-friendly and long-term solution, they just aren’t as effective as paper filters.

Metal filters are only made to filter out the grains from your coffee. On the other hand, paper filters will clear grains but also catch oils in the filter itself, thereby reducing the acidity in your coffee. However, don’t expect this to make a big difference in the acidity levels of your brew. It will help lower the acidity of your coffee, but it won’t bring it to a neutral pH level.

8. ADD A PINCH OF SALT

Salt is a great way to reduce the acidity in your coffee while also increasing your hydration. 

Although salt and coffee isn’t really a popular choice, if you can handle the flavor, then you’ve got a cheap and simple way to reduce the acidity in your coffee. Additionally, salt is also a great way to add sodium to your beverages and keep you hydrated, which is something coffee drinkers need more of. 

If you’re the type of person to drink more coffee than water, then sprinkle some salt over your cup of Joe and give it a shot. 

9. USE ALKALINE WATER

Alkaline water feels like the most significant shortcut when it comes to reducing the acidity of your coffee. Alkaline water and acidic beans equal a neutral pH coffee.

While the science checks out, the flavor might not. Alkaline water tastes differently from ordinary water, so don’t expect your coffee to taste the same. However, suppose you can handle the change and flavor. In that case, alkaline water is definitely the easiest way to make your coffee less acidic.

Alkaline water typically has a pH level of 8 to 9, while normal drinking water is neutral at pH 7. 

10. BUY LOW-ACID COFFEE BEANS

Coffee is a huge market, and the demographic that’s looking for low-acid coffee have choices. There are many options in the market for low-acid coffee that is naturally grown or uses a specific type of coffee bean.

In fact, the market is so huge for these types of beans that you could even buy them at the same price as regular beans. You can either purchase low-acid coffee beans that you usually brew or purchase regular beans that come with instructions on how to brew them for lower acidity. 

11. SWITCH TO DECAF COFFEE

The final tip: drink decaf coffee. If none of our previous tips help reduce your acid reflux, consider switching to decaf coffee. Surprisingly, your acid reflux may not be caused by the acid in coffee but may be triggered by caffeine! Caffeine is known to trigger acid reflux in some people because it can affect the lower esophagus.