If you’re not a morning person, and even if you are, there are few things better than a freshly brewed cup of coffee. But for anyone who may have any digestive sensitivity, that cup of joe can wreak havoc on your stomach. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you have to give up that beloved daily iced coffee altogether—instead, an option that may be easier on sensitive stomachs is low-acid coffee.
In This Article
So, why is coffee irritating to your stomach? “Coffee contains several different acidic chemical, including malic acid, citric acid, and acetic acid,” says Maddie Pasquariello, a registered dietitian and founder of East Coast Health and Nutrition with Maddie. When you brew coffee, these acids are released from the coffee beans, resulting in an acidic pH of around 5 in a brewed cup of coffee (for reference, water is neutral and has a pH of 7). This elevates levels of gastric acid in the stomach and can cause an upset stomach.
- Abigail Hueber, RD, LDN, integrative functional dietitian
- Maddie Pasquariello, MS, RDN, Brooklyn–based registered dietitian
Your stomach is also an acidic environment to help break down food, adds Abigail Hueber, an integrative functional dietitian. However, if you have a GI system that is prone to digestive issues like heartburn of GI upset, drinking coffee can trigger the root cause and cause symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, and cramping. In addition, caffeine is a stimulant, which in addition to causing jitters, can increase the amount of acid in your stomach .
Why low-acid coffee may be better for sensitive stomachs
Because increased acids can lead to unwanted discomfort, one solution is to drink low-acid coffee (or some of the best decaf coffees we love). These coffees have a lower pH, so they won’t increase the acidity in your stomach as much, and may be less likely to cause indigestion and heartburn. Otherwise, you can always try the good ol’ baking soda in coffee trick.
What to look for in a low-acid coffee
Dark roast
It may be counterintuitive, but dark roasted coffee is less acidic than light roasted coffee. Darker roast beans are roasted for longer and at higher temperatures, and because of this, they often have fewer acid producing compounds that trigger your stomach to secrete more acid, says Hueber. Pasquariello says you can also brew espresso beans other than coffee beans —because espresso is brewed for less time, less acid is released from the beans.
Cold brew
For those who prefer their coffee over ice, there’s some good news: Cold brew is often less acidic than hot-brewed coffee. The process of steeping cold brew for a long period time in cold water reduces the number of acids produced (and creates a less bitter taste).
Other possible ways to reduce coffee acidity, says Pasquariello, include diluting your coffee slightly with water, or adding a tiny pinch of baking soda, which has a high pH and can increase the pH of your coffee. (Just don’t add too much, or you’ll taste it, she adds).
If you and your stomach are ready to continue drinking your daily coffee, here are nine dietitian-approved, low-acid coffees to check out.
Best low-acid dark roast coffee
Lifeboost’s single-origin coffee beans are organic and ethically-sourced, and they’re low-acid to be easier on your stomach—a win-win. The beans are sourced from small farmers, roasted in small batches, and tested for mold, bacteria, and a number of different toxins.
What reviewers are saying: “I rarely drink coffee, mainly because the acid of all coffee—decaf or not— upsets my stomach, and I hate the bitter taste. And since I don’t add milk or sugar or flavors of any kind, I know it’s the coffee itself that bothers me. Lifeboost is the first I’ve ever tried that’s genuinely without any trace of acidity or bitterness.”