How to make low acid coffee? If you find yourself experiencing discomfort or acid reflux after drinking coffee, perhaps required to consider a change. Low-acid coffee can offer a solution that won’t compromise the coffee drinkers’ health. You can enjoy your coffee without any unpleasant side effects with a balanced pH level and a mild flavor.
This post offers straightforward advice on how to brew low-acid coffee. Take control of your routine by choosing low-acid coffee today and stop letting unwanted symptoms affect your coffee experience.
The meaning of low-acid coffee
Low-acid coffee with its pH level is the ideal alternative for individuals who want to enjoy a rich, flavorful cup of coffee without worrying about acidity.
The roasting technology or the special conditions under which the beans are reared ensure that they are less acidic, resulting in a coffee with a milder flavor.
Why go through acid reflux when you can enjoy a delicious, low-acid coffee? We strongly urge a trial so you can experience the difference for yourself. It’s a persuasive solution that caters to both your taste buds and your health.
7 ways to make low-acid coffee
To make coffee acidic, you need to apply the right ingredients and techniques. Using premium Arabica beans, water that contains alkali minerals at the right temperature, and the right roasting technique will bring out the intense aroma of your coffee
Moreover, by experimenting with new techniques like cold brew coffee or the addition of natural sugar substitutes, you can take your coffee to the next level.
In the following section, I will explore the most effective methods to reduce coffee acidity, so you can enjoy every sip of your coffee with a smile on your face.
Give preference to low-acid coffee beans
To lower the acidity of coffee, it is advisable to choose premium dark-roasted beans. It is important to favor coffee that is roasted in small quantities, to ensure optimal freshness.
Low-acid coffee beans, which boast a neutral pH level, are suitable for those with sensitive stomachs. These beans undergo a unique processing technique that significantly reduces acidity while preserving flavor. Slow roasting is the primary method used to achieve this effect.
Coffee grown at high altitudes tends to give more than a sour taste. As such, it is prudent to opt for low-altitude beans to obtain a flawless cup of coffee with low acidity levels.
Prefer dark roast coffee beans
Dark-roasted beans are a great choice for coffee lovers who prefer a bold, full-bodied flavor with low acidity. These beans are known for their deep and oily texture, achieved by roasting them at high temperatures.
The roasting is critical in defining the level of acidity in coffee. Dark roast coffee has the lowest acidity as the heat and time required to roast the beans get rid of various compounds that cause coffee to become more acidic, such as organic acids.
This means that coffee brewed with darker roasts will be less acidic than coffee brewed with lighter roasts.
Dark roasted beans reduce excess moisture and become less dense during the roasting process, resulting in lower caffeine content. This also leads to fewer flavor notes and lower levels of chlorogenic acids.
Make a cold-brew coffee
Most people drink hot coffee and prepare such coffee by adding hot water. But if you compare hot coffee made by hot brewing and cold brew coffee, it is better to prefer the second one.
The cold brew method is one of the easiest (and most effective) ways to minimize the acidity of coffee. Cold brewing produces a fuller cup of less acidic coffee grounds, making it ideal for hot weather. However, it requires patience, as cold brew coffee is made by soaking coarse coffee grounds in cold water for a long period, usually 12-24 hours.
The first step to making the perfect iced coffee is to grind the coffee beans. This is an important step because the coffee flavor and strength depend on it.
- Pour cold water over the coffee grounds.
- Let the mixture infuse in the refrigerator, and after at least 12 hours strain the coffee through a strainer to remove the coffee and excess oils.
Low-temperature compounds are extracted during the cold brewing process, resulting in a less acidic cup of coffee.
As a result, cold brew coffee contains 65% less acid than a drink made with hot water.
Select fine grind
For coffee lovers, there is a simple yet effective solution: grind your beans finely. By choosing a finely ground coffee, you can enjoy a perfectly balanced coffee with a rich flavor and aroma and a lower acidity level.
On the other hand, coarsely ground coffee results in a slower brewing, leading to a more acidic coffee.
The secret to a perfect coffee lies in the extraction of its flavor and aroma into the water, and finer grinding is the most effective way to achieve this. So, whether you’re a coffee enthusiast or a casual drinker, using a fine grind is highly recommended to elevate your coffee experience to the next level.
Use eggshells
If you have sour-tasting coffee, use eggshells to neutralize it. First, wash an eggshell, dry it, and grind it into a powder. Mix the powder with your coffee to reduce its acidity. Adding eggshells to your coffee helps balance its acidity and make it taste better.
Add soda or salt to the coffee
Baking soda is a base, neutralizing excess acid produced in the stomach and treating indigestion due to overeating.
It is therefore simpler to add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or a small pinch of table salt (sodium chloride) to your coffee. It makes no difference when you do it – during preparation or in the finished drink: both salt and soda instantly dissolve and neutralize acids.
Incidentally, the combination of coffee and salt is considered exquisite, and soda increases the contrast of the drink, making its color darker and more intense.
Use paper filter
To enjoy a perfectly balanced coffee with no acidity, a paper filter is a must-have. The filter helps retain coffee oils that contain acids released during the extraction process, resulting in a rich, smooth flavor.
When using brewing methods, a paper filter is essential to capture all the oils during the extraction process, ensuring maximum flavor extraction. When brewing coffee, use a paper filter.
This retains oils and reduces acidity, leading to a more delicious aroma.
By following these tips, you can elevate the taste of your coffee and enjoy a perfectly balanced, rich, and low-acidic cup of coffee. We hope these suggestions help you savor the superb coffee experience.
What affects the acidity of coffee?
It is imperative to differentiate between the inherent acidity of coffee beans and the perceived acidity of the brewed cup when considering the acidity level of coffee. Coffee acidity levels can be affected by several critical factors that must be considered to accurately assess coffee acidity.
- Coffee bean type
- It is a well-known fact that certain coffee bean types are more acidic than others. However, it is worth noting that Arabica varieties, in general, have a lower perceived acidity owing to their lower chlorogenic acid content.
- Origin
- Coffee grown at high altitudes, particularly on volcanic soil, have higher acidity levels. It’s a fact that Kenyan, Ethiopian, and Colombian coffee beans are identified by their pronounced acidity.
- Climate and elevation
- Cooler temperatures result in slowly matured coffee, which develops a more complex flavor profile. It is more aromatic and acidic when brewed compared to coffee grown in warmer climates.
- Processing
- The way coffee beans are processed can affect their acidity. Wet processing or washing usually maintains the acidity of the beans, while dry or natural processing can reduce it.
- Degree of roast
- The roasting process influences the acidity of beans. Coffee can be roasted in three ways: light, medium, and dark, each producing coffee with varying levels of acidity. Light roasts often emphasize the natural acidity of the grains, while dark roasts can mute it.
Final verdict
Do you love coffee but suffer from acid reflux? While acidic coffee can be amazing and energizing, it can also cause health problems. However, there is a solution that you may find helpful. Make low-acid coffee and enjoy the amazing benefits of coffee without any health risks.
Low-acid coffee has a milder flavor and is less likely to cause health issues. By making this simple switch, you can still enjoy the strong and sharp flavor of coffee without experiencing any discomfort.
Topics & Questions
Review the topics and questions below for methods to brew coffee with low acidity.
What coffee method is least acidic?
When it comes to producing coffee that’s less acidic, the cold brewing method is the champion. Cold brew coffee has all the same health benefits as hot brewed coffee but is gentler on the stomach and esophagus. Cold brewing produces a less acidic coffee. However, it requires patience, as you have to wait 12-24 hours until the coffee brews.
The cold brewing process extracts low-temperature compounds, resulting in a coffee with less acidic. As a result, cold brew contains 65% less acid than hot water coffee.
How do you reduce the acidity in coffee?
To reduce coffee acidity, use high-quality beans from lower altitudes, medium or dark roast ground coffee, and water with alkali minerals heated to a temperature range of 195-205°C. Cold-brewed coffee is also an excellent option. Adding acid reducers decreases the acidity of your brewed coffee without affecting its taste.
How do you order less acidic coffee?
If coffee makes you uncomfortable, you want to address the problem rather than giving it up altogether. For an easy solution when ordering, ask to prepare coffee with milk and sweeteners or get dark roast or cold brew coffee.
Does putting baking soda in coffee make it less acidic?
The natural acidity of coffee can be neutralized with baking soda. The addition of 1/4 teaspoon per pot of coffee can reduce the harsh flavor of cheap coffee and be an aid to digestion.
Hello, coffee enthusiasts! I’m Nancy Gregory, a seasoned coffee sommelier eager to share the exquisite world of coffee with you. I love coffee with every fiber of my soul and I know a lot of interesting information about beans and coffee brewing methods that I want to share with you.