The Best Ways to Make Coffee More Alkaline & Less Acidic
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Last Updated on June 7, 2023
When you are on an low-acid diet, you might wonder if you can continue to drink coffee. Perhaps the acidity of coffee just upsets your stomach a bit? Well, the good news is there are ways you can make your coffee less acidic. Here’s how to make coffee more alkaline and even some of our favorite low-acid coffees.
Is Coffee Acidic?
Coffee is naturally acidic, although how acidic depends upon the type of bean you’re using and the brewing method. Dark roasted coffee beans tend to be less acid than light roasted beans.
Also, faster brewing methods give the coffee less contact with the acid, making the coffee less acidic.
Let’s look at the ways you can enjoy a cup of less-acidic coffee alongside your paleo pancakes or delicious grain free bread for a nice morning cup of joe.
If you are trying to eat a more alkaline diet, don’t miss our free acid and alkaline food chart printable. If you enjoy drinking tea, there are many types of tea that are alkaline, and several herbal teas are anti-inflammatory.
How to Make Coffee Alkaline
With all the popular coffee drinks available, you might be wondering if your acid problems will keep you from enjoying your morning brew.
However, there are many ways to reduce the acidity of your coffee and make it more alkaline. You can reduce the coffee acidity by changing the type of coffee bean, brewing method, or adding a neutralizer to your coffee.
Use a Low Acid Coffee
Low-acid coffee beans are beans that are grown and produced in a way that will reduce the acidity in the coffee. These coffee beans are a good option when you wish to eat an alkaline diet.
We take a look at some of the best low-acid coffee in this post, so keep reading!
Cold Brewing
One of the best methods to reduce the acidity level of your coffee is to drink cold-brewed coffee. Cold water brew your coffee the night before by pouring cold water over the beans and allowing it to soak overnight in a cold brew coffee maker.
Cold water doesn’t have the heat required to remove the acid in the oils, so the final product is a coffee with a low level of acidity.
You can enjoy the cold-brew coffee iced or heat it a bit (the right way) by warming your cup and then adding the cold brew coffee, followed by very hot water to heat it without changing the acidity. Or, you can steam your milk, cashew milk, or other milk of choice and then add it to the coffee to warm it up.
You want to avoid using a microwave or other heating methods that could cause the coffee to increase in acidity. Learn more about what happens when you heat cold brewed coffee.
Siphon Coffee
Siphon coffee results in bold coffee flavors with a clean and delicate taste and lower acid levels than drip-brew coffee.
When you make siphon coffee you use a vaccuum pot and lower water temperatures (that you can normally adjust for the perfect heat), resulting in a less acidic coffee that tastes amazing. Siphon coffee has a superior taste than drip-brewed coffee. Plus, it looks really cool, like you’re a coffee scientist or something!
User Paper Filters
Paper filters will give you a less acidic coffee to enjoy in the morning. The coffee filter will trap the oils and acid before they drip into your coffee. The result is a lower acidity level.
Brewing Time
Once you’ve found the perfect beans, you need to get the brew right. Acidity is typical symptom of under-extracted coffee, which happens when your grind size is too coarse or your brew time is too short.
Brewing Temperatures
If you want a great-tasting cup of coffee with a low acidity content, the ideal temperature range for brewing is between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
Select a Dark Roast
Dark roast coffee beans require higher heat and longer roasting time than lighter roasts in the roasting process. The result is that the acid in the beans is broken down. So one easy way to have less acidity in your coffee is to use a dark roast coffee bean for a less acidic drink.
Select Arabica Coffee Beans
Arabica beans come from the Arabica coffee plant. It has the least amount of acid of all the coffee plants, so choosing a high-quality arabica coffee bean will result in lower acid levels in your drinks.
Add Eggshells
Coffee drinkers may shudder at the thought of adding egg shells to their coffee, but it will reduce the acidity level. Egg shells are alkaline which will neutralize the acid in your coffee and reduce the bitter taste.
Note: avoid adding eggshells if you’re making espresso as it will ruin your drink.
Add Baking Soda
Baking soda is also alkaline, so you can add a pinch to give your coffee a higher pH level, which means it’s less acidic.
Use a Fine Grind Coffee Bean
The grind size will affect the acidity of your coffee. A finer grind reduces the acid because it allows for better extraction, while a coarsely ground bean will make for a more acidic cup of coffee.
Brew Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is prepared with a device called a cezve and is likened to a delicious and smooth espresso, but with less acidity. To brew Turkish coffee, you start with finely ground coffee beans and then you use a cezve and slowly pour boiling water over the grounds.
Use Filtered or Alkaline Water
The water you use for your coffee brew will affect the acidity. By starting with filtered or alkaline water, you will reduce the amount of acid in your black coffee.
Use Almond Milk as a Creamer
Almonds are naturally alkaline. So using almond milk as a creamer will reduce the amount of acid in your cup of coffee. Some other plant-based milk options will also help to make coffee more alkaline, such as oat milk.
Use an Acid Reducer
Acid reducers are products you can purchase and add to your coffee that will make it less acidic. You’ll want to make sure the reducer you choose uses natural ingredients so the coffee’s flavor isn’t changed.
Use Coffee Tamer
Add a packet of coffee tamer to your coffee, and it will reduce the acidity level. The packets have a mineral content of calcium, potassium, and magnesium, naturally reducing acidity levels.
Don’t Leave Coffee in an Insulated Thermos
Constant exposure to heat or even reheating your coffee will produce Quinic acid. This includes leaving your coffee in an insulated Thermos because the coffee will remain hot, which means it will increase the amount of acid in the drink.
Add a Splash of Alkaline Water Before Drinking
Items that are alkaline help to neutralize the acid in your coffee. So if you have a cup of coffee with too much acidity, add a splash of alkaline water.
Add Alkalizing Drops
Alkalizing drops are drops you can add to your water or your coffee to make them less acidic. Just add a few drops and let the drops diffuse into the liquid.
Acidity of Espresso
Because of the shorter brewing process to make espresso, it’s less acidic. The longer coffee beans brew, the more acid makes its way into your cup of joe. So, believe it or not, espresso is less acidic than regular coffee.
Testing the Acidity of Coffee
Acidity in coffee can be tested by using a pH scale. If the reading on the pH scale falls below 7, it is considered acidic. Because the pH of water is 7, anything below the scale is acidic. Anything above 7 is alkaline. You can use some pH strips to test levels of acidity in foods.
Ways to Make Coffee Alkaline
Another way to make coffee alkaline, or rather more alkaline, is to start with a low-acid coffee. Thankfully there are many great-tasting low-acid coffee beans and grounds that you can use at the start. Then, when you add in some of the tips above, it can lower the acidity even more.
Some people understand the health benefits of mushroom coffee and will add a blend to their morning brew because of the alkalizing effect of medicinal mushrooms.
Low-Acid Coffee
The good news is that you can easily find many different types of low-acid coffee beans. A coffee lover with a sensitive stomach can still enjoy their beverage of choice without suffering from acid reflex.
Lucy Jo’s Coffee, Organic Mellow Belly Breakfast Low Acid Blend
Lucy Jo’s Coffee has a tasty low-acid blend. It’s is the coffee that I drink (but only on occassion). The medium roast beans come from Indonesia and South America. It’s an excellent coffee to start your day.
Purity Coffee Dark Roast Whole Bean Coffee
If you’re looking for a coffee with a balanced, full-body flavor, then check out Purity Coffee’s Dark Roast. It even includes some prebiotic benefits to help support your gut health.
Trücup Born to Be Mild
Trücup Born to Be Mild coffee has a low acidity of 5.74. It’s a mild and sweet light roast with just enough body for balance.
VitaCup Perfect Low Acid Coffee Beans
The VitaCup Perfect Low-Acid Coffee is made with dark roast Arabica beans. It’s compatible with all types of brewers, including a French press, drip coffee, and cold brew.
Puroast Coffee Colombian Medium Roast
If you love French roast coffee, then try this Columbian medium roast. The coffee’s flavor is bold, strong, and full-bodied but without any aftertaste.
Cafe Don Pedro French Roast Low Acid Coffee
Be sure to pick up some of this divine French roast low-acid coffee made from Arabica beans. The low acidity means you’ll be able to enjoy a velvety coffee without worrying about gastrointestinal issues.
Stone Street Cold Brew Coffee, Strong & Smooth Blend, Low Acid
This gourmet coarse-ground coffee was developed specifically for cold-brewed coffee, which is naturally less acidic. You’ll enjoy a sweet iced coffee that’s brewed at a lower temperature to ensure a lower acidity level. This coffee will get your mornings started right.
Golden Ratio Original Gold Coffee
Enjoy a cup of Golden Ration coffee with a low acidity level. It has almost no quinic acid to upset a sensitive stomach. All you need to do is steep the bag of coffee grounds in hot water and enjoy a delightful cup of coffee.
Java Planet, Organic Coffee Beans, Colombian Single Origin, Low Acid
Enjoy a coffee made from organic Arabica coffee beans. Java Planet beans are roasted in small batches and labeled with the roasting date so you can be sure that your coffee is fresh.
Lifeboost Coffee Embolden Dark Roast
Lifeboost Coffee’s single-origin coffee beans have a deep flavor that gives you the perfect balance of dryness and sweetness with every cup. These beans are a delicious way to start your day.
Califia Farms Concentrated Cold Brew Coffee
If you want to avoid the hassle of brew time and learning how to brew a delightful cup of coffee, then you’ll want to pick up a bottle of concentrated cold brew coffee. You can enjoy them straight or blend them with creamers to make the perfect cup of coffee.
Califa Farms is sold in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store or online at Amazon via Whole Foods delivery.
Volcanica Low Acid Coffee
Volcanica has formulated low-acid coffee beans for you to use to make your perfect cup of coffee. These coffees have an acidity level of 5.2 to 5.6.
Mommee Coffee
Are you looking for a coffee that’s low in the chlorogenic acid that causes heartburn and acid reflex? Mommee Coffee’s smooth and creamy beverages are easy to drink, even if you’re a new or expecting mommy.
FAQ About the Acidity of Coffee
Do you still have some questions about the acidity of coffee? If so, browse through these frequently asked questions to find the answer.
Is Coffee Acidic or Alkaline?
Coffee is naturally acidic, although there are many easy ways to reduce acidity levels.
Is Cold Brew Coffee Less Acidic?
Cold brew coffee is less acidic than other types of brewed coffee. Cold brew doesn’t need high temperatures to brew the coffee, which means the oils in coffee don’t release any acid.
Does Cream Make Coffee Less Acidic?
Yes, cream makes coffee less acidic.
Does Cinnamon Reduce Acid in Coffee?
Cinnamon is a natural antacid. So if you want to reduce the acid in your coffee, just add a pinch of cinnamon to your cup.
Does Salt Reduce Acidity in Coffee?
Salt is alkaline with a ph of 9. Adding a pinch of salt will reduce the acid without affecting the taste of your coffee.
Does Butter Help Reduce Acidity in Coffee?
The calcium in butter reacts with the acid in hot coffee, reducing acidity.
What Are the Benefits of Making Coffee Less Acidic?
There are several health benefits of making coffee less acidic. The benefits include reducing acid reflux, digestive issues, and stomach issues. It’s also safer for your teeth.
Is Light Roast Coffee Less Acidic?
Darker roasts are less acidic than light roast coffee. The higher roasting temperatures and longer times reduce the amount of acid in the beans.
In Conclusion
The acidity of coffee varies based on a number of factors, including the roast of the bean, brewing temperatures, and brewing methods. When you love coffee but it upsets your stomach, it’s good to know that there are some coffee brands that contain a lower amount of acid. In addition, there are many ways that we discussed on how you can make coffee alkaline (or more alkaline, rather).
