How To Make Low Acid Coffee [A Complete Guide]

If you have a sensitive stomach, knowing how to make low acid coffee will help you a lot as a coffee lover and is much better than buying coffee that has a number of unknown additives to reduce the acidity.

This article gives you a guide in what to look for to find the beans that are naturally low in acid and how to brew a cup of coffee with some techniques that reduce the acidity and what you can add to your brew to make it less acidic.

Keep reading for the details!

How To Make Low Acid Coffee

Of course the easy way of reducing acid in coffee is to buy low acid coffee beans and brewing a cup of coffee but rarely do these coffees taste great and are never available for premium quality specialty grade coffee or single origin.

So, what is a coffee lover to do to enjoy low acid coffee?

Below you’ll find some top tips that you can easily use to ensure that the coffee you enjoy is low acid.

Read: Is coffee acidic or alkaline?

Choose Your Beans Wisely

Coffea Canephora, better know as Robusta coffee is higher in acid then Coffea Arabica, Arabica coffee, which means that Arabica beans have a lower acidity even though they have slightly more organic acids than Robusta beans.

The benefits of the organic acids are that they contribute to a fruity and bright flavor.

The Arabica beans can be broken down into hundreds of different varieties. Many of the varieties of arabica coffee beans are specially bred for their taste. A low acid type is Arabica Bourbon which has a chocolatey and buttery taste and is grown in Brazil and across Latin America.

A further benefit of Arabica coffee beans is their significantly lower caffeine content. While decaffeinated coffee or low caffeine coffee does not reduce the acid content of coffee, it, caffeine, causes your stomach to produce more stomach acids.

The first step in reducing the acidity of coffee is selecting a coffee variety that is Arabica and preferably lower in caffeine.

The Roast

The roast of the coffee that you choose plays a significant factor in the pH of your brew. If you enjoy a light roast, blonde roast or a medium roast I have bad news for you – these lead to a more acidic coffee.

Darker roasts and in particular dark roasted coffee are less acidic as, fortunately or not, there are less acids including the chlorogenic acid are roasted out during the roasting process.

I say fortunately or not as many of the acids in coffee, including chlorogenic acid, are powerful antioxidants the are good for your cellular health.

We have deduced so far that arabic beans, low caffeine content and a dark roast will lower lead to a less acidic coffee.

There is more for you to pay attention to and be conscious of.

Read: pH of coffee with cream

Pay Attention To The Altitude And The Soil

Coffee that is grown at low altitudes is less acidic and avoid volcanic soil as, unfortunately, volcanic soil contributes to the acidity of the coffee.

If you are not sure if your coffee is a high or low altitude grown or if it is a volcanic coffee, ask the coffee provider. They will be happy to show off their coffee knowledge and help you out.

Of course, if you have your phone with you, you can simply look it up.

Low altitude coffee that is not grown in volcanic soil and is a dark-roasted coffee, and you are well on the way to finding and making a low acid coffee without doing anything special.

Make A Cold Brew Coffee With Dark Roast Coffee

The type of coffee beverage that you make and the brewing process and method that you use affects how much, or how few, acidic compounds are extracted.

The cold-brewing method extracts fewer of the acidic compounds, and is a great tasting beverage that is a well-balanced and well-rounded cup of coffee. This is one of the brewing methods that requires a lot of patience as you need to prepare your coffee in advance.

The brewing time is typically 16 to 24 hours. It is a good idea to make a large batch for this very reason.

Simply grind your coffee grounds to a large grind size, as large as you possibly can. Using a coffee to water ratio of 1:8, weigh 8 ounces (240 grams) of coarse coffee grinds with ceramic conical burr grinder.

Add your coffee grinds to an airtight glass container and add 64 ounces (1.92 liters) of ice-cold water and store your coffee and water mix in your fridge while it is extracting.

It is best that you brew your coffee while it is in your fridge to ensure that it extracts all the low temperature compounds. Since you are not using any hot water, you will not extract as much of the acidic compounds and end up with up to 70% less acid when compared to hot brewing methods.

Be sure to check your coffee after 16 hours for flavor and then every 2 or 3 hours after that. When the taste hits the spot for you, filter out the coffee grounds using a metal coffee filter.

Your cold brew will stay fresh for 5 to 7 days.

Does Creamer Make Coffee Less Acidic?

Yes, adding creamer or milk to your coffee will help to reduce the acidity. Regular black coffee has a pH level of 55, while milk and creamer has a pH of 6, which while still acidic still has an effect of lowering the acidity.

That simple act of adding milk or creamer to your coffee will make your coffee less acidic.

Since it is the calcium that has the neutralizing effect, any dairy product with a good calcium content will help to achieve the goal of reducing the acids in coffee. Alternative milks like almond milk, oat milk and soy milk will have just as good an effect.

If acid reflux is a problem, simply add milk.

Read: How to make coffee less acidic with baking soda

How To Make Coffee Less Acidic With Egg shells Step By Step

Adding eggshells to your coffee may seem like a strange thing to but it is used to great effect to brew cowboy coffee, a particular coffee brewing method.

Step 1: Add Your Water

Add your water, coffee to a saucepan and bring your water to boil. Add 5 tablespoons of medium-ground coffee to 5 cups (1.2 liters) of cold water. Add 2.5 egg shells. Heat at a medium-high temperature.

Step 2: Let It Simmer

Let your hot water simmer for several minutes. Once your eggshells and coffee mixture has reached boiling point, dial back to a medium low heat and let your eggshells and coffee mixture simmer for 5 to 6 minutes.

Step 3: Let It Settle

Once your coffee mix has simmered for 5-6 minutes, remove your saucepan from the heat and until your coffee grounds settle. This should take about 2 minutes.

Step 4: Strain It!

Now your coffee is ready you can now strain your coffee grounds using a fine mesh sieve. Strain the coffee and the eggshells out. Transfer into a cup and enjoy.

This method reduces your acidic coffee to one that is less acidic thanks to the calcium content of the eggshells. You can experiment with more or less eggshells.

How To Make Coffee Less Acidic With Baking Soda

Baking soda, sodium bicarbonate is alkaline and will help to neutralize anything that is acidic. I drink water and baking soda every morning!

Add as little as quarter of a teaspoon to half a teaspoon of baking soda to a whole pot of coffee to smooth out the acidity of coffee.

In a single coffee cup it has not notable flavor or alteration of the flavor of your coffee and if you have a sensitive stomach it may just make your cup of coffee easier to drink.

Make Your Coffee Less Acidic By Adding Cinnamon

Cinnamon has the effect of reducing the acidity of your coffee and has other benefits too. Cinnamon is an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties as well as being a natural antacid.

Adding a sprinkle to your coffee while brewing will not affect the aroma or flavor of your cup of coffee and will give you great health benefits.

A little dash while brewing your dark roasted cold brew will go a long way to a great tasting low acid coffee.

Use A Paper Coffee Filter

The very simple act of using a paper filter will result in a clean and crisp tasting brew that has a reduced acidity as the paper filter will trap some of the coffee oils that contain the acidic compounds and result in a cup of coffee that is not as acidic.

Brewing your coffee through drip or other brewing methods like pour over will result in a coffee that achieves your goal of lowering the acidity. You can also filter your eggshell coffee and cold brew coffee using a paper filter for greater reduction. It is a simple method that does help.

Add Salt

This may sound straight out weird or like a joke, but salt in coffee is something that is very popular in Vietnam and has the effect of reducing the bitterness. It also reduces the acidity.

Add a dash, a small tiny dash to your brewed cup of coffee and stir well. Don’t over do it.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Make Low Acid Coffee

What Blend Of Coffee Is Least Acidic?

If you are looking for a coffee that is not so acidic, cast your eyes towards dark roasts as they are less acidic due to many of the acidic compounds like chlorogenic acid being roasted out.

Espresso blends are a good option too as they are normally on the higher end of a dark roast and at least are a French roast.

You can consider and look for coffee blends that use chicory or mushrooms as this reduces the acidity. You can also seek out low acid brands and coffee beans. Instead of regular coffee, make a cold brew coffee.

How Do You Make A Cup Of Coffee Less Acidic?

Seek out dark roast coffee beans rather than medium roast or light roasts and make a cold brew and add a dash of cinnamon. Brew your coffee with ice-cold water and store your coffee in the fridge while it is extracting. These are some basic methods and tips that will reduce the acidity of your cup of coffee.

Does Adding Salt To Coffee Reduce Acidity?

Yes, salt can have the effect of reducing the acid in coffee. Just a dash of salt is needed. It seems like an odd idea or even a joke, seriously a tiny dash of salt is good in coffee as it tones down the bitter notes too and gives your coffee a more rounded flavor and due to the ability of it to reduce acid in coffee it may help with acid reflux.

What Coffee Doesn’t Give You Acid Reflux?

Cold brew coffee is a coffee beverage that is less acidic but has a good caffeine kick. It may be ideal if you are suffering from heartburn or GERD.

Does Cinnamon Reduce Acid In Coffee?

Yes, cinnamon has the effect of helping to reduce the acid in coffee. Adding regular milk or almond milk can have a greater effect. Adding a dash of salt and baking soda can help to reduce the pH level and acidity in coffee.

Opting for a dark roast coffee can help too.

Does Coconut Oil Make Coffee Less Acidic?

No, coconut oil is slightly acidic and thus if you add it to anything, including coffee it will have the effect of increasing the acidity level. The increased amount of saturated fats may increase acid reflux symptoms.

Final Thoughts – How To Make Low Acid Coffee

Learning how to make low acid coffee and using many different techniques will help you to enjoy great coffee that is a naturally low acid coffee which is better and more enjoyable in my opinion. 

Join our fun, active and informative coffee community on Facebook/Meta and take part by sharing your own low acid coffee creations, and if you know other methods and techniques that we can add to this list, get in contact and tell us all! 

Derek Marshall

Derek Marshall, a certified barista by the Specialty Coffee Association possesses over two decades of experience in specialty coffee shops. He holds professional certifications for coffee brewing and barista skills. Derek is also an author with authoritative books covering various coffee topics including specialty coffee, sustainability and coffee, coffee brewing, coffee recipes, coffee cocktails and books focusing on Brazilian coffee, Vietnamese coffee, Indonesian coffee and Malaysian coffee. As a barista for over two decades, Derek Marshall has worked in specialty coffee shops across the United Kingdom, Spain, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His expertise extends to the distinct coffee cultures, specialty beverages, and brewing techniques of each nation. Functioning as a coffee consultant, Derek charges US$50 per hour. To learn more about Derek Marshall and Latte Love Brew, visit his About Me Page. For coffee inquiries, contact him at +34-639-410-375 or Derek@LatteLoveBrew.com, mentioning your name and location