pH Of Coffee – What Is The pH of Coffee?

The pH of coffee is something that is very important to coffee drinkers that suffer from acid reflux, GERD and heartburn.

If you are in a rush, here is the quick answer, the pH of coffee ranges from 4.85 to 5.10 on the pH scale, making it lightly acidic.

Keep reading for the more detailed answer and what you can do to reduce the acidity of your coffee.

What Is The pH Of Coffee?

The pH scale measures the acidity, measuring the potential of hydrogen. It’s a scale that is used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. The lower the number on a 0 to 14 scale the more acidic the solution is. 7 on the pH scale is considered as neutral; above 7 the solution is considered to be alkaline.

Coffee is moderately acidic and falls on the pH scale of 4.85 to 5.10. The variation is due to the different type of coffee roast, the different coffee drinks and brewing methods used to make them.

Dark roasted coffee beans, particularly an Italian roast, have a reduced acidity which is due to the higher roasting temperature evaporating the chlorogenic acid, malic acid and citric acid from the beans which in turn reduces the acidity.

Some coffee beans are specifically made to be low acid or pH neutral. Mexican and Sumatran coffees are naturally low acid, making them more suitable for you if you have a sensitive stomach, GERD, Heartburn or acid reflux.

Read: Is cold brew better for acid reflux?

Is Coffee Acidic Or Basic?

The acidity levels of coffee are in the 4.85 pH range to 5.10, which makes coffee acidic and not basic.

The acidity of coffee puts it in the lightly acid levels. For most people the acidity in coffee is not a problem at all. For an unfortunate few, this can cause some health issues with GERD, acid reflux and heartburn being common complaints.

Why Is Coffee Acidic?

Coffee is acidic due to not only the caffeine, which is one of 10 acidic compounds found in coffee.

The 10 acids in coffee are:

• Acetic acid.
• Caffeine.
• Chlorogenic aic.
• Citric Acid.
• Lactic acid.
• Linoleic acid.
• Malic acid.
• Palmitic acid.
• Phosphoric acid.
• Quinic acid.

It’s a combination of these 10 compounds that produce the acidity. Not all are bad as many of these are known for having great health benefits, particularly chlorogenic acid which is only found in coffee.

Chlorogenic acid is known for aiding weight loss, blood sugar management, cardio and cerebral health and is able to fight liver disease, Alzheimers and Parkinson’s disease.

The level of acidity in coffee can be reduced as the amount of chlorogenic acid and other acids evaporate during the roasting process. Which is what makes light roasts and medium roasts have a greater acidity than dark roast coffee beans.

The darker the roast, like a French roast and an Italian roast, the two darkest coffee roast levels, the two darkest roasted coffees you will find.

pH Of Coffee With Milk?

Milk has a pH level of 6.3 to 6.6 making it less acidic than coffee which is 4.85 to 5.10 on the pH scale which means that adding milk to your coffee reduces its acidity.

However, adding milk to your coffee may not help your stomach issues as milk may upset your stomach as for some people their body doesn’t digest it so easily. Natural or alternative milks like almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, oat milk and soy milk may be a better choice.

If you still want to enjoy coffee instead of a hot brew coffee which irritates your stomach and esophagus more, try a cold brew coffee, which has 60% less acidity due to the low temperature brewing.

Read: Low acid coffee brands

Does Black Coffee Cause Acidity?

Yes, it is black coffee, due to being classed as an acidic food due to the pH level falling in the 4.85 to 5.10 range. Black coffee like a shot of espresso is likely to fall closer to the 4.85 pH level.

Of course, not all black coffee is made the same. You can reduce the acidity by changing your coffee beans and using darker roasts and avoid lighter roasts. Try different types of black coffee like an Americano, a shot or two of espresso that is diluted with water.

Adding water to your espresso shot tones down the acidity.

Is Decaffeinated Coffee Acidic?

Yes, since caffeine is one of the acids in coffee, it is pretty obvious that removing it reduces the acidity.

Decaffeinated coffee scores around 5 on the pH scale, which means it is less acidic due to the decaffeination process when compared to regular coffee.

It is still acidic though as there are still 9 other acidic compounds in coffee beans.

Read: How to make coffee less acidic with baking soda

How To Reduce Acid In Coffee

There are many steps that you can take to reduce the acid in coffee. You will need to experiment to find what works for you. Some of the steps are as simple as being aware of the coffee roast level as darker roast coffee beans are naturally less acidic due to the roasting process.

Also, paying attention to the variety of coffee beans used as robusta coffee is more acidic than arabica coffee can help reduce the acidity levels too.

Mexican and Sumatran coffee naturally have a lower acidity than other coffees and thus a focus on 100% arabica beans from Mexico or Sumatra that are a very dark roast, French roast or preferably an Italian roast.

You can brew your coffee, as strange as it sounds, with eggshells, which add a little calcium to your coffee, which reduces the acidity without affecting the flavor.

Alternatively, or in conjunction with the eggshell method, you can add a tiny amount of bicarbonate of soda, which is completely safe to consume. Only 1/4 of a teaspoon is needed. Stir your 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda well until it is completely dissolved.

Be aware of different brewing methods and the effects they have on yoru body and their acidity.

Cold brew coffee is the brewing method that produces a coffee that is naturally lower in acidity than other brewing techniques with up to 60% less acidity.

As a coffee lover, I advise you buy some pH test strips, experiment and note the pH level of each different brewing technique has and take note of the effects on your stomach, acid reflux, heartburn and GERD.

For me, it makes perfect sense to make a cold brew coffee with an Italian roast from Mexico or Sumatra and crush eggshells and brew cold brew coffee with them and, if necessary, add a quarter 1/4 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to your cup of cold brew coffee and stir well.

Bicarbonate of soda does alter the flavor profile a little but not too much. Remember, cold coffee is less likely to aggravate your condition less than hot coffees.

Frequently Asked Questions About pH Of Coffee

Is Coffee Highly Acidic?

The acidity of coffee on the pH scale (Potential of Hydrogen) falls in the range of 4.85 to 5.10, which makes it acidic. Coffee that has an acidity of 5.0 has the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness.

Is Coffee Basic Or Acidic?

Coffee is acidic and not a base due to having an average acidity that falls in the 4.85 to 5.10 range on the pH scale. Due to being acidic it may not be ideal for you if you have certain health conditions like GERD, acid reflux. For most coffee drinkers, a cup of coffee with that has a pH of 5.0 should be okay.

Does Coffee Alkalize The Stomach?

No, since coffee is acidic by nature, it will not alkalize your stomach. Acidic foods and beverages don’t alkalize in your stomach and many cause acid reflux.

Is Decaf Coffee Acidic Or Alkaline?

Decaffeinated coffee, while less acidic than regular coffee, is still acidic. Decaffeinated coffee is not alkaline.

How a decaffeinated coffee scores on the pH scale depends on how it is decaffeinated and the process that it goes under, be CO2 processed, chemically processed with isopropanol and isopropyl or Swiss water processed.

What Coffee Drink Is The Least Acidic?

The cup of coffee with the lowest acidity is cold brew coffee. Cold brew coffee has up to 60% less acidity than other coffee drinks.

What Is The Least Acidic Form Of Coffee?

The coffee roast that is the least acidic is an Italian roast coffee. Dark roast coffees are the least acidic; an Italian roast is the darkest of all dark roast coffees.

Thus,

the least acidic form of coffee is a cold brew coffee brewed with Italian roast coffee beans.

What Can I Eat With Coffee To Reduce Acid?

To reduce the acidity of coffee, you can add milk or cream. Plant-based milks like almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, oat milk and soy milk reduce the acidity and intensity of your cup of coffee.

If your goal is to reduce the acidity of coffee, add a tiny 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and mix well. Food wise, eating cheese can help too.

Is There Coffee Without Acid?

Yes, Tyler’s no acid organic ground coffee has a neutral pH. Perfect if you suffer from acid reflux and don’t want to give up on your coffee. 100% Arabica coffee and is full of flavor with no bitter notes.

Final Thoughts – pH Of Coffee

The pH of coffee is unfortunately for some sufferers of GERD, heartburn and acid reflux is acidic as it falls in the 4.85 to 5.10 pH scale. Thankfully there are some simple steps that you can take to reduce the acidity and still enjoy your coffee drinks and get that caffeine kick that you need.

Join our fun, very friendly and forever free online coffee community and talk about the steps that you take to reduce the pH of coffee or perhaps tell your fellow coffee lovers about great coffee beans that are low acid or acid neutral. Find us on Facebook/Meta.

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