How Coffee Lovers Manage Acid Reflux
For some people, coffee can be a trigger for acid indigestion. If you’re afraid that’s you, but you love coffee, there may be ways to enjoy coffee without suffering for it every time. Here are some tips about managing heartburn and some ideas for reducing the likelihood of experiencing acid reflux when you drink coffee.
Unique Trigger Management
There’s no single cure for acid indigestion. It’s likely that a combination of factors are contributing to each case of heartburn a patient experiences. There are also dangers of having chronic acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Be sure to talk to a doctor if you’re experiencing heartburn multiple times every week.
GERD, like acid reflux disease, is a symptom of damage caused when stomach acid comes up from the stomach into the esophagus. Certain foods and lifestyle choices are considered to contribute to GERD, however changing the diet to manage this does not have a lot of supporting evidence. Foods that may contribute include coffee, alcohol, chocolate, acidic foods, fatty foods, and spicy foods. Weight loss, moderate (but not strenuous) excercise and elevating the head of the bed may all help manage or alleviate GERD symptoms.
Learning to identify your triggers will help to reduce acid reflux. Try to experiment with one potential trigger at a time. If you suspect that coffee is a trigger, you may need to take a break from coffee, reduce the coffee you consume, or change the kind of coffee or brew system that you enjoy.
A Complex Cause
No two cases of acid reflux are the same. It turns out that the acidity in the stomach is determined by a variety of factors over a period of time.
Dietary Causes
For some people, the problem is too much acid. For example, if you eat a lot of sugars, unhealthy fats, and heavy foods, more acid is needed to break them down in the stomach. If you add coffee on top, you’re adding more acidity and risk acid indigestion or heartburn. Alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco products are often considered triggers, especially when consumed in excess.
But high acidity can also be caused if you don’t have enough healthy acids in your diet. For some people, eating an apple, or even using apple cider vinegar in their salad dressing, can reduce their heartburn or help them to avoid it. This is because these are acids the body can recognize. If you have some healthy acids in your diet, your stomach won’t release as much acid when you eat meals. Some people even find that drinking a small coffee reduces the likelihood of heartburn along with a healthy diet.
Mechanical Causes
There are also many physical causes of heartburn.
- Tight clothing, especially around the waist, can cause the pressure system of the intestines and stomach to be out of balance.
- Bending over repeatedly after a meal can cause acid to leak back up into the esophagus, causing acid reflux.
- Lying down too soon after a meal can have the same effect.
- Eating too fast doesn’t allow the esophageal sphincter to open and close at a healthy rate.
- Exercising too soon after a meal can cause heartburn.
- And eating or snacking often can also allow stomach acid into the esophagus and cause heartburn.
Coffee Varieties and Brewing Processes That Reduce Acidity
Coffee lovers who need to manage acid reflux have discovered that there are factors that make a difference when they make their morning cup.
Coffee Types
First, find a coffee bean with low acidity.
- The darker the roast, the better.
- Mexico and Sumatra coffees are known to be lower in acidity.
- Decaf, when processed with the Mountain water method, is lower in acid due to the water process caffeine extraction.
Brew Methods
The ideal method for people with acid reflux is the Toddy coffee brew method. Toddy makers reduce the oils in the coffee. Toddy makes a cold water extract coffee that is easy to make and is convenient and economical. And when preparing your normal brew coffee, make a single cup at a time and drink it fresh. The fresher, the better.
Want to Try a Low Acid Coffee? Our Recommendations:
We have a brand-new sampler we’ve put together for our customers that cannot tolerate high acid coffees. If you experience frequent heartburn or acid reflux, our low acid coffees may allow you to enjoy a great cup of organic coffee without the irritation.
Here are some additional low acid recommendations:
Fair Trade Sumatran |
Easy Does It!: Half the Caff Blend |
Regular Roast Decaf |
Conclusion
There’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to kick acid reflux by never drinking coffee or by using these ideas. But it’s always worth a try and if you love coffee, you’ll be glad that you did.
(image courtesy Flickr / epSos.de CC2.0)
Comments
Stomach acid is actually extremely acidic, in the range of pH 1 to 2 with neutral pH being 7.0. It would eat through the stomach lining in no time if the lining did not have protective mechanisms like a mucus layer. Acid foods are much less acidic, and acid in the stomach does not illicit pain unless you have an ulcer or erosion of the stomach lining or duodenum. Heartburn is caused by acids in the stomach refluxing back up the esophagus because the valve/sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach is not closed tight enough to prevent it. Factors that weaken this muscle include caffeine, nicotine, chocolate, alcohol, obesity, a hiatal hernia, and hi fat meals. So its actually the caffeine in the coffee that is loosening this stomach valve, and allowing the highly acidic stomach acid to reflux up into the sensitive walls of the esophagus, and cause pain!! Bottom line, the coffee itself does not cause the pain.
Thank you for your input, Dr. Marler! It sounds like you would agree, then, that coffee lovers with acid reflux can still consider decaf or a low-caff / half-caff blend?
I have acid reflux and I am taking Tecta. Can I still drink Nescafe rich decaf
while I am eating my dinner?
Hi Lourdes – thanks for writing! Because you are taking a prescription medication, you should run any questions by your prescribing doctor. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them. Decaf coffee usually has a small level of caffeine, so this would be included in your discussion with your doctor. Best of luck!
If I drink decaf coffee then with less caffeine my acid reflux might very well improve? Nancy Malone
Hi Nancy – Decaf, when processed with the Mountain water method, is lower in acid due to the water process caffeine extraction. However, everyone is different, and we highly recommend making dietary decisions in consultation with your practitioner. Thanks for asking!
If you drink caffeine-free coffee, will you still get the acid?
Hi Judy, thanks for writing in! We process our caffeine-free coffee (aka decaf) with the Mountain Water method. This is lower in acid than caffeinated coffee due to the water process caffeine extraction. But its not acid-free. So if you have health-related concerns, we recommend that if you try it, be cautious with your intake, and be sure to consult with a medical professional on any dietary decisions. Good luck!
For me even decaf will cause acid reflux. Things that trigger severe reflux for me are oranges, carbonated drinks coffee etc. Coke is the most dangerous for me. If I eat food I suffer pain in the night.
Thank you for sharing, Eliphas. We can empathize, not being able to drink coffee! Glad to hear you are listening to your body and finding what works for you.
I chase my coffee with a glass of lemon water (very alkaline). I figure this creates a balanced pH.
I was on Tecta, and my chronic heartburn and indigestion all vanished completely when I lost weight. I now know my weight threshold that I cannot pass otherwise it starts to creep up again.
I can eat bread, tomato and spicy food again and I kicked the Tecta to the curb because if you are eating healthy enough you can probably avoid the pharmaceuticals for life! 🙂
Not sure what store 🏬 in Minnesota have this coffee
Hello,
Please email info@nullcafealtura.com and we’ll be happy to help find locations in your area.
Cafe Altura
Hello,
I’m not a doctor, but I do suffer from GERD.
Cold brew low acid coffee was recommended to me when I had kidney problems, but just made my acid reflux worse and I threw up every time I had it.
My doctor recommended not even having decaf, tea or chocolate, which also contains caffeine, even if not nearly as much as regular coffee. Even blended green tea makes me sick!
Though you can remedy the acid, the esophagal sphincter relaxes and opens up with even the mildest bit of caffiene. I say this as an ex-coffee drinker for 23 years.
It’s so hard to stay off caffeine, especially when fatigue or a bad day kicks in, but overall it’s the best thing for health in some people.
Don’t worry, you won’t have a shortage of coffee drinkers anytime soon.
I found this sight because lately I’ve been grinding various coffee beans trying to settle on a favourite, and I believe one particular bean triggered major acid reflux in my that I haven’t had in probably almost a year. My diet hasn’t changed, only the coffee bean has, so I have to say that I feel that although coffee alone doesn’t cause the pain, it does have a major part to play in triggering it.
Hi Joe – if you get a chance, let us know which beans are working for you and which aren’t. Also – what method of brewing you are using. Thanks!
In addition to letting the Cafe Altura folks know what method of brewing you are using, please let the rest of us know which bean you are using.
Thanks!
JD
Hi, my name is Lisa. I don’t have acid re-flux but I do get an irradiated stomach when I drink coffee. I can stop for a few weeks and stomach feels great. I start up drinking coffee again and the pains begin after a few days. I just started taking Licorice root and was wondering if you have any insight on this, or suggestions?
Bonjour from France.
Just a small correction: you say acid in the stomach does not illict pain…..in line 3.
The word should be ELICIT….to cause, bring about . EG. My remark elicited a sharp response from the accused….” ILLICIT means ILLEGAL, UNLAWFUL.
Illicit trading would be a person who does deals that are illegal.
Thanks for your helpful articles…..I suffer from GERD.
I’m gonna try the different coffee you mentioned because I’m really addicted to it!
I hope it works for me because I have acid reflux and gastritis really bad.
And I ❤️ l Love coffee!
Thanks Dr Marler for this wonderful information on acid reflux disease!Im an avid coffee drinker but also a light smoker.I recently attended the emergency room twice in one week for chest pain and difficulties with breathing.If i eliminate smoking along with acidic drinks and chocolate,is it safe to drink a noncaffein coffee?
Rubbish. Low acidity in the stomach is the major cause of Heartburn and Acid Reflux and no I am not an M.D!! Firstly you need to find out the CAUSE of your reflux/heartburn. Shocking some of the information found on the internet.
Hi Matt – yes, that’s why we recommend consulting a medical professional and learning what your triggers are for heartburn and acid reflux. Thanks for your comments.
@Matt. I think you are slightly confused and perhaps agree with my fellow MD. Acidity is inversely proportional to pH, meaning the higher the pH of a particular sample, the less acidity is in it. The lower the pH the higher the acidity. The stomach always contains acids, somewhat less so if you are on a histamine blocker or proton pump inhibitor, but in the natural state it is highly acidic, and yes, when that acid finds its way through the upper esophageal sphincter it can cause pain, dyspepsia, coughing, hoarseness and of course esophagitis. You don’t have to be a doctor , but hopefully get the facts straight.
Thanks much for your comments, drKen!
pH can be defined as -log[H3O+], where [H3O+] is the concentration of hydronium ions in mol/L. The higher the concentration of hydronium ions in a solution, the lower the pH, according to the definition of pH.
A change of 1 pH unit is equivalent to a change of [H3O+] in tenfold. For example, a coffee with pH 5 is about 100 times more acidic than pure water with pH 7, because the difference of pH units between the coffee and the water are 2.
It’s true. Decaf does not affect me.
Exactly!!
Question for a medically trained professional or dietitian….aren’t there foods than neutralize bad acids? I heard certain vegetables HELP; also eating applesauce twice daily. Please give us your opinion. Thanks. PS: Do regular grocery stores carry these “better” types of low acidity coffees?
Hi fl senior. Thanks for writing! We aren’t professional dietitians, but we do have a helpful article on coffees with low acidity here. Hope this helps!
Hi.. I have a question. I am a coffee lover and enjoy my morning latte more than anything. I have been on Nexium for over 10 years and am finally planning to stop taking it due to problems with side effects. I am looking for the least acidic options for my morning latte and wondering if you have any advice. I use an organic rainforest blend with soymilk at the moment but thinking of switching to almond milk or maybe goat milk? I do not plan on drinking coffee for the first few months but really would like to find the best option for future use. Do you have any advice?
Hi Monique – Thanks for your question. Make sure you are drinking a freshly made cup of coffee brewed from a dark roast. You might want to try a coffee from Mexico or Sumatra. There are a few links in the article above to recommended coffees. You may also want to read up on alkalization of the body, and be sure to hydrate. Here’s another article on our site with more information on low acid coffee.
I was under the impression the dark roast has less acid…and the website you recommend says dark roast, darker the better…(as in lower acidity).
You mention several times a mild roast is best….isn’t mild roast and light or medium the same..please clarify…..
Hi Rebecca – Thanks very much for your note. You are absolutely right. This was an oversight; it has been addressed and fixed.
It is true that the darker roasts have a bit less acidity that the milder roasts. Not a lot, but a bit less. Acidity is a confusing issue with coffee. On the one hand, it is a desirable component of taste quality. That does differ from the actual pH of the beverage, which is what most people are interested in.
Dr. Marler,
How does coffee cause the valve/sphincter muscle to loosen?
Thanks
Hi Doug –
I’m not sure if Dr. Marler is following this thread. We did some research and found that certain foods can cause the valve/esophagus sphincter to loosen, however we don’t have the precise medical occurrence.
Here’s some interesting reading from the Cleveland Clinic (PDF – link opens in new tab). An excerpt:
There are no conclusive findings that caffeine, coffee, or tea escalates GERD symptoms. One study suggests caffeine has no significant effect but metabolites in coffee beans are exacerbating symptoms; caf and decaf tea showed negligible effect than caf/decaf coffee (Wendl B, et al. Effect of decaffeination of coffee or tea on gastro-esophageal reflux, 1994, Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 8, p283-7). These are a few of the many articles you’ll find on either side, though I must admit I have yet to come across one conclusively stating that coffee instigates gerd symptoms.
There was also a review and meta analysis studies done recently that showed lack of statistical power (lack of construct validity) and great variation in results to insignificant correlation between intake and gerd (Zhang, Y., Chen, S-H. Food Sci Technol Res, 2013, 19, 1-6; Kim, J. et al., Diseases of the Esophagus, 2014, 27, 311-317).
I am personally addicted to coffee so I am making an effort to reduce intake. What I find concerning are medical professionals endorsing opinions that may not be true, at least for everyone, as they can be read as prescriptive. Coffee and gerd/acid reflux seem to yield subjective results for each individual, or we don’t know what coffee does, as of yet (btw there are at least 27 metabolites from coffee, some of which we know nothing about). One of them we know blocks adenosine receptors.
I suggest everyone to experiment and see if a week without coffee helps, though if you are in my situation, reducing intake will work better to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.
I have been suffering from acid reflux for as long as I can remember. I was taking many antacids every day and night. I read a few days ago that by I have been taking away the acid rather than adding it all these years. When your stomach has too little acid it has to work extra hard to utilize what it has and swooshes it around extra fast resulting in it coming up into the throat. I read to add acid instead so that the stomach doesn’t have to work as hard. The advice was to take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar each day. I’m only on my second day and I have had very, very little acid reflux at all, and have had absolutely NO antacids!! I took 1teaspoon just before bed and not one bit of acid all night long! P.s, you must drink plenty of water straight after taking the vinegar.
I went off ALL my medicine. I was on Nexium, nasal spray, allergy medicine. Way too may drugs in my opinion. Research Evamor water. My coughing and post nasal drip are 95% gone. I have LPR so it may be a bit different than GERD. But a low acid diet and the water have been a God send.
I have recently been going through a bout of GERD. I have LPR also and I recently slipped and had tomatoes a few times and also started an exercise program. Right after all this, had most of my original symptoms that I hadn’t had since December 2014. Mainly I’ve been on and off my Omeprazole and have tried to stay off it for longer periods but now I’ve been back on it for almost 3 weeks. I’ve just got back on Azelastine Nasal Spray and have been on Fexo regularly. Getting better after a month or so and the cough has decreased but the sinuses are improving on a bit slower schedule. Have never felt worse in my life then when I’m going through this! Have to say though the coffee or tea has never really been a trigger for me as I usually will only have one cup a day of coffee. It only has bothered me after the other things initially triggered the symptoms.
I have had acid reflex for about the last 6 months. Zantac seems to help some. My diet is really good and I eat an apple each day. I was on a antibiotic for 10 days then after about 2 weeks I was on a Z-pack for sinus infection. That can mess your stomach up, also. I have a Dr. appt in August. I guess I’ll try the apple vinegar. I love my coffee , but I cut back. And when I don’t drink it in the morning I break down in the afternoon and have 1/2 of one cup.
Hi Barb – it sounds like you are listening to your body and doing what works for you. Hope our article was of some help. Best of health to you.
Thank you for all your comments, they have
been very helpful.
I’ve had acid reflux for years. I still drink coffee,and alcohol. I’ve found a few things that work for me.
1 Limit the length of the exposure. Espresso takes less time than coffee to drink. Beer has the same problem. Mixed drinks with ice are better.
2 Use water as a chaser. This clears the irritant from the throat.
3 If the throat is irritated honey, sugar, DGL tablets, licorice extract. I personally avoid PPI. Why disturb the stomach to fix the throat?
4 Coffee brewing technique matters. Anything that takes longer than 30 seconds will have high acid. Make espresso 1 cup at a time. Aeropress also works very well, even with the long exposure time.
5 I use the inclined bed method. Much better than wedge pillows.
I hope this helps.
Hi William – thank you kindly for sharing what works for you! Glad you still get to enjoy your coffee.
I’m a coffee addict. If I don’t stop drinking coffee, I fear I may cause some serious damage. I’ve tried different beans including decaf but to no avail. My stomach responds the same.
I must not drink coffee
I must not drink coffee
I must not drink coffee
I must not drink coffee….
All I can say is, check out Melatonin and how it protects the esophagus from stomach acid. Research, is the answer.
Find what works for you.
It’s in our mouths, throats etc.
A way to reduce uric acid is to dissolve a small teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in a tumbler of water, and drink it 3 times a day. Also drink lots of water before sleeping. This will definitely help if you have gout, and in just a few days your uric acid level will go down. However, I don’t know how this relates to acid reflux, but funnily enough I got stomach reflex quite bad, when I stopped drinking beer. 🙂
Hi Peter. Thank’s for the informtion on uric acid but the discussion is about other acid
I just learned that adding a small pinch of baking soda to a cup of coffee will neutralize the acidity. I saw a woman do it on youtube and she showed the proof by testing it with acid strips before and after she added the baking soda. She only added a very small amount – just a pinch, about the equivalent to a pinch of salt in a typical food recipe. I had to stop drinking coffee a few years ago because it triggers my acid reflux, but I’m going to try this and double up on the safety measures by using one of the coffees that are already low acid. If anyone else has tried this or does try it, let us know your results.
Yes, there are a number of articles online that say similar things, but we have not tested it here at headquarters. Good luck with it, and you might want to try our Low Acid Flight, a sampler of three different low acid coffees.
So decaf is ok?
Hi Laura – thanks for writing in. Decaf, when processed with the Mountain water method (which is how we do it), is lower in acid due to the water process caffeine extraction. So you might find that it doesn’t activate or aggravate your acid reflux like regular caffeinated coffee does. Try a little in moderation and see how it works for you. Ultimately, whether or not it’s “ok” to drink decaf if you have acid reflux is up to you and a medical advisor. Hope that helps!
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I noticed that I started to get acid reflux and heartburn a lot more when I gained some weight. In the last 3 years I have gained about 30 pounds. At one point I was down about 15 pounds and the heartburn seemed to go away with it. Losing weight can be a big factor in eliminating heartburn. Worth a shot! (Not to mention losing weight is always a good thing…)
Thanks for your comments, “tums”! Great to hear you are taking good care of yourself and seeing the benefits of doing so. Hope you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee every now and then with no adverse effects.
Hi,
I just stumbled across this website and appreciate the information provided, as well as reading the comments. I have suffered with heartburn for years, and have found that, like you said, it truly is a unique experience for each person. I initially thought coffee was my culprit, but as I made changes in other areas of my life such as eating less sugar and carbs (but not cutting them out entirely), eating smaller meals at one time, and simply not drinking “as much” coffee every morning the heartburn stayed at bay. I encourage everyone to really pay attention to their own bodies and experiment with different lifestyle and dietary changes (give it at least two weeks for each change you implement to see if that contributes to or improves the heartburn issue). Also, don’t assume a home remedy that worked miracles for one person will work for you. I tried the apple cider vinegar and it gave me a horrible heartburn attack. But other things do work for me that don’t work for others. ……Oh, and one more thing, I have found that stress management is a huge factor for me. Doing some meditation, slowing down, being present to the moment and dealing with anxiety goes a long way to overall health and well-being…..including stomach issues.
Thank you for the articles and links on this website too!!
Hi again….I wanted to add one more thing that I found works for me. The darker roasts really do seem to be better for my heartburn. Finding a dark roast that you enjoy can be tricky if you are not normally a “dark roast” lover, so I encourage you to try several different kinds. It looks like there are some great options here on this website; I haven’t tried them yet, but will definitely do so! Us “coffee lovers” know that it isn’t just the “taste” of coffee, but the whole “experience” of a good cup of coffee in the morning that helps us gear up for our day!!! So, finding a way to keep that coffee in the equation is important to me!!
Hi Vicki! Thank you so much for your contribution. Paying attention to your own body and what works for you is a great approach, along with regular exercise and consulting a health professional. Having a meditation practice works for us too!
I find this an interesting concept. I have noticed that I can drink cold brew coffee without any GERD, but within minutes of waking and finishing my first and only cup of hot drip coffee it’ll hit me. I then struggle to get a head of it all day. I was medicated for It, but didn’t like the rebound reflex if I missed a single day or if I was even a few hours late. I am very curious about the caffeine being related, and after studying A&P I can see where it would be true. I will be sure to give a few of these tips a try while trying to enjoy coffee still.
Hi Britt – thank you for sharing your experience! According to Toddy, which has been making their Cold Brew System since 1964, cold brew is “approximately 67% less acidic than coffee brewed by conventional hot-brew methods” such as a drip system. Cold brew is easy to make at home – we recommend starting with a dark roast like our Organic French Roast, grinding it coarse, and immersing it for 12 to 24 hours with this ratio as a guide: 3/4 cup coarsely ground coffee to every 4 cups of cold water. Strain it through a paper filter, pour it over ice and enjoy!
I have crest which is a condition that causes severe reflux. I am really suffering and I know after reading your column of comments that I must cut out my coffee. I was wondering if anyone knows if milk would help this condition. I practicality live on nexium and gaviscon thank you for any help you can give me.
Hi Sandy – thank you for sharing. We had to do a little digging to learn that CREST Syndrome is also called Scleroderma, which more often affects women, and commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. Symptoms include chronic hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues, joint pain and heartburn. Given that you might be experiencing inflammation and heartburn, it does seem wise to consider not just removing coffee from your diet, but anything else that might cause inflammation, such as sugar. We hope that your medical professional has good advice for you, and we hope too that you can address the symptoms so that you experience a good quality of life. Thank you again for writing in.
For me, coffee, Coke, chocolate. I do not eat at least 2 hours before sleeping. I have had this problem – call it GERD – since small, and think it was caused by throwing up milk as a baby causing a hernia. Do not bend just after eating and sleep with a elevated head, drink water in the evening to suppress the craving to snack at night. If I avoid alcohol, coffee and Coke for 3 days, my GERD practically disappears.
Hi Alan – Thanks for writing in! It sounds like you are doing a great job of listening to your body. Do you find that when you clear out your system for a while, and your symptoms aren’t present, you can enjoy a bit of chocolate or a drink once and a while? Best of health to you.
I have read that coffee has some wonderful antioxidants. Does the caffeine extraction method remove the antioxidants? Also is it the caffeine that causes irritation or is it the acid in coffee?
Is the dark roast, low acid, decaffeinated coffee best for someone with Gerd?
Thank you for this good website! Susan
Hi Susan – thanks for reaching out and asking good questions! We partner with a company that does the mountain water decaffeinating process for us. They state that the antioxidants remain after decaffeination. We have not done any internal testing.
Regarding the affects of caffeine and acidity, what we have found is that every person is different. You can see that just on this thread! One person might have sensitivity to caffeine, another person may feel a susceptibility to acidity, and yet another person might not have any sensitivities at all. Thus, we recommend people seek advice from their medical professional, particularly if you are experiencing any moderate to severe symptoms.
Regarding GERD, if you’re not so sensitive to where you can try some coffee and see how your body responds, dark decafs may be your best bet. Hope this helps!
First of all, coffee or tea in excess can cause this. It’s called inflammation and can get out of control. Soda can be a big trigger. Tea and coffee – maybe drink one cup of coffee a day then have a Rolaid after the Java. Doctors say sugar is the problem, but I say it’s the corn syrup.
Hi Brian – Thanks for contributing! Anything in excess can cause imbalances in the body. It’s good to listen to the body, enjoy consuming in moderation, and if you’re experiencing symptoms, consult with a medical professional. Hope you continue to be in good health and spirit.
I have heard Shade grown coffee is also a great alternative as it is low acid coffee bean with lower caffeine levels. Therefore a much healthier option for those who have acidity problem. – Monika
Good day, I got the fresh coffee. Actually I picked it and roasted it myself – is that too high in acid? Please let me know because I just roasted it on Sunday, and want to have a fresh cup.
Hi Brenda – unless you are specifically having problems with acidic foods and beverages, where you suffer from acid reflux or GERD or similar, you shouldn’t worry too much about the levels of acidity in your coffee. If you are roasting your own beans, enjoy a delicious fresh cup of coffee, and observe how your body reacts.
I was born with a hiatal hernia and apparently it does cause the valve at the bottom of my esophagus to fail. I get heartburn often. I’ve also got something called a “Schatzki ring,” which is a known complication of recurrent stomach acid irritation.
For people like me, there are trigger foods and, unfortunately, they’re all delicious. 🙁
Hi Mike – Thanks for sharing. It sounds like you have good medical support and you’re taking care of yourself. Hope you get to enjoy a quality cup of coffee every once and a while!
Your body produces more acid when you consume coffee regardless of it’s acidity when you drink it. You can “neutralize” the caffeine all you want. It’s irrelevant. Your body will still produce high levels of acid when it’s digested, there’s no way around it.
Allayed some heartburn fears.
Thx.
I have found that situps, crunches definitely help. Tone in the belly muscles is beneficial. All of the other things mentioned are also helpful too.
Hi Tim – while we haven’t heard that suggestion on this thread, it certainly makes sense that getting good exercise would be beneficial for those with acid reflux and similar issues. Glad its working for you and thanks for sharing!
Hi, my name is Lisa. I don’t have acid re-flux but I do get an irradiated stomach when I drink coffee. I can stop for a few weeks and stomach feels great. I start up drinking coffee again and the pains begin after a few days. I just started taking Licorice root and was wondering if you have any insight on this, or suggestions?
Hi. I want to start off by saying this is a really great article and the comments are all great too. I recently started experiencing acid reflux. I’m not really sure what has triggered it. I’m 35 and have never really had stomach issues. I had been on some extremely stressful time these last 2 years so maybe it was that. I have made diet changes and allthough it has helped, coffee is one thing I cannot let go of. I stopped drinking it for a month and I experienced headaches and mood funks. Before reading this article I had started drinking half cups of cold coffeee and it seems to be helping but I really miss my one cup of hot coffee each morning. My Dr put me on omeprozole for 2 months. It has helped but I still experience some acid reflux even taking the medicine. I have also started taking probiotics. My dad was diagnosed with Colon cancer 2 years ago and after his surgery (praise God he is cancer free) he started taking probiotics and in his experience had great results in equalizing his acid in his stomach. I asked my Dr about it but he didn’t seem convinced. Has anyone tried probiotics? And if so what has been your experience? I will also be trying these darker less acid coffees. Thank you!
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I have a GERD for 3 years up to now I still struggle thus. Last week I went ER two times
It’s nice to find a low acid coffee. I can’t live without coffee even though I have acid reflux. But I counteract my acidity by drinking alkaline water and eating right. I also rest when I’m stressed out, which prevents me from having an imbalance in my body.
I am interesting for this coffee but i am always helpful about drinking the coffee especially drinking coffee with less acid is my thing