Is Coffee Acidic?
Coffee is the most consumed hot beverage in the world. Coffee lovers all over the globe benefit from coffee daily. Coffee helps with our productivity levels and has many other benefits.
However, most coffee lovers will wonder – at least once in their life – whether coffee is high in acidity or not.
What Is Acidity?
Acidity is the level of acid found within a substance. It’s measured on the pH scale which specifies how acidic or alkaline a solution is. The scale is ranged from 0 -14, with anything below 7 being considered acidic, and anything above 7 is considered alkaline.
How Acidic Is Coffee?
Every coffee bean is brewed differently and therefore will vary in acidity. Coffee has an average pH value of 4.85 to 5.10.
The brewing process releases countless compounds, including 9 major acids that contribute to its aroma and flavor.
Why Does Acidity Variate In Coffee?
Roasting: The roasting process will help determine the amount of acidity within coffee. Duration and temperature have a role in the acidity released in the coffee.
Brewing: Brewing has a large role to play in the amount of acidity in coffee. Cold-brewed coffee showed lower acidity levels than hot coffee.
Brewing time also shows to affect acidic levels in coffee. Shorter brews resulted in more acidic cups of coffee, while longer brews showed lower levels of acid.
Size of Coffee Grounds: The size of the coffee grounds has shown to affect the acidity in coffee. Smaller grounds showed higher levels of acid in coffee.
How Does Acid In Coffee Affect My Health?
Most coffee lovers will be just fine handling the acidic levels of coffee. However, certain health conditions may be exacerbated by coffee. These conditions include acid reflux, gastric ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome.
If you find yourself diagnosed with one of these health conditions, it is recommended to avoid coffee.
How To Reduce Acidity In Coffee
Thankfully there are some ways to reduce the acidity in coffee:
- Choose a dark roast
- Cold-brew your coffee
- Brew your coffee for longer
- Choose coarser ground coffee
Conclusion:
Coffee ranges in acidic levels, with an average of 4.85 to 5.10, which is considered acidic. This won’t negatively affect most people, but if you have a medical condition, such as IBS, try avoid coffee. You can reduce the acidic levels in coffee, such as slow and cold brewing, which may help with the side effects of the acidity.