Do you know how acidic is coffee? If not, I would totally understand. Many of us are guilty of being caffeine addicts without understanding what it is actually that we drink. After all, your primary concern is just the fact that it tastes great and not its acidity.
Nonetheless, understanding the acidity of coffee is important not only for additional knowledge, but also for health concerns. There are some people who should not consume acidic food and drinks, making it important to monitor whatever gets into your body.
Keep on reading the rest of this post and we’ll let you know some of the most important things that you should know.
How Acidic is Coffee
Before we discuss how acidic is coffee, let us first take a look at how it is measured. Acidity is measured based on the level of pH, wherein 7 is the point of neutrality. If it is lower than 7, the acid is higher. On the other hand, if it is higher than 7, this means that there is less acidity.
Generally speaking, however, coffee has an average acidity of 5. Just for the sake of comparison, tea has an average acidity of 4, beer is 4, soda is 3, vinegar is 2, and pure water is 7. It is important to pay attention to these numbers if acid is a significant health concern for you.
The acidity of coffee will depend on a number of factors. For instance, this can depend on the specific variety of the beans that are used. The altitude at which they are grown will also have an effect on its acidity. The duration of roasting and the brewing technique used will also be important considerations.
As mentioned, the roasting level of coffee beans will affect its acidity. The level of acidity will be lesser as the roasting becomes lighter. This is because the organic chemicals will be slowly eliminated, and hence, will reduce its acidity.
What are the Different Types of Acid in Coffee
When you speak of acid, you are not talking of a single thing. It should be noted that there are different types of acids, which will result to a distinct flavor. The acid will depend on the specific origin of coffee.
Among others, citric acid is commonly found in coffee. This is common in Arabica beans that are harvested from high altitudes. This results to a citrus-like flavor in your coffee. According to studies, this is the most common acid that is found in coffee.
Malic acid is also commonly found in coffee. Its flavor will be similar to pear and apple. It results to a hint of sweetness in your caffeine fix.
There are also some coffees with tartaric acid. This is commonly found in grapes, which is why your coffee can have a fruity flavor.
Aside from those mentioned, coffee can also have quinic, chlorogenic, acetic, and phosphoric acids.
Why Acidity Matters
It is not enough that you know how acidic is coffee. It will not do any good if you just know the figures. The more important thing is for you to know how the acidity will have an impact on your health. If you are experiencing certain symptoms, this should be an indication that you should stop consuming coffee and find a healthier alternative or one that is less acidic.
With the acid that is found in coffee, it can possibly lead to irritations in the stomach. This increases the secretion of gastric acid, which is one of the reasons why you will most likely experience pain in the stomach. Based on research, it is more likely that decaffeinated coffee will result to this compared to a regular brew.
To add, acid in coffee can also enhance the presence of stress hormones in your body, specifically cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. This leads into the lesser supply of blood and suppression of the immune system.
Heartburn is another symptom that will most likely be a result of acidity in coffee. This will lead to pain in the lower chest. After this, it will be followed by acid reflux. You will taste something bitter or sour in your mouth.
Acidity in coffee will also cause bad effects for your teeth. If acid reaches your teeth, this will cause the enamel to erode, and in the end, this can result to discoloration. This also causes the teeth to weaken, which will make it more sensitive.
How to Make Coffee Less Acidic
Because of the negative impacts of acidity in your health, as described above, many people would love to enjoy their coffee sans the acidity. The good news is that there are some things that you can do to enjoy your caffeine fix while getting rid of acidity.
One of the things that you can do is to carefully choose your coffee. In this case, those from Brazil and Sumatra are some of the options you might want to consider. However, as the acidity is lesser, expect that it will also not be as bold as more acidic counterparts.
It will also help if you can prepare your coffee using the cold brewing method. It may take quite longer than traditional brewing, but the absence of heat makes it less acidic. There are commercially-available coffee drinks that have been prepared using this method.
Here is a short video that will let you know how you can easily prepare cold brew coffee at home.
Conclusion
From the discussions above, we hope that you already know how acidic is coffee. In a nutshell, here is a recap of the things mentioned above:
- Generally, the acidity of coffee is 5. The median is 7. If it is lower than 7, it means that it is more acidic. If it is higher than 7, on the other hand, this means it is less acidic.
- Acidity in coffee can be affected by a number of things, such as the origin of the coffee and the way it is prepared.
- There are several health problems that can result from too high acidity, such as a stomach upset, stress, and heartburn.
- To prepare low-acid coffee, you should choose the right variant. Also, you can consider preparing it through a cold brew process.
Do you enjoy reading this guide? Is there anything else that you would like to share? Feel free to leave a comment below.
