Is Your Coffee Acidic? The Truth Might Surprise You
Whether for health concerns or simple curiosity, many people wonder if coffee is an acidic drink. It’s often said to be highly acidic, partly because of its typically bitter and sour taste—a good hint!
The brief answer is yes, coffee is indeed acidic, but perhaps not as much as you might think. Below, we’ll explore what makes coffee acidic and exactly how acidic it is. Let’s dive in!
What Makes Coffee Acidic?
The process of brewing coffee involves mixing hot or boiling water (sometimes even cold water) with ground coffee beans. The goal is to extract caffeine and flavors from the beans to create a delicious cup of caffeinated coffee.
During extraction, various compounds are removed from the beans including lipids (fats), acids, caffeine, and sugars. Extracting acids is always part of this process and contributes to making the coffee acidic—this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
How Acidic Is Coffee?
The level of acidity in your coffee depends on how it’s brewed. However, most coffees have an acidity level around a pH of 5 regardless of preparation method. This is lower than pure neutral water which has a standard pH of 7 but not as low as some other popular drinks.
For instance, orange juice has an acidity around 3.5; beer typically ranges between 4-5; and some well-known soda brands have pH levels below 3!
Is Coffee’s Acidity Dangerous?
Many people drink coffee daily without experiencing any adverse effects. While some common foods and drinks are more acidic than coffee, it can still be problematic for individuals with sensitive stomachs or gastrointestinal conditions.
Doctors often recommend patients with acid reflux or stomach ulcers reduce their intake or completely avoid drinking coffee. However, for those without such health issues related to food and beverage acidity levels, drinking coffee usually doesn’t pose significant problems.
Is Cold Brew Coffee Less Acidic?
A common belief is that cold brew has lower acidity because it’s made using cold or room temperature water in its unique extraction process. Despite taking longer to brew compared to hot methods, cold brew extracts roughly the same amount of acid from the grounds as hot-brewed versions.
Research indicates that cold brew’s pH level is similar to other types of brewed coffees. Experts suggest its generally perceived lower acidity comes from more evenly extracted compounds during brewing which results in richer flavors rather than focusing on acidity alone.
Is Decaffeinated Coffee Less Acidic?
It’s often thought that caffeine makes coffee acidic so logically decaf should be less acidic. However studies show there are other components contributing to its acidity meaning decaf typically has about the same pH level as regular caffeinated versions.
Summary of Coffee Acidity
There’s no denying it—coffee, whether served hot or cold, decaf or regular, is slightly acidic. However, the average pH level of coffee hovers around 5, which is noticeably higher than that of other popular drinks like orange juice and soda. Although this acidity might pose issues for those with stomach problems or acid reflux, it generally isn’t a concern for most healthy people.
