Is Decaf Coffee Acidic?

crazy by Editorial Staff | Updated on April 26th, 2023

If regular coffee is acidic, is decaf acidic as well?


The short answer is yes, and no. Decaf has less acid than regular coffee, though.

decaf coffee

If you’re attempting to live a healthier lifestyle, you may have considered eliminating caffeine from your coffee. However, you may have heard of other things that have made you concerned about your cup of Joe.

One of them could be acid. But, when it comes to coffee, what exactly do we mean by acid? And how acidic is decaf coffee?

Continue reading as we deconstruct the mysterious world of acidity in coffee.

What exactly do we mean by “acid in coffee”?

Let’s start with a definition of what we’re talking about.

You can tell what acid is if you’re in a laboratory with a piece of litmus paper. It’s a liquid that will color the paper pink. Is this, however, what people mean when they talk about acid in coffee?

It certainly may be. Coffee contains a variety of organic acids. Tartaric, citric, acetic, and quinic acids are examples of these.

The majority of acids found in coffee are chlorogenic acids. These are thought to offer some health benefits, including Type 2 diabetes and weight loss.

All of these acids have an impact on flavor. But how exactly?

Flavor and acids

How different acids’ ions stimulate neurons on your tongue determines their flavor. Those cultured neurons deliver information to your brain, informing you of the flavor of the stuff you’re consuming. The chemical composition of the drink determines the substance of the messages.

Varying types of coffee have different acid combinations, and the roasting process affects it even more. Because of the high temperatures, some acids are successfully burned out while others increase.

You’ve probably heard of citric acid, which is found in lemons and oranges. It might give your coffee the same zesty flavor. If phosphoric acid is present, you’ll get a grapefruit flavor.

Malic acid will give you more fruity flavors. Notes of peach, pear, apple, or plum are more prevalent in this situation.

Tartaric acid has a wine-like flavor, which is not surprising given that it is found in wine. If you use too much, your coffee will taste sour.

Acetic acid is a similar story. It can intensify the flavor in lesser quantities. But if you use too much, it turns into vinegar.

Because of the qualities of acids, the term “acidity” is occasionally used to describe the flavor of the coffee. It’s usually considered a good thing, describing a bright, pure taste. More information can be found in this YouTube video.

So, why should you avoid acidic coffee?

With all of this excellent news about acidity and flavor, you might be wondering why someone would avoid it. Unfortunately, acid has certain drawbacks as well.

One of them is that it can harm your teeth’s enamel. Coffee attacks your pearly whites in two ways.

For starters, the acid in it demineralizes your teeth. As a result of this injury, they are more vulnerable to acid erosion in the future.

Second, coffee stimulates the microorganisms in your mouth to produce even more acid. It’s like an acid party in there! That’s not good for your teeth.

The acid in coffee, on the other hand, causes the most problems for certain people. It can create unpleasant and painful acid reflux there. For some unhappy people, the situation is so awful that they’ve considered giving up coffee entirely.

The main culprit, in this case, is quinic acid. It can give the coffee a clean finish at smaller dosages, but too much of it can upset your stomach. It is more prevalent in dark roasts but can also be detected in stale coffee. (This includes whatever you’ve had on a hot plate all morning!)

Using milder roasts is easy to reduce your chances of acid reflux. When you’re ready, make some fresh coffee. It will not only be healthy for your digestive system, but it will also taste better.

The drawbacks of acidic coffee

While some acids might enhance the flavor of your beloved coffee, they can also be harmful to the human body. Those who switch from regular to decaf coffee for the health benefits frequently question if those benefits include protection against the effects of acid.

Your teeth and acids

Anyone who consumes coffee is aware of the negative effects it can have on your teeth. Some people have discoloration, while others have more serious enamel concerns. This is due to the acids included in your favorite drinks.

Coffee acids have been shown to demineralize teeth. Unfortunately, this makes them more susceptible to acid corrosion in the future. Certain acids present in coffee can cause your mouth to produce its acids. When this happens, your teeth are subjected to a full-fledged acid party within your mouth.

You might be wondering if switching to decaf coffee can assist with the problems coffee creates with your teeth. Unfortunately, it can’t do much right now. Yes, decaf is healthier for your health generally, but the acids are still present and will impact your teeth in some way.

Your stomach and acids

Many coffee consumers report gastrointestinal problems. This is not uncommon and is one of the primary reasons why coffee addicts have grudgingly given up their favorite beverages throughout the years.

Quinic acid is the principal cause of stomach acid. This acid gives coffee a smooth finish and a pleasant flavor when present in low concentrations. When found in excess, this acid is known to produce acid reflux and stomach distress. Dark roast coffees or those left in the pot for an extended period are frequently the culprits of high quantities of quinic acid.

Here’s where decaf coffee comes in. While you won’t be completely free of acid, decaf coffee has been shown to lessen acid reflux in coffee consumers. Remember that this does not imply you will not experience an upset stomach or other troubles caused by acidic coffee. Decaf coffee may help you prevent heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms while you enjoy your morning cup of joe.

Is decaf coffee better than regular coffee?

We know that decaf can be beneficial to our health. After all, caffeine is in coffee, and we all know that too much of it is terrible for you. But what about the acidity?

Unfortunately, answering that question is not straightforward.

Coffee can cause a lot of gastric acids to be released into your stomach, which might irritate the lining. According to a 1975 study, decaffeinated coffee had a greater influence than ordinary coffee.

When it comes to acid reflux, though, decaffeinated coffee is a better choice. A 1994 study on 16 healthy volunteers evaluated acid reflux levels after drinking tea, coffee, and water. Coffee users experienced higher levels of reflux.

However, reflux levels were significantly reduced when normal coffee was replaced with decaf. So the solution is that coffee causes acid reflux, correct?

Wrong. Because the researchers lowered the caffeine content of the tea and added caffeine to the water. In both situations, the findings were identical to the previous ones.

So something else is certainly going on. There is another distinction between regular and decaf coffee that contributes to decaf generating less acid reflux.

Is decaf coffee linked to acid reflux?

Regrettably, acid reflux and heartburn are common side effects of daily coffee.

A few more factors enter the picture when a person suffers from acid reflux. While decaf coffee may bear some blame for acid reflux, it is not the primary cause.

According to several research, other minor components in coffee produce acid reflux, and caffeine is not the primary culprit.

Researchers discovered that decaffeinated coffee reduced the influence of discomfort or acidity in patients compared to regular coffee after conducting a study on many patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Caffeine amount varies by roast type, but you should also consider overall caffeine consumption. Many coffee drinkers, for example, consume several cups per day. If you discover caffeine aggravates your symptoms, you should try a darker roast.

Coffee has these negative effects because it lowers the lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LES).

The lower esophageal sphincter should constrict after swallowing to prevent stomach contents from flowing back up into the esophagus.

In those with GERD, the decrease in LES pressure caused by coffee drinking produces an increase in stomach acid, often known as acid reflux.

According to this scientific study, both neutral (pH=7) and acidic (pH=4.5) coffee drinking decreased LES pressure and exacerbated heartburn symptoms.

So it appears that the acidic component of coffee may not be the primary cause of your GERD symptoms worsening after a cup of Joe.

Unlike regular coffee, there is evidence that decaffeinated coffee has no negative consequences on LES function.

All of this suggests that caffeine is to blame for acid reflux or heartburn after drinking coffee.

As a result, for those who suffer from GERD, decaf coffee may be a good substitute for normal coffee.

It’s worth mentioning that even after the decaffeination procedure, some caffeine will still be left in the coffee beans.

According to the FDA, coffee and tea products are deemed decaffeinated if 97 percent of the caffeine has been eliminated.

A cup of decaf coffee containing 8 ounces (240 ml) typically includes 2 to 15 mg of caffeine.

According to this scientific report, a grande (16 fl. oz., 470 ml.) decaf coffee drink from Starbucks has 12.0–13.4 mg of caffeine.

So, if you are sensitive to caffeine, decaf may still be harmful to you, no matter how much you consume.

Some scientific studies claim that caffeine is not the component of coffee that causes acid reflux.

These investigations show that additional chemicals that aggravate GERD symptoms in regular coffee are removed after the decaffeination procedure.

Regardless, there is no indication of what such substances could be.

The good news is that all of the studies I found during my investigation confirmed that decaffeinated coffee is generally better than normal coffee for people aiming to avoid acid reflux and heartburn.

Is it OK to drink decaf coffee if you have chronic acid reflux?

Avoid caffeinated beverages and switch to low-acid coffee beans if you have persistent acid reflux. Decaf coffee beans are also available for those who enjoy coffee but are sensitive to extremely acidic beverages and still wish to reap the health advantages of coffee use.

Although coffee has many benefits, it is important to be mindful of the side effects of consuming more than the recommended (1-4) cups per day.

Does decaf coffee give you heartburn?

Some studies on heartburn and decaf coffee are equivocal. It genuinely is a case-by-case situation. Many individuals drink decaf coffee as a joyful alternative to normal coffee because it causes heartburn, acid reflux, and other problems.

Others are unable to cope. If decaf coffee continues to be a source of discomfort for your body, try preparing it differently. If you like it hot, consider cold-brewing it overnight in the refrigerator.

The procedure takes longer, but it may relieve you because you can drink your favorite beverage without pain or suffering. Pour a glass of water over your coffee grinds to make cold-brew coffee.

After combining the two, set the cup in the refrigerator to brew all night. The brewing process will be finished by the morning as the nutrients and flavor are gently extracted into the water for a powerful coffee drink.

Another option is to consume organic coffee, such as Arabica beans, which are less acidic and aid in preventing heartburn.

Alternatives for lowering acid levels

If you’re concerned about the acid upsetting your stomach but still want the coffee flavor, consider another alternative.

Cold brew is created by steeping coffee beans in cold water for approximately 24 hours. Because of the lower temperatures, some of the chemicals in the beans will not dissolve. The result is a smooth flavor and a drink that is significantly less acidic and will not upset your stomach.

Is it true that decaf coffee is less acidic than regular coffee?

If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, you should investigate the acidity of your morning cup of coffee (GERD).

According to this comprehensive research, around 20% of the US population suffers from GERD.

GERD symptoms are frequently exacerbated by ingesting acidic foods and beverages like citrus fruits and juices.

Many people who want to avoid acid reflux are looking for strategies to minimize the acid content of coffee.

Naturally, some of them want to know if decaf coffee causes acid reflux.

Others may question if ordering a decaf americano instead of a regular one will help them prevent heartburn.

So, let’s see if decaf coffee is less acidic:

Decaf coffee is often less acidic than caffeinated coffee because it loses part of its phenolic acids during the decaffeination process.

The pH of the former varies within the same range as that of normal coffee. However, pH may be an inappropriate gauge of the complicated chemistry of coffee extracts.

Furthermore, decaf coffee does not induce as much heartburn or acid reflux.

This could be because decaf coffee has less caffeine, and caffeine has been linked to an increased risk of acid reflux.

As a result, decaffeinated coffee may be preferable for persons suffering from GERD.

Making the transition from caffeinated to decaf coffee

Fortunately, decaf coffee has been related to health advantages similar to those found with regular coffee use.

Despite having a slightly reduced phenolic content and antioxidant capacity than caffeinated coffee, decaf has high antioxidant properties.

It has also been related to a lower risk of diabetes.

There is evidence that, like normal coffee, decaf coffee may help to lessen physical and cognitive deficiencies in the elderly.

Although it does not improve cognitive performance as normal coffee (due to the absence of caffeine), decaffeinated coffee has similar neuroprotective qualities as caffeinated coffee.

So switching to decaf won’t deprive you of all the benefits of your normal cup of Joe.

Furthermore, excessive coffee consumption is frequently connected with elevated levels of anxiety.

According to this study, increasing anxiety is linked to increased heartburn and the severity of retrosternal pain.

This is another reason why decaf coffee may be preferable to normal coffee for persons who frequently suffer from acid reflux.

In conclusion

As we’ve seen, when people talk about coffee acidity, they can imply various things. For some, it’s a favorable characteristic, implying fresh aromas and a clean taste.

When we get away from the flavor, though, talking about acid gets more difficult. Acid can be to fault for tooth enamel damage, an inflamed stomach lining, or indigestion. While switching to decaf may lessen the risk of acid reflux, it may also increase stomach irritation.

Cold brew coffee is your best bet for a low-acid coffee. On frigid days, tea or chocolate are better options for a hot beverage.

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Editorial Staff

The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.