One of my favorite moments of any day is the first sip of coffee. Hot, iced, sweet, or black, I can safely say I’ve been a lover of all varieties of coffee for quite some time. It wasn’t until recently that I began to see low-acid coffee brands pop up in local grocery stores with promises of being gentler on the gut, and I’ve been intrigued. You know what the internet says: tummy troubles are a hot girl problem. So, I set out to try the top low acid coffee brands that might give my gut a break allow me to enjoy my mornings a bit more. And with the tips and low acid coffee brands below, you can too.
What’s the deal with low acid coffee?
I had plenty of questions about what exactly acidity is, what it can do to your body, and how to find a coffee with a lower acidity content. Generally, coffee is a highly acidic beverage due to the type of beans used, the roasting method, and the presence of caffeine. This combination of factors can sometimes lead to an upset stomach or a nasty caffeine buzz. With low-acid coffee gaining popularity, I put several brands to the test to see just how these brews hold up.
How Coffee Impacts Digestion
Suffice it to state—coffee tends to be a bit problematic in the digestion department. While I, too, know that sometimes the only thing I feel like consuming in the AM is a cup of coffee, getting a meal in before that first brew is crucial to preventing an upset stomach. Caffeine alone can cause cortisol levels to spike if food isn’t consumed beforehand. Additionally, coffee can increase stomach acidity by producing excess hydrochloric acid, which can lead to heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion. These symptoms are just a few of the reasons why some people steer clear of this acidic drink first thing in the morning.
What Makes Certain Coffee Less Acidic
Without switching up your morning routine, you can easily add a bit of milk or cream to your coffee, which has a neutralizing effect on the acid. However, if you’re already prone to stomach issues, more dairy may not be the answer you’re looking for. Where your coffee beans are harvested and the elevation of harvesting can both determine the acid content. When you’re shopping, look for beans from Brazil, Sumatra, and Nicaragua if you’re aiming to lower your acid content.
If you’re brewing at home, there are a few ways you can reduce the acidity in your morning brew. Some tips:
- Elongate your roasting time. Both roasting temp and duration can affect the acidity of your coffee. To lessen your coffee’s acidity, try brewing at a higher water temperature but for a longer period of time. Your coffee may seem more bitter than usual, but the actual acid content will be significantly lower.
- Incorporate eggshells into your grounds. Since eggshells are alkaline materials, they work to reduce the acidity of anything they are incorporated into, including your morning cup of joe.
- Use a coarse grind of coffee beans. Because finely ground coffee contains more particles than coarsely ground coffee, using coarser grounds at a lower temperature will prevent your brew from being acidic and bitter. Score!
Finding Less Acidic Coffee Roasts
Out of the three roasts—light, medium, and dark—the award for lowest acidity goes to dark roast coffee. This roast has fewer compounds that cause stomach cells to produce acid. Additionally, if you opt for different brewing methods of coffee, you may have more luck in eliminating acidity. Espresso tends to have a shorter brewing process and cold brew requires less heat. Both processes can lessen the acid that gets filtered into your drink.
After taste-testing and determining how these coffee brands hold up against a sensitive stomach, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 low-acid coffee brands to try. Read and sip your way to a more enjoyable morning coffee moment.
10 Low-Acid Coffee Brands, Tried and Tested
If the idea of a lower-acid coffee piqued your interest, we have you covered. Read on for our picks of the best low-acid coffee brands.
Note: Many coffees on this list are offered in whole-bean, ground, and packet form. Be sure to select your desired form before checking out!
Best Low-Acid Coffee Brands
Best Affordable: Trader Joe’s Low-Acid French Roast Coffee
Just when I thought Trader Joe’s couldn’t get any better, I found the low-acid option for their French Roast coffee. This coffee tasted full, with strong yet sweet coffee flavors. The beans are steamed prior to their long, slow roast, which helps to remove acidity without affecting the flavor. I found this blend to be quite smooth and not bitter compared to the typical French Roasts coffees I’ve tried. And in true Trader Joe’s fashion, it’s one of the most affordable low-acid options at under ten dollars.
- Flavor Notes: Smokey with a hint of sweet chocolate
- Roast Type: Dark
- Origin: Brazil and Peru
If you’re like me and happen to be on the go pretty much 24/7, Purity Coffee offers a great single-serve packet option of their dark-roast blend. The “Ease” blend is specifically formulated for easier digestion than traditional coffee while still maintaining a robust flavor. This blend contains high levels of antioxidant phenolic compounds in its low-acidity blend for an added nutrient boost. While Purity also sells both beans and grounds, I found their single-use sachets to be perfect for busy mornings when I still wanted a quality cup of coffee. They also offer a ground option if the idea of single-use packets isn’t as appealing. If your sensitive stomach and long morning commute don’t exactly agree, this may be the coffee for you.
- Flavor Notes: Roasted walnut, dark chocolate, brown spice
- Roast Type: Dark
- Origin: Nicaragua, Honduras, and Colombia
Bulletproof coffee earns its spot on this list for a few great reasons. The medium roast blend caused minimal digestive side effects while still providing quite a kick from its caffeine content. My coffee had a slightly bitter taste but made up for the slight bite with its sweet flavor notes. I didn’t find that this coffee had any type of acidic aftertaste and would highly recommend it to experienced coffee drinkers who need that extra kick of caffeine.
- Flavor Notes: Cinnamon, plum, and orange with a cocoa hazelnut finish
- Roast Type: Medium
- Origin: Colombia, El Salvador and Guatemala
One of the most well-known, low-acid coffees among coffee connoisseurs is Lifeboost. All of their products are low-acid coffees and can be purchased as beans, grounds, or in “Go Bag,” single-use form. Their dark roast is dry and sweet, with smooth flavors. Lifeboost gains its popularity due to its pH level, which is 6 or higher in all of its coffees, compared to a pH of around 5 or lower in most traditional coffees.
- Flavor Notes: Chocolate
- Roast Type: Dark
- Origin: Nicaragua
The Puroast French Roast is one of the smoothest blends of low-acid coffee out there. They offer several flavors, such as Bold Vanilla and Premium Hazelnut, but their French Roast is a great low-acid dark roast option if you’re sensitive to flavors. Typical French Roasts can be bitter, but this particular blend doesn’t have any elements of bitterness.
- Flavor Notes: Smokey and sweet
- Roast Type: Dark
- Origin: Venezuela
While a medium roast coffee may not be the most desired option for seasoned coffee drinkers, Fabula’s organic, low-acid option may change your mind with tasty aromas such as brown sugar and mild fruits. This coffee blend is full of flavor and fresher than most store-bought, low-acid coffee, which is the reason for its slightly higher price. However, if you’re picky about the taste and freshness of your brew, this brand may be worth trying.
- Flavor Notes: Caramelized Sugars, Nutty, Chocolate, Rich
- Roast Type: Medium
- Origin: Peru
When it comes to variety, Volcanica Coffee takes the cake. This coffee can be purchased in four forms— whole bean, drip grind, espresso grind, and French press. The brand also offers 26 different varieties of low-acid coffee, all of which meet low acid criteria of a pH of 5.6 to 5.2. Their dark roast is surprisingly sweet, with notes of dark chocolate and caramel that complement its full-bodied and bold taste.
- Flavor Notes: Smoke, dark chocolate, and caramel
- Roast Type: Dark
- Origin: Colombia, Guatemala, and Sumatra
If you’ve made it this far into the low-acid coffee brands but don’t own a coffee maker, VitaCup offers a great low-acid option that comes in Keurig K-Cup form! Not only is VitaCup’s dark roast delicious, but it’s also highly convenient for traveling or busy mornings. I found this coffee to be more smooth and well-balanced than other K-Cup coffees I’ve brewed.
- Flavor Notes: Caramel and cocoa
- Roast Type: Dark
- Origin: Guatemala
If you’re a big fan of different blends, Lucy Jo’s Coffee has you covered. The family-run company offers low-acid grounds and beans with plenty of unique flavors and roasts. Their low-acid original blend is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy while still keeping your cup of coffee intense and far from bitter.
- Flavor Notes: Sweet and earthy with a hint of spice
- Roast Type: Medium-dark
- Origin: Indonesia and Brazil
Aside from its stunning packaging, Mastermind Coffee makes its way to this list due to its added mental boost that traditional coffees don’t usually offer. Their low-acid espresso roast is smooth and not as strong of a taste as traditional espressos, with a hint of sweetness. It’s strong in regards to caffeine content, so diluting this coffee with creamer or drinking a small cup at a time may be a good idea.
- Flavor Notes: Mildly sweet and earthy
- Roast Type: Espresso
- Origin: USA
