Does Milk Make Coffee Less Acidic? 6 Coffee with Milk Benefits

The other day I was wondering ‘Does milk make coffee less acidic?’ 

It’s one of those things that many coffee lovers wonder assuming that a splash of milk can make their brew less acidic. Stick around, I compiled this guide on acidic coffee and whether milk neutralises acidity in coffee. 

Let’s jump straight into it. 

Does milk make coffee less acidic?

Milk makes coffee less acidic since its pH is higher than the one of coffee. More specifically, the pH of milk is 6.4-6.8, while the coffee pH is 4.85-5.13. By adding a splash of milk to your coffee you’ll increase its pH level, making it less acidic.  

Acids in coffee you should know about

Much like other drinks like orange or lemon juice, coffee contains different kinds of acids.

Let’s chat about those you should know about: 

• Citrus: you can find it in citrus fruit like lemon and orange; in coffee, it’s the acid that adds a fruity and tangy flavour twist to your drink. It’s more intense in green coffee beans (beans that haven’t been roasted) and light roasts. 
• Chlorogenic: it’s 1 of the acids that make coffee have many health properties helping your body regulate the glucose in your blood and slow down the development of type 2 diabetes. 
• Quinic: it’s the acid that makes your coffee bitter during the brewing process. When coffee beans are roasted a portion of their chlorogenic acids break down into quinic giving a subtle bitter taste that great coffee always has.
• Acetic: you’ll find acetic acid in vinegar; it’s the one that also makes coffee taste bitter and kinda vinegary or even winery.
• Lactic: it’s the acid that gives your coffee an intense aroma and evokes your senses when drinking freshly brewed coffee. 

Other acids: 

• Phosphoric
• Linoleic
• Palmitic 
• Malic

How does milk make coffee less acidic? 

How is this possible to neutralise the acidity of coffee with milk? 

The easiest yet probably most effective way of bringing down the pH of your brew is to add a product that is less acidic. And milk is less acidic than coffee, meaning that if you mix up these 2 together your brew is going to be less acidic. 

Let’s do the maths: 

Assuming that your coffee’s pH is 5, by adding milk that its pH level is 6.5, the pH level of your drink is going to be 5.5, so coffee with milk is less acidic than coffee without. 

What about the science behind it? 

Milk contains calcium and proteins which prevent coffee acids from upsetting your stomach and causing you acid reflux, heartburn, or any other health issues. 

6 Other benefits of coffee with milk 

I get it, coffee with milk is less acidic than black coffee. What are the other benefits of coffee with milk?

Let’s chat about the benefits of coffee with milk. 

1. More taste 

Let’s face it, coffee with milk tastes better as it adds this subtly sweet spin to your drink and makes it more enjoyable. I prefer to have my coffee black, but every now and again I like to add a splash of cow milk to enjoy a better-taste brew. 

2. Cooler temperature

It happened to all of us when we have the first sip of our brew and it was boiling hot burning our mouth. By adding a splash of milk you bring down the temperature of it making it safer to have a sip right after you’re done with your brewing. 

3. Less caffeine intake 

Since your coffee contains milk it means that your drink less coffee, and by having less coffee it means that your caffeine intake is going to be slightly less. It’s a great way to cut down your caffeine intake. This is going to be helpful for those suffering from insomnia or nervousness when they have too many cups of coffee during the day. 

4. Whiter teeth

Since milk contains protein and calcium it will reduce the risk of coffee staining on your teeth changing the colour of them. A splash of milk in your coffee is going to be enough to slow down the development of stains on your teeth. 

5. Healthier drink

The good news is that coffee has many antioxidant properties, helping your cleansing your body and remove toxins. But coffee with milk is even better since you’re going to benefit from the health properties of both. More particularly, milk contains calcium which is good for your bones and overall health. 

6. Energy boost

Milk also contains carbohydrates which are a great source of energy for our bodies. So coffee with milk is going to really help you kickstart your day or keep going to cope with a hectic day. 

Downsides of coffee with milk

Let’s go over the downsides of coffee with milk so you form a more objective opinion about coffee milk. 

Lactose intolerance

Many people are intolerant to lactose, meaning that milk might upset their stomach. Lactose is a natural sugar in cow milk. If you’re intolerant to lactose, I suggest you switch to non-lactose milk including oat, almond, hazelnut, or coconut. 

More Calories

Coffee with milk contains slightly more calories than black coffee. More particularly, 30 ml of milk contains 10 calories; if you’re on a strict diet trying to shed those extra pounds, it’s wise to opt for skimmed, semi-skimmed milk or any other low-calorie milk. 

Let’s wrap it up 

Well done, you made it to the end of this article, I hope you learned a thing or 2 about coffee, acidity in coffee. Go read about cinnamon and how it reduces acidity in coffee. Stay tuned as I’m planning to write more articles about acidity in coffee.

FAQ

Do you have a burning question? Read on as I go through a couple of FAQs to help you get the big picture. Go have a read on other ways how to reduce acidity in coffee. Have you tried Ethiopian coffee?

Does milk raise the pH of coffee?

Yes, because the pH of milk is higher than the pH of coffee, a splash of milk will be enough to increase the pH of your brew and make it less acidic. 

Is coffee with milk easier on the stomach?

The short answer is: it really depends

Milk contains calcium and proteins which block coffee acids from upsetting your stomach. But if you’re intolerant to lactose coffee with milk might lead to upsetting your stomach. So, it really depends on everyone’s body. It’s wise to try it out and see if it works for you.