Is Decaf Coffee Okay for Acid Reflux? This Myth Debunked

Ever wondered ‘Is decaf coffee okay for acid reflux?’. 

Acid reflux is a common health issue many face and it’s wise to know whether you can drink decaf coffee, especially if you suffer from it. In this article, I go over the most important stuff you need to know about the topic and debunk a common myth. 

Let’s dive straight into it. 

What you should know about decaf coffee

Let’s go over a number of important stuff that you need to know about decaf coffee. 

What is decaf coffee? 

Decaf coffee was invented way back in 1906 in Germany by Roselius Ludwig who obsessively tried to find a way to reduce the amount of caffeine coffee contains. Fast forward to today, there are so many brands that have their decaf line of products from Nescafe to espresso coffee beans and the list goes on. 

Does decaf coffee completely free from caffeine? What about decaf coffee and acidity?

The short answer is: No 

In essence, it’s coffee that a huge percentage (at least 97%) of caffeine has been removed from the coffee beans. So, decaf coffee has caffeine (I know it sounds oxymoron) but it’s so little that it doesn’t cause any of the negative effects on you including nervousness, and increased heart rate. 

How is decaf coffee made? 

There are different kinds of ways to remove caffeine from coffee beans. 

One of the most common ones is called the Swiss Water Process where a charcoal filter or carbon dioxide is used to remove a huge percentage of caffeine. Other methods that are commonly used entail just the use of water.

The good news with decaffeination (the process of decaffeinating coffee) is that the nutritional value remains almost the same. For example, the antioxidants of regular coffee and decaf coffee are almost the same. 

3 benefits of drinking decaf coffee

Let’s go over 5 benefits of drinking decaf coffee:

• Lower caffeine: there are so many people out there who stay up at night because of their excessive caffeine intake. The caffeine level in a cup of decaf coffee is so low that you won’t have any issues going to sleep.
• It hydrates you: typically coffee dehydrates, especially when you have too many cups of coffee every day. Unlike regular coffee, decaf coffee hydrates your body, meaning that your body functions better
• Lower risk of diabetes 2: although other drinks cause diabetes 2, decaf coffee lowers the risk of causing such an issue – it’s a healthier option.

Is acidic coffee less acidic than regular coffee? 

The short answer is: Yes

Coffee contains different types of acids including citric and lactic acids. These are the main acids that have an effect on our stomach and change the pH causing health issues including acid reflux. On the other hand, decaf coffee doesn’t contain a huge amount of those kinds of acids.

Since decaf coffee contains less of those acids, this in practice means that it’s a better opinion for anyone suffering from acid reflux. But again, it’s key to drink it in moderation and try to observe how your stomach reacts. If drinking decaf coffee still causes you issues, I suggest you give up on coffee (for some time at least).  

It’s important to examine the other side of the argument as well and see research that found out that decaf coffee can have the same effects (if more) compared to caffeinated coffee. 

Comparing coffee’s acidity level with other drinks

Coffee is acidic – no doubt about it, but how what’s coffee’s acidity level compared to other acidic drinks? 

Let’s have a look at the pH of each one: 

• Coffee → 5
• Orange juice → 3.9
• Smoothies → 3.9-4.4
• Coke → 2.6
• Beer → 4-4.4
• Wine → 3-3.5
• Vinegar → 2.4
• Water → 7
• Sparkling water → 4.5
• Tea → 4.9-5.5

It’s worth mentioning that the HIGHER the pH of a drink the LESS acidic it is. For example, water is less acidic than coffee and beer is less acidic than Coke. 

If you suffer from acid reflux is vital to avoid acidic drinks including Coke and orange juice as much as you can. Obviously, you can’t just give up on them completely, especially if you like them, but it’s wise to cut down the intake and have them in moderation.

How to reduce coffee the level of acidity in your coffee? 

Let’s go over 4 ways how to reduce the acidity level of your coffee:

• French Press over espresso machine: did you know that coffee brewed with a French Press is less acidic than coffee made with an espresso machine? If you really want to reduce the acid in your coffee consider brewing with a French Press.
• Drink plenty of water: make sure you drink at least the double amount of water for every coffee cup you have. Because water is lower in acid, it will neutralise the acidity level.
• Add honey to your coffee: Because honey contains antioxidants, it will reduce the level of acid in your coffee. Plus, honey makes your coffee taste better, adding a slight sweet spin to it.

Let’s wrap it up 

Still wondering is decaf coffee okay for acid reflux?’ I hope you learned a thing or two about decaf coffee and its effect on our body especially for those who suffer from acid reflux. I know coffee is a sacred drink and most of us can’t do without it, but it’s key to having it in moderation and looking after ourselves. Stay tuned, similar articles are coming soon.

FAQ

Let’s take a look at some of the most common questions on the topic.

Can I remove the acid without spoiling the taste of my coffee? 

Yes, there are a couple of ways you can go about it. 

Let’s have a look: 

Go for a Cold Brew instead of hot coffee. Cold brew is less acidic than hot coffee; the acidity during the process goes away. 

Another way to go about it is using coarser coffee grounds to avoid over extraction which typically lets more coffee acidity end up in your cup. 

Where does coffee acidity come from?

Most of its acid comes from chlorogenic acids and antioxidants. Typically, green and raw coffee beans are high in acidity, but once they are roasted some of their acidity level goes away. This also means that dark roast coffee beans (which are typically roasted longer) have less acidity than medium and light coffee bean roasts. 

Why does coffee cause acid reflux?

Most people believe that the acidity in coffee results in acid reflux. 

The reality is that the caffeine content in coffee causes acid reflux. That’s why it’s not only coffee that causes acid reflux but also tea, soft, and energy drinks that contain caffeine. It’s vital to have them in moderation and try to cut down on your caffeine intake if your stomach is sensitive but this varies from person to person. 

Which decaf coffee is lower in acid?

There are 2 main types of decaf coffee with low acid: 

• Inadvertent: this is decaf coffee coming from beans with low levels of acid. They typically grow in certain areas including Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, and Peru.
• Treated: this is decaf coffee produced following a special process to reduce the level of acid. For example, decaf coffee grown in Brazil and other Latin American countries typically follows a long process to reduce the acid level.