Is Instant Coffee Less Acidic Than Espresso? Truth Revealed

Is instant coffee less acidic? 

The other day, I was talking to my girlfriend over a cup of coffee and we were just wondering which type of coffee is less acidic. We did research on the topic and we found out a number of interesting things I’d like to share with you in this post. 

Let’s jump straight into it. 

Is instant coffee less acidic than other types of coffee? 

No, instant coffee is pretty much as acidic as other types of coffee including regular coffee and espresso. Factors that affect the acidity level in instant coffee are the brewing process, and the type of coffee beans used (either Arabica or Robusta) among others. 

The acids in instant coffee you should know about 

Coffee has acids that affect its flavour, aroma, and (you guessed it) acidity level.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common acids found in instant coffee (according to a study about acids in coffee): 

• Citric acid 
• Acetic acid 
• Quinic acid 
• Phosphoric acid 
• Chlorogenic acid 
• Formic acid
• Malic acid
• Pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid

5 factors that affect the acidity level in instant coffee

Let’s talk about 5 major factors that affect how acidic your instant coffee is going to be. 

Coffee bean type 

As mentioned above the coffee bean type plays a role in the acidity level of coffee beans. 

Particularly, Robusta coffee beans are more acidic than Arabica coffee beans. The reason is, it takes longer for Robusta coffee beans to grow and mature, meaning that contain more caffeine and acidity. 

Here’s the thing: 

Most instant coffee is made from Robusta coffee beans as they are cheaper to buy, so this makes instant coffee made from Robusta coffee beans more acidic than the one made from Arabica. 

Altitude

The higher the altitude the coffee beans grow, the more acidic they’re going to be. 

Coffee beans that grow in Peru, Brazil, and Ethiopia are going to have a higher acidity content than those that grow in Sumatra. 

If you want to avoid buying too acidic coffee, before your purchase, check on the package where the coffee grows. 

Roasting

This is another major factor that affects the acidity level in instant coffee.

Here’s how: 

There are 3 main coffee roasting types: 

• Light (or Blonde)
• Medium
• Dark

Dark roast coffee beans are less acidic than light roasts, simply because coffee loses some of its acidity during the roasting process, meaning the longer coffee beans are roasted, the less acidity they contain. 

If your aim is to drink instant coffee with low acidity, I suggest you opt for a dark roast. 

Grind size

The grind size also affects the level of acidity in your coffee.

More specifically, fine-ground instant coffee is going to be more acidic as more acids slip through your cup, while coarser-ground instant coffee is going to be less acidic. 

It’s wise to do your research and shop around before going ahead and purchasing instant coffee. 

How do you take your coffee? 

Do you add milk or creamer? 

A splash of milk or a serving of creamer will be enough to bring down the acidity level of your coffee, so you can enjoy your brew without facing any stomach issues including acid reflux. There are also a number of other simple ingredients that can reduce acidity in coffee which I’m talking about in the next section. 

How to reduce acidity in instant coffee? 

Let’s go through a number of ways you can reduce the acidity in instant coffee.

Milk

Milk is less acidic than coffee. 

More specifically, milk’s pH is between 6.4 and 6.8 while coffee’s pH is 4.85-5.1, meaning that if you add a splash of milk to your coffee it will be enough to bring the pH of your brew down and make it less acidic. 

How come? 

When you mix an acidic drink up with a less acidic drink the pH of this mixed drink goes up, making it less acidic.

One milk type with the least acidity level is almond as is alkaline-forming.

Creamer

This is another great solution to bringing down the pH of instant coffee. 

The pH of coffee creamer is 6.8, meaning that coffee creamer is even less acidic than milk. A serving of it in your instant coffee will be enough to make your coffee less acidic. 

If you want to drink less acidic instant coffee coffee creamer is a better option than milk. 

Ice

That’s a dead simple way of reducing the acidity level in your coffee.

All you need to do is add 4-5 ice cubes to your coffee and make it cold. 

Why does this make your brew less acidic? 

The pH of water is 7 meaning that once the ice cubes start melting and becoming water will bring the acidity level of your coffee down. 

And you can always combine cold instant coffee with milk or creamer to add an extra layer of taste to it. 

Having cold instant coffee is an excellent option on a boiling hot day as it’s refreshing and delicious. 

Baking soda

Baking soda is one of those ingredients that bring down the acidity of coffee. 

It works as anti-acid and brings down the pH of different drinks. 

However, you have to be cautious as too much soda in your brew will ruin its taste which is definitely not a pleasant experience – just a pinch of it will do the trick. If you want to avoid drinking coffee with a spoiled taste, I suggest you try out one of the other ways I go through this section. 

Alkaline water

Did you know that alkaline water is less acidic than normal water? 

The pH of normal water is 7 while the one of alkaline is 8-9, meaning that is less acidic than normal water. 

And on top of that alkaline water is good for you as it contains electrolyte minerals that replenish and cleanse your body. 

Let’s wrap it up 

Is instant coffee less acidic than espresso or ground coffee in general? The answer is: not really. They pretty much have the same acidity level and as mentioned above there are different factors that affect that such as the coffee type or the coffee roast. It’s also good to know a bunch of low-acid alternative beverages.

FAQ

Let’s go over a bunch of FAQs.

Is instant coffee easier on the stomach?

It depends on the coffee type and roast. For example, Arabica dark roast instant coffee is less acidic than Robusta light roast. So, before you purchase instant coffee make sure you check these 2 factors. 

How acidic is Nescafe instant coffee?

Nescafe is pretty much as acidic as ground coffee including espresso. Latte or cappuccino are less acidic than dark Nescafe simply because they contain milk which makes coffee less acidic. Similarly, Nescafe with milk is less acidic than Nescafe without. 

What kind of coffee is easiest on your stomach?

Latte cappuccino and Cold brew are better options than espresso or dark instant coffee for anyone having issues with their stomach. If coffee with milk still affects your health, I suggest you give coffee a break for as long as your body is back to normal.