Many people email us asking about low acid coffee as an option for people who get indigestion or heartburn after their morning joe.

Is it a marketing gimmick or something that can be useful to coffee lovers?

A recent HuffPost survey found that about 49% of coffee drinkers would rather do without their mobile phone for a whole month than give up coffee!

So finding a coffee that agrees with you and many others is quite important.

Our stomach is full of acid. At least it should be. This is how we digest our food and kill off bad bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Symptoms of heartburn and indigestion are actually from TOO LITTLE stomach acid, not too much. For symptoms, we suggest a free call with one of our health coaches here. They can help get your digestion back on track.

This answer is that anything can cause heartburn if you have poor digestion. Coffee is acidic and may worsen symptoms. But the answer should not be get rid of coffee, but fix your digestion. Then you can drink coffee without bad symptoms. And you have improved your health by improving your digestion.

Also, check your water. We suggest a more alkaline water. Our water carries a pH around 9. It’s adjustable too. Learn more at TheDrsWolfson.com/water.

If coffee leads to symptoms, try adding a pinch of baking soda to your cup. We trust this brand versus the leading popular product. You can also add a little raw cream, raw butter or other non-dairy option. You can read more about good things to add to your coffee in this post.

Some companies call their product low acid and less likely to cause heartburn. Some customers claim it’s true, others say no benefit.

Here is my concern.

The beneficial antioxidants in the coffee are things like chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. If the acid is removed or naturally present in low levels, do you lose some of the health benefits?

The answer is that we don’t know. But given the amazing health virtues of brands like Cardiology Coffee, I wouldn’t want to risk the loss of this supercompounds.

Acid is also a good thing as far as flavor goes, as it results in coffee with a delightful essence or brightness, especially when sourcing from quality coffee beans. The acid breakdown varies with different coffee plant origins, with many documented health benefits. One study in 2019 found that coffee high in chlorogenic acid lowers abdominal fat and BMI of overweight individuals. Another research team concluded that the acid profile of coffee contributed to the overall antioxidant and cancer preventative nature of coffee.

Many low-acid brands on the market today are treated by way of a mechanical process in an attempt to alter the bean’s acidity, which causes the coffee to lose some of the desirable benefits.

Low quality coffee beans should be avoided whenever possible. In addition to higher levels of additives and toxins, they are also notorious for being overly acidic. Many have experienced how too much acid can be hard on sensitive stomachs, particularly for those of us drinking multiple cups of joe a day. If you are experiencing gasto-intestinal symptoms, this is a clue to something deeper going on.

Have no fear. You can still enjoy your coffee while working on improving your digestion, as many of my clients do. Here are some tips for best enjoyment.

1. Lighten Up
   Add raw cream, raw butter, or a non-dairy creamer. See if that helps.
2. Add Baking Soda
   Baking soda helps neutralize some of the naturally occurring acid in coffee, making it easier to digest with no effect on flavor. Try adding 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda for a pot of coffee if desired if you experience acid reflux or heartburn.
3. Improve Your Water Quality
   Water is the main ingredient in your coffee. If you use tap water to brew your coffee, be aware that the pH of that water may be affecting the acidity of your coffee. For a better tasting water without toxins that isn’t detrimental to your brew, try the Pristine Hydro water filtration system.