Upset Stomach No More: A Review of Low Acid Coffee Brands

Coffee is the elixir of life – this is what any true-blue coffee lover would say. But as good as coffee is, not everyone can enjoy a cup. Some people have conditions that render them unable to enjoy the drink.

Fortunately, man has found a way to address this problem through low acid coffee brands.

Coffee is not only enjoyed by those who love its rich taste. People who lead busy lives and those who have demanding careers love it because of its function as a stimulant.

Its bold taste is enjoyable and the caffeine allows you to stay alert. This combination can brighten up any day.

The following are some of the best brands sold in the market as of writing:

Subtle Earth Organic Coffee ^[1] and Puroast Coffee Organic French Roast is at a tie of 4.2 stars out of five. The Subtle Earth Organic Coffee is known for its deep and rich chocolatey taste. Meanwhile, Puroast Coffee ^[2] is known for its sharp bold taste. However, both brands are a bit on the expensive range.

Java Planet Organic Coffee ^[3] is worthy of 4.8 stars out of five. Each bag contains Colombia-sourced beans packed with smooth, full-flavored coffee sans the burnt and bitter taste.

Meanwhile, we give Mommee Coffee ^[4] 4 and a half stars out of five. We would have given the brand a higher rating if not for its hefty price tag. Also, the marketing is geared towards women. Men might not appreciate it that much. The label of the coffee is even a silhouette of the tummy of a pregnant woman.

Healthwise Coffee ^[5] is worthy of 4.1 stars out of five. The coffee beans were prepared using the technoroasting process. The vitamins and nutrients were preserved using said process. However, the taste was lost.

Tieman’s Fusion Coffee ^[6] gets four (4) out of five stars. It contains Matcha Green Tea, Rooibos Red Tea and Goji Berry powder. The additional ingredients may be attractive to some. However, there are those that do not like these add-on flavors. Hence, the lower score.

While both Euromild Ground Coffee ^[7] and Simpatico Coffee ^[8] get 4.6 stars out of five.

It is also non-GMO. The farmers do not use any kind fertilizer or insect repellant. Farmers plant peppers to prevent bug problems. The beans are 100% Arabica.

Subtle Earth Organic Coffee is also very versatile. It can be made in four different ways namely through the Traditional Drip Machine, French Press, Espresso Machine and Hand Drip Method. It can be bought as a whole bean in dark roast, medium dark roast and light roast. It can be bought as two (2) and five (5) pound bags or single serve cups.

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Aside from organic coffee, Java Planet also sells Rain Forest Alliance coffee, Bird friendly coffee, Single Origin coffee, Decaffeinated coffee and other flavored coffee. The company also sells green coffee. They only have three roasts available namely medium roast, medium dark roast and dark roast.

The unique thing about this coffee is that they indicate on the label the date of roasting. Each pack is usually sent fresh just a week from roasting.

Mommee Coffee is sold in four different caffeine content levels namely decaffeinated, ¼ caffeinated, ½ caffeinated and full caffeinated.

Because of the technoroasting process, the vitamins, minerals, micronutrients and antioxidants are preserved and sealed in each bean. The intense heat in other bean roasting methods causes the vitamins and minerals to be lost.

As for the taste, some drinkers laud the mellow taste of Healtwise coffee. However, there were users who noted that it lacked taste.

One drinker noted that he has difficulty with his gut and found that he had no problems drinking Tieman’s Fusion Coffee.

It is available in four variations namely Dark Roast Ground, Dark Roast Whole Bean, Decaf Semi Dark Roast and Medium Roast. It is sold as a single pack, six pack, and 30 pack.

Simpatico makes use of low emissions Revelation Roaster. This roaster is known for its efficiency. It is also to be noted that Simpatico roasts its beans in small batches as a means of quality control.

Drinkers noted its great taste. Despite being low-acid, it still retained the full-bodied taste that regular coffee has.

The company sells various roasts such as Medium roast, Black and Tan roast, Dark roast, Way Darker (espresso) roast, Oaxacan Gold specialty roast, Mexican Amber Dark roast and Absolute Darkness roast.

This would explain why some find it difficult to drink coffee. But due to recent developments, humans have found a way to lessen this acidity. Thus, low acid coffee was born.

Coffee producers reduce acidity by using processing methods that reduce acid levels such as the semi dry and dry process.

In these processes, the beans are dried under the sun for a few days and a hulling machine is used to remove outer layers. Dark roasting also helps reduce acid levels.

The pH value is an indicator of the acidity of certain food or substances. A pH of 14 means that the substance is far from being acidic, while a pH of 0 means a high level of acidity.

Coffee’s pH is around, which means that while it is naturally acidic, it is less acidic than orange juice

There are two types of coffee for those who cannot tolerate high acidity – treated and inadvertent.

With treated coffee, the beans are subjected to proprietary preparation and roasting methods. On the other hand, the inadvertent variety is made from beans that are naturally low in acid.

It’s the acids that give the coffee its unique, tangy flavor. Coffee brands have differing acidity levels though, and some coffee varieties have naturally low acid content.

However, green coffee naturally contains high levels of acid. Most of these acids dissipate during the roasting process.

In addition to being easy on the stomach which is helpful for those who suffer from heartburn and GERD, it is also easy on the teeth. The teeth’s enamel is prone to decay when exposed to harsh acids, such as those found in coffee.

Finally, this kind of coffee has high levels of antioxidants. It can potentially lower the risk of dementia, heart disease, and even cancer.

Related: Best Low Acid Coffee K-Cups: Top Options You Can Find on the Market

Also, darker roasts are generally lower in acid content compared to lighter roasts.

Finally, keep in mind that dark coffee from beans grown in countries with lower elevation is generally lower in acid. These countries include Hawaii, Brazil, Mexico, Guatamela, and Indonesia.

It is also found that Arabica beans have lower acid content than other beans such as Robusta and Sumatra beans.

Coffee beans that have been ground too finely are more likely to release acid during the brewing process. 

It’s recommended that you use coarser ground coffee because they are not as likely to release acids when brewed. If your condition is not so severe that you can test medium ground coffee, you may try it.

However, through cold brew, it takes around 12 to 24 hours. Studies show that slow-steeped cold brew coffee has at least 70% less acid levels. Additionally, the coffee also tastes twice as strong

To make coffee with this technique, do the following steps:

Place 4 1/2 ounces of ground coffee in a mesh bag. Put the mesh bag in a 2-liter pitcher and fill it with cold water. Let the coffee brew overnight for at least 12 hours in the fridge.

Then, remove and squeeze all the remaining liquid from the mesh bag into the pitcher. The brewed liquid is a concentrated form of the coffee, so it’ll need to be diluted with hot water.

Adding milk to a cup of coffee is also a great way to lessen acid levels. This is due to the fact that Calcium offsets acidity.

The kind of water you use to brew coffee also has an effect on the acidity level. Try using drinkable alkaline water in order to neutralize coffee’s natural acidity. One brand you could try is Essential, which has a pH level of 9.5.

Out of the eight eight brands listed above, Java Planet Organic Coffee ranked highest of them all. The beans are sourced from Colombia and prepared in Tampa, Florida. The coffee is smooth and full-flavored sans the burnt and bitter taste

Despite being low-acid, it tastes pretty good. The price is also very competitive. We also have to mention the very attractive packaging. In addition, it is Rainforest Alliance-certified, bird friendly, single origin coffee available.

It is available on medium roast, medium dark roast, and dark roast. Another notable feature is that the date of roasting is indicated on the label. This ensures that you get to enjoy fresh coffee.

Cafe Don Pablo photo by: littlecoffeeplace.com | CC BY-SA