11 Best Low Acid Coffee Brands For A Sensitive Stomach

You love coffee, but every time you try to drink it, you get that burning sensation that quickly becomes a three-alarm fire.

Is there a solution? Yup. Low acid coffees are Indeed a thing! 

And if you already have a bag of regular coffee, is there a way to make your sensitive stomach love it?… Yes, there is. 

Interested? Good. 

Keep reading for my list of the best low acid coffee brands in 2024. I’ll also give you some tips on what to do to keep drinking the amazing coffee you love. 

But, if you’re in a rush, here are my top three favorites:

Low Acid Coffee Benchmarks

Acid in coffee is not just in your head…or your stomach. Coffee acidity can be measured by the pH levels in the beverage.

The pH scale shows how acidic any solution is. It goes from 0 to 14, and anything from 0 to 7 is acidic. From 8 on up, it’s called basic. The lower the number, the more acid is present.

Where does most coffee come in? Around 5. How acidic is that?

Actually, it’s a lot less acidic than many soft drinks. For instance, cola drinks come in at a pH of around 2.4. 

So when you drink coffee, you are actually getting a lot less acidity than you would get from most juices or soft drinks.

But where does that acidity in coffee come from? 

Coffee has natural acids such as malic acid and citric acids, the same ones found in fruits.  

Coffee also has a certain amount of naturally occurring chlorogenic acid, which gives specialty coffee a particular zing and thrills coffee experts.

When coffee is brewed, those naturally occurring acids are released. Some of those acids give an acidic taste to the coffee, including fruity notes.

So when your coffee tastes like apples, raisins, or grapefruit, it’s due to those natural acids. 

Other acids, like chlorogenic acid, don’t contribute to the taste profile, but they add to the mouthfeel and enhance the overall tasting experience.

People who suffer from acid reflux, excess stomach acid, or gastroesophageal reflux disease may look for a more stomach-friendly coffee. 

They often turn to coffees promoted as low acid to help relieve the likelihood of acid reflux. 

But, do those kinds of coffees really help?

A true low acid coffee has a more neutral pH than your typical coffee, at as much as 6. That’s pretty neutral, considering that the very neutral water measures in at a pH of 7. 

But low acid coffee is not a big jump from regular coffee, which has a pH of around 5. 

If you’re looking for ways to calm your acid reflux, that slight improvement you find in low acid coffee might make all the difference to you.

While there’s no way to get an acid-free coffee, there are coffees that are lower in acid than others. Let’s go over some of those factors that make coffee seem to have more or less acid.

What affects acid in coffee?

How the coffee is roasted

The roasting process involves two factors. Roasters apply heat to the coffee beans for a specific length of time. 

When beans are roasted for longer periods of time at higher temperatures, the chlorogenic acid is reduced. The lower amounts of chlorogenic acid in dark roasts usually automatically make them lower acid coffees.

That’s why a longer roasting process, such as in a medium-dark roast coffee, often feels easier on the stomach for people who suffer from acid reflux or other conditions.

Brewing methods

In addition to roasting, how you brew your coffee impacts it. 

Cold brew coffee, which is brewed at low temperatures for a long time, can have slightly lower acidity. You might consider cold-brewing your coffee to see if it works for you.

The grind

A coarser grind can also reduce acidity. 

So no matter what coffee you buy, try brewing it in coffee makers such as a French Press, which needs both a longer brewing time and a coarser grind. 

If you take your regular coffee, grind it coarse and brew it to reduce acidity, you might find you have a low acidic coffee solution.

But, the type of coffee beans can also play a critical difference. 

Arabica beans have several acids that the other coffee species, Robusta beans, don’t contain, although Arabica is lower in chlorogenic acid. 

So when looking to reduce the acidity, give some thought to the type of coffee beans you’re buying. 

But don’t head to a lower-quality coffee bean to save yourself some acid. Some lower-quality coffees can be pretty harsh on the stomach.

Treated low acid coffee

The good news in the search for low acid coffee is that there are coffee beans that have been specially processed to make them lower in acid. 

Many low acid coffees have a pH of 5.7, which can help you keep peace in your stomach. Let’s take a look at those low acid coffee beans.

Naturally low acid coffee (inadvertent). Some coffees are simply lower in acid than others. It’s not something that’s done on purpose. It’s just part of the makeup of the bean.

People who want to avoid acid can take advantage of this kind of bean. Consider certain Robusta coffees or washed process coffees that create a smoother cup.

Low altitude beans

Coffee beans grown at lower altitudes don’t develop the same amount of acidity as the same kind of coffee grown at higher altitudes. 

It’s not really about the altitude but about the lower temperatures in tropical climates at lower altitudes. 

Keep in mind that although coffee beans grown in warmer climates have lower acidity, they also have fewer aromas and less complexity in taste.

Best regions for low acid coffees:

• Brazil
• Mexico
• Indonesia
• Sumatra

Reducing Acid in Regular Coffee

As I mentioned, acid-free coffee doesn’t exist. 

But you can modify the acid content in your morning cup. If you’re often drinking coffee that doesn’t work for your stomach and want to reduce acid in regular coffees, try these tricks.

Keep it dark – As I mentioned, dark roasts have lower acidity because of the longer roasting time. So to get a low acid coffee, avoid light roasts.

Bring on the ice – Make cold brew, which could reduce the acidity in coffee. 

A typical cold brew can have a pH of 5.1, which may be enough of a difference to ease coffee troubles such as acid reflux.

Additions make a difference – There are additions you can place in your coffee that can lower the acid. The good thing about those additives is that they’re common kitchen staples, such as milk, plant-based milks, salt, or baking soda. 

They can help balance out the pH level in the coffee. Experiment with these options until you find one that suits your needs.

The 11 Best Low Acid Coffee Brands 2024

All of the coffees in this list are lower acid, so let’s talk about roast level and taste.

1. Volcanica Low Acid Coffee

One of the best low acid coffee brands, Volcanica Low Acid Coffee backs up its lower-acid claims by letting you know exactly what the pH is.

At a pH of 5.3, this pick is popular with a wide foray of people who consider it the best-tasting low acid coffee.

And the dark chocolate flavor notes of this smooth coffee is perfect for coffee drinkers who prefer their brew more on the traditional side. 

As always, it’s roasted fresh to order direct from Volcanicas’ roastery, so you’re always receiving the freshest possible beans. Being a medium roast, it’s also suitable for most brew methods. 

So what’s in it?

This coffee is a blend of beans from Brazil, Sumatra, and other undisclosed countries. If you care about the origin, this might make a difference to you.

The coffee grower uses the washed process for the coffee, which can help create a smoother cup.

These beans, grown at low altitudes, are also naturally lower in acid. 

These factors create a reduced acid coffee that is complex yet stomach-friendly.

All in all, with flavors of chocolate, nuts, and tangerine, Volcanica’s low acid coffee might just be your new favorite low acid coffee.

Related Read: Volcanica Coffee Review

2. Fresh Roasted Coffee Bali Blue Moon

The Bali Blue Moon from Fresh Roasted Coffee has a bold body that gives you a comforting mouthfeel and a satisfying coffee experience. 

This coffee pairs well with milk, so you might want to use it for your home cappuccinos or lattes.

This coffee from the Kintamani Highlands of Indonesia Bali is a bestseller. It has a medium roast with notes of dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and anise. Balanced and smooth, this coffee is great for espresso and espresso-based drinks.

This coffee also measures up to sustainability efforts and is certified organic as well as Rainforest Alliance certified. 

What makes this coffee lower acid? The longer roasting time creates a coffee with lower acidity.

Related Read: Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC Review

3. Lifeboost Coffee Medium Roast

Lifeboost Coffee medium roast is a USDA-certified organic coffee made with 100% Arabica beans. They give it a medium roast that has a smooth yet bold taste.

No pesticides were used to grow this coffee, and the beans are tested for mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins. 

All Lifeboost Coffee is also shade-grown. Shade-grown coffee in general, is better for the environment and sweeter, although it doesn’t directly impact the level of acids in the coffee.

The company labels this coffee as a low acid blend, although it doesn’t specify the pH level. Lifeboost also doesn’t specify what processes they did to lower the acidity. 

More positively, you can order pre-ground coffee or whole beans as well as pre-ground coffee pods.

This coffee is one of the more expensive on the list, with the only outstanding benefit that it has been tested for toxins and heavy metals.

But, If they would reveal what the testing determined, it would be even more helpful for health-conscious people to figure out if this is the right coffee for their needs. Lifeboost also states this coffee follows fair trade standards.

All in all, Lifeboost does all the things you’d want from stomach-friendly beans.

Related Read: Lifeboost Coffee Review

4. Volcanica Costa Rica Geisha

Volcanica’s Costa Rica Geisha has 30% less caffeine than other coffees, which is why some people may find it easier on the stomach.

At a pH of 5, this isn’t technically a low acid coffee. But the balance of less caffeine and slightly lower acid can make enough of a difference for many coffee lovers.

This Costa Rica Geisha has the typical delicate profile of floral notes and complex aromas that people in the know expect of a Geisha coffee. 

This lighter coffee has the sweet flavors of apple as well as floral notes that you might find exhilarating. Since this is a natural process coffee with a medium roast, expect a bright-tasting coffee.

Coffees that are an unusual variety and have a natural process are excellent for coffee lovers looking for different flavors in the cup. 

If you’re ready to be surprised by how complex coffee can be, try this Geisha.

5. Sumatra Mandheling Coffee

With a heavy body, this smooth and sweet coffee can be just what you need to stand up to the addition of milk products. 

An exotic coffee from Sumatra, the Sumatra Mandheling Coffee has unusual flavor notes for a lower acid coffee, including brown sugar, dried fruit, and wine. 

You can also feel good about this Fair Trade Certified coffee knowing that coffee growers were paid living wages.

Is this coffee truly lower acid? Yes, at a pH of approx 5.6 it has lower acidity. 

How do they achieve that low acidity? Indonesia is known for producing lower acidity coffees, and both the washed process and a dark roast contribute to reduced acidity.

Related Read: Sumatra Coffee

6. Volcanica Hawaii Kona

Volcanica’s Hawaii Kona coffee has a washed process and medium roast that keep the acidity levels lower. If you’re looking for low acid, this pH of 5.2 is not a bad place to start.

With a heavy body, this flavorful coffee has floral jasmine notes as well as fruity notes of citrus and tart cherries. 

This coffee is also 100% pure Kona Coffee, which is a rarity. All Kona coffee comes from one rather small region on the Big Island of Hawaii. That small growing region explains why a lot of Kona coffees sold are not 100% pure.

This Volcanica coffee is certified by the State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture, so you can be sure it’s the real thing. But because of its rarity – and the purity of this coffee – prices are higher.

Why are these beans called Extra Fancy? That’s actually a classification, not just a desire to look good. 

It’s the highest-rated classification for coffee beans from Hawaii. The beans have a larger size, fewer defects, and good color. 

This coupled with a complex flavor that impresses, makes this the perfect choice for those of you after a luxurious brew.

Related Read: Best Kona Coffee

7. Puroast Low Acid Coffee

Puroast markets this blend as chemical-free and pesticide-free, and sustainably sourced. People love it for its smooth cup.

What makes Puroast low acid coffee lower in acidity? They base their claims on the slow and long roasting time to lower acidity. 

They claim that their coffee has 70% less acid. But they don’t give an exact pH, and they don’t say with what they are comparing their coffee. 

How do they calculate that 70% less? They don’t reveal how. But if this coffee is one of those that doesn’t upset your stomach, then the Puroast low acid coffee might be the right one for you.

In addition to this blend, they offer other blends that are lower acid. You can choose from their dark roasts, House Blend, Bourbon Pecan, Lost Art Blend, vanilla, or hazelnut.

8. Mommee Low Acid Decaf

Mommee Coffee, a low acid decaf, is (not surprisingly) made for new and expectant mommies.

Mommee Coffee is ideal for pregnant women who need low acidity and no chemicals in their coffee.

That doesn’t mean you can’t drink Mommee Coffee if you’re a guy, though. It’s just created to take care of those sensitive stomachs of new and expectant moms.

Just because you want a low acid coffee doesn’t mean you don’t want quality. Mommee Coffee created this low acid medium roast to draw you in with caramel aroma and butterscotch notes. 

You get a creamy texture, no bitterness, and low intensity. This coffee is quite mild and is a lighter roast, so it’s not as dark as others in the low acid coffee category.

This low acid ground coffee also checks off a number of other important aspects. It’s 100% Arabica beans, USDA Organic, non-GMO coffee.

 Also decaffeinated with the water decaf process that is safe and chemical-free. Their roasting process nearly eliminates the chlorogenic acid that is naturally found in coffee. 

They also have quarter caf, half-caf, full caf, and whole beans, and medium grind options.

9. Java Planet Medium Dark

One of the best low acid coffee brands, Java Planet does dark roast coffee right. 

The coffee is smooth, with the pleasing rich flavor of chocolate and nuts. Java Planet has a balanced coffee that’s not harsh, but that does have a bit of brightness.

Java Planet only offers whole bean coffee, which helps with freshness since their bags are larger than most at one pound or five pounds. 

The roasting date is on every bag, so although it’s not roasted fresh to order you can track how long ago it was roasted. 

Their low acid medium roast is actually quite dark and oily for a medium roast and tends to lean towards a dark roast. That longer roasting time adds to the rich flavor.

In regards to sustainability, they hit the mark with non-GMO, Arabica Whole Bean Coffee, USDA Certified Organic, and Rainforest Alliance certifications.

Why do they claim their low acid coffee beans are easier to digest? They say their low acid blend, which contains organic coffee that’s not over-roasted, is easy on the stomach. 

10. Lucy Jo Reduced Acid Blend

Lucy Jo Reduced Acid Blend combines coffee from Indonesia and Brazil and roasts them dark to lower acidity.

The fact that this coffee is USDA Certified organic means that the coffee is grown without harmful pesticides or chemicals.

While the company doesn’t specify what the pH level is or what would make this a low acid coffee, I drew my own conclusions. 

Coffees from Indonesia and Brazil are, at times, naturally low acid. Also, a long roasting time lowers acidity, and this is an ultra-dark roast.

This smooth ultra-dark roast has flavors of chocolate and nuts, although it’s a bit burnt. 

They also have a large-size bag option, which you might like to save on shipping costs. You can’t get ground coffee, just whole bean coffee.

11. Tieman’s Fusion Coffee 

Tieman’s Fusion Coffee is, as it sounds, a blend. And it’s an unusual one in the coffee world.

Tieman’s offers dark roasts, medium roasts, and decaf coffee. The dark roast coffee is highly over-roasted. 

This particular pick features 100% Arabica beans infused with Matcha green tea, Rooibos red tea, and Goji berry powder. 

The goal is to create a lower acid coffee by mixing in tea and goji berry powders. 

But, does this work?

Yes, and they put the pH range at a very neutral 5.85. Because of that blend with other beverages, it’s the least acidic coffee on this list.

If you’re among the coffee drinkers that like the idea of drinking coffee with tea, this can be ideal for you. 

Since it’s not 100% coffee, you’ll be reducing your coffee consumption and perhaps helping to control stomach acid along the way.

But if you’re looking for pure coffee, this blend may disappoint. The flavors aren’t pure, and the cup can seem weaker since it’s mixed with tea and berry powder.

This blend is recommended for people who are fine with smoky, ashy coffee and somewhat burnt notes. It’s also pricier than other low acid coffees.

The Final Verdict

So, which is the best low acid coffee for you? 

My top recommendation is Volcanica Low Acid Coffee, which is popular with coffee lovers who want the best tasting coffee with lower acid. 

If you want a bold body that works well with espresso drinks, try Bali Blue Moon from Fresh Roasted Coffee. 

And if you want to avoid drinking as much coffee as possible, try the unique blend from Tieman’s Fusion Coffee.