Acidity In Coffee.

Did you know that coffee is one of the most popular beverage in the world? Thus, it is here to stay. Still, even coffee lovers may be curious about whether this beverage is acidic and how its acidity may impact their health. Here, we are going to find out whether coffee is acidic, its effects on certain health conditions and some ways to modify its acidity.

Acidity.

Acidity is determined using the pH scale, which specifies how basic or acidic a water based solution is. The scale ranges from 0 to 14. Any solution registering from 0 to 7 on the scale is considered acidic. Most variety of coffees are acidic, with an average of 4.85 to 5.10 pH value. The brewing process of coffee releases nine major acids that contribute to its unique flavour profile. among the countless compounds in this beverage. The nine major acids found in coffee are chlorogenic, quinic, citric, acetic, lactic, malic, phosphoric, linoleic, and palmitic.

Factors Contribute To Coffee Acidity.

Several factors can play a role when it comes to the acidity of the coffee.

Roasting

One main aspect that determines the acidity of coffee is how it’s roasted. The duration and temperature of roasting have been correlated with the acidity level. One study showed that the longer and hotter coffee beans were roasted, the lower their chlorogenic acid levels. This suggests that lighter roasts tend to be higher in acidity, while darker roasts are lower.

Brewing

Brewing methods is another factor that affects acidity. Another study found that cold brewed coffee was significantly lower in acidity than hot one. The amount of time brewing the coffee also appears to affect overall acidity. The shorter the duration resulting in a more acidic beverage.

Ground size

The size of the coffee grounds can also affect acidity. The smaller the ground, the greater the surface area exposed relative to volume, which can lead to more acid being extracted in the brewing process.

Possible effects on health

While coffee’s acidity is fine for most people, it may aggravate certain health conditions in others. These conditions include acid reflux, gastric ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. Coffee’s effects on these conditions are mainly attributed to its acidity and laxative effect in some people. Coffee has not been shown to cause these conditions. However, if you have been diagnosed with one of them, it’s often recommended to avoid coffee.

Ways to reduce acidity

Here are a few ways to reduce the coffee acidity.

• Choose dark over light roasts.
• Drink cold brew instead of hot.
• Increase brewing time by using a French press for instance.
• Choose a coarser grind.
• Low temperature brewing.

Another method of reducing acidity in coffee is by drinking cold brewed and choosing darker roasts. Using these strategies, you can enjoy your cup of columbian while reducing the side effects of its acidity.