Is coffee part of your daily routine? Is it essential to life, as far as you’re concerned? Then drink up! But first, take a look at the benefits of low acid coffee and why acid free coffee substitutes sometimes just don’t do the trick.

If you’re considering making the switch to low acid coffee, you may be onto something good. There are many reasons to choose low acidity coffee and low acid decaf coffee. Here are some of the benefits, and also what to look for in a low acid coffee. You can also find out why Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee is at the top of the best low acid coffee brands.

Acid Reflux and Low Acid Coffee

The first thing that comes to mind when you think about acidity and coffee may be acid reflux. Acid reflux happens when acid from your stomach goes up into the lower esophagus. This is how it happens.

• When you swallow food or beverages, they go down your throat into your esophagus and to your stomach. 
• To get from the lower esophagus to your stomach, food and drink pass through the  lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. That’s a ring-shaped muscle that opens to let food and drink pass through, and closes when you’re not eating.
• Your stomach is an acidic environment. Acid production increases when you eat or drink.
• If the LES relaxes when it shouldn’t, that means it opens slightly. That means that acid from the stomach can rise up and go into your lower esophagus.

The presence of acid in your lower esophagus is what causes symptoms. Acid is caustic. It burns! That’s what you are feeling when you feel burning sensations or pain in your chest when you have heartburn.

You may have gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, if you have acid reflux regularly. Besides heartburn, other symptoms can include chest pain, feeling as though there is a lump in your throat, and regurgitating food.

People tend to attribute episodes of heartburn to acidic foods and beverages. Coffee is one of the most commonly named items people name when they are asked what they think triggered their symptoms. Since coffee is naturally acidic, it makes sense to look for low acidity coffee. The best low acid coffee is one that is organic and tastes fabulous, such as Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee.

Aside from choosing low acidity coffee, you might ask your healthcare provider about low acid decaf coffee. That’s because caffeine leads to an increase in production of stomach acid. Plus, it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, which leads to heartburn.

IBS and Low Acid Coffee

There seems to be a link between GERD and irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. People with IBS are more likely to have GERD. It also seems as though coffee triggers IBS. This may lead to bloating. 

The increased pressure from bloating may lead to acid reflux. That’s because it places pressure on the stomach, which can lead to the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, opening and allowing acid to go upwards into the esophagus and cause the painful and burning sensations of heartburn.

By the way, coffee has been listed as a trigger for IBS symptoms such as diarrhea. That’s likely because of the caffeine in coffee, which is known to be a laxative and cause contractions in the intestine. If you find that some low acid coffee brands lead to IBS symptoms for you, you might consider Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee in its decaffeinated version. 

Bariatric Surgery and Low Acid Coffee

Many surgeons ask their bariatric surgery patients to avoid coffee after the procedure, but that can be a serious burden if you are one of millions of Americans who rely on their coffee every day for energy and comfort. Plus, if you’re a bariatric surgery patient, you’re going through a lot!

• The days leading up to surgery can be stressful as you plan for your recovery and new lifestyle.
• The procedure is a major event that can involve a hospital stay and some down time at home.
• You can have days or weeks on a liquid or pureed foods diet.
• After getting back to solid foods, your meal plan will still be very different than it may have been for years before surgery.

With all of these changes, it can be even harder to break up with an old friend like coffee. Do you really need to say good-bye? Ask your surgeon whether low acid coffee brands, such as Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee, can be okay for you to drink after surgery. It’s possible that reduced acid coffee is allowed on a post-op diet.

Some surgeons ask you to avoid caffeine after bariatric surgery. If that’s the case with you, and your doctor is concerned about the caffeine in coffee, you might suggest the decaf version of Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee.

Pregnancy and Low Acid Coffee

Up to half of pregnant women report having heartburn or acid reflux. If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, low acid coffee may be for you! Your healthcare provider might suggest it if you find that regular coffee triggers heartburn. During this sensitive time, you might also be happy knowing that Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee is organic low acid coffee. That means your coffee won’t expose the fetus growing inside of you to a variety of artificial pesticides and other chemicals.

Are you worried about caffeine during pregnancy? The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) says that it’s probably okay to have up to 200 mg of caffeine per day while pregnant. This amount has not been linked to poor outcomes such as preterm birth or miscarriage. That’s the amount in about 2 6-ounce cups of Alex’s Acid Free Regular Coffee. Still, it’s best to ask your own medical provider.

If you choose to avoid caffeine because you don’t like the thought of any risk while pregnant, low-acid decaf coffee is a great choice. Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee comes in a decaf version, too. It is made with the same blend of beans and decaffeinated using a natural process. 

More Benefits of Low Acid Coffee

You don’t have to have specific health conditions to benefit from low acid coffee. Here are some other reasons people might choose low acidity coffee.

• Acid is bad for your teeth. Coffee doesn’t directly cause tooth decay, since it doesn’t have carbohydrates or sugar. However, acidity in foods and beverages, such as coffee, can lead to acid erosion of dental enamel. Enamel is the protective covering on your teeth. When it wears away, cavities are more likely to form. Choosing low acidity coffee brands can help reduce acid erosion due to drinking coffee.
• An upset stomach gets in the way of workouts. When you’re ready to get active, you don’t need any stomach distress due to acidity. A low-acid coffee may be a smart choice. And here’s a tip: decaf coffee may be another good choice for working out, since caffeine may bug your stomach, too.
•  The flavor is less acidic. If you like a mellower, less acidic-tasting coffee, then you might want to look at low acid coffee brands. That’s because acid tastes, well, acidic. It’s sharp!

Acid Free Substitutes

There are some acid-free substitutes for coffee, but they’re usually made without real coffee in them. That’s because coffee beans are natural sources of acid. 

The problem with these acid free coffee substitutes is that they’re not coffee. They don’t taste exactly like coffee, and they may not do the trick for you. They each may have their own drawbacks, too.

These are some of the more common swaps for coffee.

• Chicory root can be brewed just like coffee. It is high in inulin, which is a type of soluble fiber and a prebiotic that can feed healthy gut bacteria. However, it can bother your stomach. Also, its safety is unknown in pregnant women.
• Mushroom powder can contain various types of mushrooms, such as Reishi and Cordyceps. Still, it may not taste that good and it is probably better when dissolved in actual coffee.
• Black tea is a beverage that is caffeinated and low-calorie just like coffee. You can have it hot or iced, just like coffee. It’s thinner, though, and may not be as satisfying as coffee.
• Yerba mate is an herbal tea, but it’s caffeinated. It’s high in caffeine and antioxidants. However, it doesn’t taste like coffee, and high intakes may increase the risk of certain types of cancer.
• Chai tea is black tea with some herbs and spices. It’s got about half the caffeine content as regular coffee and is high in antioxidants. But, not everyone likes the taste.
• Maca root can be roasted, ground, and brewed like coffee. It’s caffeine-free, and doesn’t have the taste of coffee. Plus, it may be hard to come by, as it’s not that common.
• Dandelion blends can be used to make tea that can be comforting and nice to drink. Still, they’re not as familiar as your morning brew!

These swaps may be okay for sometimes, but if you really love coffee, low acid coffee brands may be the best options for you.

Best Low Acid Coffee Brands

We consider Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee to be at the top of the list of best low acid coffee brands. Here are just a few of our reasons.

• It’s made with the best beans. Each of our varieties has coffee beans from the Chiapas region of Mexico, as well as from Nicaragua and Honduras. They’re Arabica beans and are known for making great coffee.
• It tastes amazing, with a balanced blend of chocolate, nut, citrus, caramel, and fruity tones. 
• It is roasted to a French roast, which is rather dark. That increases the body and makes it lower in acid, as well as gives it more of a chocolatey note.
• It comes in Regular and Decaf versions. That means you can drink it in the morning to wake up, after dinner to relax, or anytime in between. 
• It’s organic. From the farm to package, our coffee is part of the USDA’s National Organic Program, with strict standards banning harmful artificial pesticides and herbicides.
• It’s fresh. We have a special packaging system that ensures that your coffee, whether whole beans or ground, is fresh when you open the package. 
• It’s lower in acid than other low acid coffee brands. We sent Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee to a third-party, independent lab, to test the acidity. At the same time, the lab tested the acidity of other coffee brands, including national brands such as Tyler’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Starbucks. The lab came back with results showing that the acidity of Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee was lower than the acidity in the average of the other brands. That is likely due to its roast, as well as to the processing methods. We use convection so the beans never touch hot metal. The result is a lower acid coffee.

Plus, it’s easy to get Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee. Just order online. We ship most orders the same day they’re received, and shipping is free for orders over $39. 

Low acid coffee has multiple benefits, but it’s important to choose the best low acid coffee brand. That way, you can be sure to get the best taste, have a fresh brew, and enjoy your coffee as much as ever before. Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee is organic, fresh, and delicious.