Do you know what one of the healthiest drinks on the planet is? It tastes great, you can make it in your home or buy it almost anywhere, and millions of Americans rely on it for comfort and energy every day. It’s coffee!

Black coffee benefits aren’t just related to its taste and energy. There are many health benefits of black coffee, too. And if coffee side effects worry you, you can opt for decaf coffee benefits and try low-acid versions, such as Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee in Regular and Decaf varieties.

How to Make Black Coffee

The ease of making it is actually one of the benefits of black coffee! You can just brew it using regular drinking water. Use tap water if you normally drink the water from your tap. In many areas, the tap water is fluoridated, so among the benefits of black coffee would be getting fluoride, which is necessary for strong teeth and bones. If you prefer bottled water, go right ahead. 

You can choose whether to buy ground beans or whole beans and grind them yourself. Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee comes in both versions, and they’re both fresh-tasting. Use a good coffee filter, scoop some ground beans into your coffee maker, and let the machine do the work! You will soon have a freshly brewed pot of black coffee waiting for you.

You don’t have to worry about adding more ingredients. Black coffee does not have sugar, cream, milk, or syrup. It’s just…black! But you can if you want. Some people like to add cinnamon, cocoa powder, or vanilla. You can still get the health benefits of black coffee with these ingredients in it.

Since it’s so easy to make, you can make black coffee anywhere. You can make it at home, in your hotel room or the breakfast nook, or at work. Just take your favorite beans and your coffee can be ready in minutes. It’s also nice to know you can save money, if you like, by brewing your own black coffee instead of depending on a coffee shop to make you a fancy coffee beverage. 

Health Benefits of Black Coffee

There’s a lot of research into the health benefits of black coffee. It turns out that black coffee may be pretty good for you! These are some possible benefits of black coffee.

• Lower risk for type 2 diabetes.
• Lower risk for Parkinson’s disease.
• Lower risk for certain types of cancer.
• Reduced likelihood of liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Still, the research is not definitive, and it’s good to ask your healthcare provider about your risk for any of these conditions and how coffee consumption may affect them.

Taste Benefits of Black Coffee

One of the benefits of black coffee is its taste. Coffee is naturally bitter. That’s why many people add cream and sugar to it. But, many people can learn to love the taste of coffee. When you drink it black, you can taste the various flavors of coffee better. 

Coffee beans have unique tastes depending on where they are grown. And, each bean includes a full flavor profile with multiple flavors. Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee, for instance, has beans from the Chiapas region of Mexico, as well as beans from Honduras and Nicaragua. Flavor hints include chocolate, vanilla, nuttiness, lemon, and pear. 

You can get better flavor when the beans are fresh and packaged well, as they are when you purchase Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee. In addition, check the roast. A French (dark) roast has more of a chocolatey tone that you may find to be very enjoyable.

Caffeinated Black Coffee Benefits

You - and a lot of other Americans - may depend on coffee for its ability to wake you up. The rush of energy that you get when you sip coffee is a result of its caffeine. It’s not in your head. Caffeine is a stimulant. It gets your central nervous system going. 

Some benefits of black coffee that you might notice quickly are these.

• Feeling more awake and less tired.
• Being more alert.
• Reducing headaches.

It also appears that drinking coffee can reduce reaction time and increase certain cognitive functions. In athletes, caffeine may improve endurance. However, there can be side effects of coffee, and it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider before using caffeine for any specific purpose, including to boost mental or physical performance.

Hydrating Benefits of Black Coffee

You may hear about protein, carbs, and fat, but water is the most important nutrient by far. You can’t go for more than a few hours without needing to replenish your fluid supply to stay hydrated. And black coffee benefits include that it’s a hydrating beverage.

It’s true that caffeine in black coffee is a diuretic. That means black coffee side effects can make you need to use the toilet more often, and your body loses water. Nonetheless, the net effect of drinking coffee is that it helps you stay hydrated. If you don’t like plain water, or you need some extra fluids to hit your daily goals, black coffee can be a great choice, especially in the morning. 

Nutritional Benefits of Black Coffee

Coffee side effects can include weight gain, and that’s another reason why black coffee benefits can be important. Coffee beverages often include ingredients such as sugar, flavoring syrups, cream, milk, or whipped cream. 

If you’re worried about your weight, or if you’re on a low-carb or low-sugar diet, you might already know the high amounts of calories and carbs these items can have. A large hot or iced mocha, latte, or other coffee beverage can have over 200 calories and 30 or more grams of sugars and carbohydrates. If you add whole milk or cream, there can be a big dose of saturated fat, too.

Black coffee doesn’t have these extra items. It just has coffee and water. A cup of black coffee has about 5 calories, including less than a gram each of carbs, fat, and added sugars. Black coffee can keep you occupied and satisfy you without expanding your waistline.

Coffee Side Effects

With all of these benefits of black coffee, are there any coffee side effects? There are possible side effects from coffee. Some can result from the caffeine in coffee. These include the following.

• Being anxious or having jitters.
• Experiencing nausea or an upset stomach.
• Feeling your heart beat very fast.
• Having a headache.
• Being unable to sleep.
• Not feeling happy.

Excessive caffeine intake may raise blood pressure or total cholesterol.

There are some ways that you can avoid or limit these coffee side effects. They include the following.

• Keeping your caffeine consumption to moderate amounts. The Food and Drug Administration says most people can tolerate 400 mg of caffeine per day without harm. That’s the amount in about 3 to 4 cups of brewed coffee. Still, different people have varying tolerances. It’s best to ask your healthcare provider about a safe level of caffeine for you. 
• Choosing decaffeinated coffee, such as Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Decaf Coffee.
• Having no caffeine within at least six hours before going to bed. That is, if you go to bed at 10:00 p.m., do not have anything with caffeine after 4:00 p.m.

Another side effect of coffee is that it can interfere with nutrient absorption. That means you may want to take calcium or iron supplements, if you take them, at a different time than when you drink black coffee.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant may be especially worried about coffee side effects. The side effects of coffee can include the following, though it’s true that researchers aren’t yet sure.

• Preterm birth. 
• Miscarriage during the first trimester.
• Behavioral problems in childhood.
• Birth defects.

These side effects are likely related to caffeine in coffee. Coffee raises heart rate and blood pressure, and that’s not something you need help with while carrying a growing fetus! The general recommendation is to keep consumption of caffeinated coffee to 2 6-ounce cups daily if you must have caffeine. 

The research is not conclusive, with various studies having different outcomes, and some finding no risk of poor pregnancy outcomes with caffeine consumption. However, most people agree that it’s better to be safe than sorry during this sensitive time. If possible, you might want to accept that a benefit of decaf coffee is that there isn’t any suspicion of poor pregnancy outcomes.

Similarly, the caffeine in coffee may affect babies who are breastfeeding if their mothers drink it. You might want to choose decaf coffee or ask your healthcare provider how much is safe for you to drink.

Acid as a Side Effect of Black Coffee

A major side effect of black coffee is heartburn. At least, that’s what many people say they notice after drinking black coffee. Coffee is an acidic beverage, which is why people tend to avoid it if they suffer from GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. 

The acid content in coffee mainly comes from chlorogenic acids. To cut back on your chlorogenic acid consumption, you can choose a low-acid coffee, such as Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee. Compared to the averages of national brands, this coffee has less chlorogenic acid and less total acidity.

Since caffeine isn’t the main acid in coffee, decaf coffee side effects can include those related to a high acid content. Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee also comes in decaf versions. 

Low-Acid Black Coffee Benefits

Low-acid coffee can help if you are worried about coffee due to its acidity. Talk to your healthcare provider if acid is a problem for you. You may find that Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee in Regular or Decaf varieties can let you drink your coffee without fear of heartburn.

Decaf Coffee Benefits

Not all of the benefits of black coffee are due to its caffeine. Health benefits of decaf coffee can include some of the benefits of regular coffee because some of the benefits of coffee are related to compounds in coffee aside from caffeine. 

In addition, decaf coffee benefits include these.

• It is safer for pregnant and lactating women to drink. 
• You can enjoy it in the afternoon when going out with friends, without worrying about being too wired to go to sleep hours later, that night.
• It can help you lose weight if you choose it instead of an after-dinner dessert while chatting with family or friends. That’s not possible with regular coffee due to the caffeine jolt and possible effects on sleep.

There’s a health benefit of decaf coffee, compared to black coffee, that is related to acid reflux. Caffeine is known to increase stomach acid production and to relax the lower esophageal sphincter. The result is that acid can come from your stomach into your lower esophagus and cause heartburn. Decaf coffee doesn’t have this caffeine-related effect. If you’re sensitive to caffeine and you believe it triggers heartburn or other GERD symptoms, Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee - Decaf may be for you.

Decaf coffee benefits can also apply for bariatric surgery patients. They may be told not to drink caffeine after surgery, but giving up coffee entirely is a tall order during this challenging time. A low-acid decaf coffee can be a better choice, assuming your surgeon agrees.

Coffee is a comforting and familiar drink that can also be exciting and energizing. Drinking your coffee black lets you taste the flavors fully without having them masked by cream or flavoring syrups. It’s easy to make, and it can give you health benefits. Whether you want a jolt from caffeine or you are ready to relax with a cup of decaf, low-acid black coffee can give you what you need.