Low-Acid Coffee Alternatives
Coffee is consumed by more than 50% of everyone in the US daily. This figure should come as no surprise to you considering the long list of perks this delicious drink has to offer.
That being said, as with everything in this world, these perks are accompanied by a few downsides. In the case of coffee, next to the feeling of “jitteriness” and an increased feeling of anxiety, the heartburn caused by the high acid content of coffee is its most common downside.
In this article, we look at some of our favorite low-acid coffee alternatives that are easier on your stomach and help steer you clear of any acid reflux.
If you’re not quite willing to give up coffee and switch to the alternatives, we’ve got another solution for you. We have a suggestion that will keep you sipping your favorite drink without the pesky heartburn that sometimes accompanies it.
What This Article Covers:
7 Low-Acid Coffee Alternatives
There are a number of alternatives to coffee that not only have a lower acid content than coffee but taste just as delicious.
Below we’ve compiled a list of what we consider to be the 8 best low-acid coffee alternatives.
Chicory Root Coffee
Chicory root coffee is a low-acid alternative to coffee that dates back to the time of the ancient Egyptians and, as the name suggests, is made from chicory root. This delicious beverage has been regarded as an excellent alternative to coffee since the 1800s when the French adopted it from the occupied Egyptians.
Not only does this drink taste similar to coffee, but it’s also known for the benefits it brings to your digestive system. It’s also just as easy to make as coffee as it can be ground and roasted.
To make it, simply use the French press or espresso machine you have at home.
Matcha Tea
This is a hot beverage made of green tea that first found popularity under Zen Buddhist monks and in Japanese tea ceremonies and is still used by these communities to this day. Since then, this tasty and funky-looking drink has gained a large following in the US.
This following is driven by matcha tea’s numerous health benefits. Matcha tea differs from normal green tea because it’s brewed from the entire leaf and so you’re exposed to much more naturally occurring antioxidants which are known to reduce your blood pressure.
What’s more, just because you’re drinking tea doesn’t mean you have to be sleepy. Green tea is high in caffeine, and you get a whopping 44 mg per cup. It’s roughly half of what you would expect from a cup of coffee, so it’s enough to wake you up without giving you the jitters.
Yerba Mate
If you have watched the hit show Mozart in the Jungle, you’ll know that this South American drink has found its way from countries like Argentina and Brazil to our homes here in the US.
Yerba Mate leaves were originally chewed by indigenous people in Paraguay for their high dose of naturally occurring caffeine and have since risen to prominence as a brewed hot beverage.
The taste resembles that of strongly brewed tea and contains a number of essential vitamins as well as a large amount of antioxidants that have been deemed to be higher than that of green tea.
Yerba mate has the same approximate dose of caffeine in a single serving as that of coffee and so, if you’re looking for a healthy low-acid alternative to coffee that still gives you that much-needed kick in the morning, yerba mate is the way to go.
Herbal Tea
Different strains of herbal tea have originated from all around the world, be it from China, South America, and even South Africa. Today a large number of these strains are still popular in society today due to their numerous health benefits.
Chamomile tea, for example, is known to help calm one down before getting into bed and reduce anxiety. It’s been used for hundreds of years as a sleeping aid which, while it has the opposite effect of caffeine for waking you up, is perfect if you’re looking for a nighttime drink that won’t keep you up.
South African rooibos tea is known for its benefits to the digestive tract as it reduces inflammation caused by stress or infection.
Chai Tea
This is a delicious spicy tea that has existed in our society for a long time and has maintained its popularity for just as long. Its robust taste and soothing smell are the perfect way to seduce your palette, be it at night before bed, or early in the morning in preparation for the day ahead.
Chait tea is a black tea that is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, undergoing a significant period of fermentation which produces a large number of essential antioxidants.
Although it has significantly less caffeine per serving than coffee, chai tea is still known for its ability to boost mental awareness to give you that much-needed extra kick before you head off to work.
Golden Milk
Originally served as a medicinal drink centuries ago in India, this vibrant drink has found a place at the stage in the world of hot beverages.
Also known as a turmeric latte thanks to the turmeric root which gives it a vibrant yellow glow, golden milk contains adaptogens which are beneficial chemicals associated with stress relief.
This drink is a great low-acid and caffeine-free alternative that helps you unwind after a busy day, or simply calm your nerves while you work. This spicy blend containing black pepper, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon is truly an exotic alternative to coffee.
Kombucha
Having spread through the west and Europe like wildfire, Kombucha has become extremely popular in modern society as a cool alternative to both hot coffee and tea.
This refreshing drink that comes in a variety of flavors is made by fermenting black tea leaves with sugar and yeast. It’s kombucha’s many health benefits and versatility that have helped it rise to popularity in recent years.
Not only does kombucha also contain helpful antioxidants and acetic acid, but it also contains probiotics. As a result, kombucha is low-acid and, as a result, is known for having a positive impact on your overall gut health.
Controlling the Acidity of Coffee
If you’re unwilling to abandon coffee altogether, you’ll find comfort in knowing that this isn’t essential in your quest to rid yourself of any heartburn.
Lifeboost Coffee specializes in organic coffee beans that are grown using sustainable farming methods that protect the environment they’re grown in as well as the consumer.
As such we can tell you that, in addition to being better for the environment, our organic coffee also has a significantly lower acid content than most competing coffee brands.
Enjoying a cup of our delicious flavored whole coffee beans means you get a great cup of joe without worrying that it might make your stomach turn later on.
If you’re looking for the best low-acid coffee beans, you’ll find your answer in any of our Lifeboost Coffee organic beans.
Additionally, there are also ways you can brew this organic coffee that lowers its acid content altogether. Follow our tips for how to make great low-acid coffee:
- Try making a low-acid cold brew coffee to naturally increase the pH of your drink;
- Use alkaline water to brew your coffee instead of tap water which is generally acidic;
- Use milk or full cream as this neutralizes the acidity of the coffee;
- Choose a dark roast like our Embolden Dark Roast to get a naturally reduced acid content in your cup;
- Use single-origin coffees like the coffees here at Lifeboost Coffee which are all made from beans shade-grown in the mountainous regions of Nicaragua.
Decaffeinated Coffee
If you’re as obsessed with coffee as we here at Lifeboost Coffee are, it may be difficult for you to let go of coffee just because of its negative implications for your gut health.
Fear not, however, for decaffeinated coffee is the perfect way to satisfy your coffee needs whilst shielding you from any anxiety or heartburn that usually accompanies your hot cup of morning joe.
Decaf coffee is lower in acid than other beans, meaning it’s a great choice if you’re particularly sensitive to both, or you just want a cup in the afternoon without interfering with your sleep cycles.
While regular decaf coffee is roughly as acidic as fully caffeinated beans, Lifeboost Coffee has a product that’s sure to ease even the most sensitive stomachs.
If you’re looking for the least acidic type of coffee beans, we recommend having a look at the Dark Roast Decaf from Lifeboost Coffee. Generally, the darker the roast of the beans, the lower the acid content of the coffee is generally.
Conclusion
If you’re sensitive to the acids in coffee and find that the discomfort of drinking it outweighs the benefits, we hope we’ve given you some great suggestions on alternatives.
But just because your stomach is sensitive doesn’t mean you have to give up coffee entirely. We have a great range of low-acid coffee that’s sure to sit easy with you so you can enjoy the delicious flavor and mood-boosting effects a great cup of coffee has to offer.