The Truth About Coffee and Acid Reflux

Let’s talk about coffee.

For many, it’s a daily non-negotiable. Entire morning routines often revolve around a coffee ritual. Maybe it’s the first thing you reach for when you wake up, or an excuse to stop by your favorite cafe before work. It could be a reason to meet with an old friend or take a much-needed break in the middle of your day.

Coffee is also often identified as a trigger for acid reflux. This leaves some people wondering if they need to cut back on coffee or give it up altogether. Maybe you’re dealing with this question yourself. 

If so, I have good news for you today. Even if you think it may be causing your heartburn, you don’t have to give up your coffee.

Let’s start by understanding what happens when you drink coffee, how acidity itself contributes to reflux symptoms, and what other factors play a role. If coffee is something you’re not willing to give up, you have options!

What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux happens when stomach contents move backward into the esophagus. Normally, your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) prevents this from happening. The LES relaxes to allow food and drink into your stomach, and then it closes to keep stomach contents where they belong. 

When the LES relaxes at the wrong time, stomach acids can flow back into the esophagus, causing symptoms like:

• Heartburn

• Regurgitation

• A sour taste in the mouth

• Feeling a “lump” in the throat

• Discomfort after eating

While the stomach is designed to handle its acid, the esophagus is much more sensitive, which is why reflux causes a “burning” feeling. Stomach acid itself is not the problem, however. Reflux is typically the result of:

• Low Stomach Acid: Low stomach acid keeps food from breaking down properly, leading to fermentation, gas, and pressure that causes upward flow.

• Acidic Foods, No Alkaline Support: It’s not just coffee. It’s sugar-loaded coffee on top of many other factors like poor diet, stress, and poor sleep. Coffee often gets blamed for a problem it isn’t solely responsible for. 

• Gut Inflammation: Leaky gut and food sensitivities can weaken digestion and increase reflux.

• Weak Lower Esophageal Sphincter: When the LES isn’t functioning properly due to chronic stress, inflammation, or mineral deficiencies, it allows stomach contents to flow back up into the esophagus.

• Mineral Deficiencies: Proper digestion and LES function rely on key minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium bicarbonate. This is one reason why a daily dose of Acid-Kicking Minerals can make a noticeable difference in how you feel, even without giving up your morning coffee.

• Chronic Stress: When you’re constantly in fight-or-flight mode, digestion gets put on the back burner. Without proper digestion, reflux often makes an appearance.

Does Coffee Cause Acid Reflux?

If you look at any list of common acid reflux triggers, coffee always makes an appearance. Between its high acidity and caffeine content, it’s often one of the first things people are encouraged to eliminate when dealing with acid reflux. But not all coffee is created equal, and it affects everyone differently. Let’s look at a few of the mechanisms involved.

Caffeine and Reflux

We don’t typically think of caffeine as “relaxing,” but the caffeine in coffee can actually relax the LES. This allows stomach contents to move upward where they don’t belong, causing heartburn and other reflux symptoms. Research shows mixed results when it comes to caffeine on its own, but combined with other compounds present in coffee, it’s more likely to trigger reflux. 

Coffee Can Stimulate Stomach Acid 

Coffee can stimulate gastrin, the hormone involved in regulating stomach acid production. Remember, stomach acid itself doesn’t cause reflux, but the increased amount of acid can further irritate the esophagus when reflux happens after drinking coffee.

Coffee Is Naturally Acidic

Coffee contains naturally occurring acids that give it that familiar flavor and “bite.” Types and amounts of acid vary depending on the beans and roasting process, with light roasts retaining more acid and dark roasts breaking these acids down. The brewing method plays its part, too. Hot water over finely ground beans increases acid extraction, whereas cold brewing produces a much lower level of acid. 

Take a Look at Your Add-Ins

Sometimes, it might not be the coffee itself that’s irritating your stomach, but what you’re adding to it. Many commercial coffee creamers and signature drinks at coffee shops are loaded with dairy, sugar, and artificial flavors that can contribute to reflux symptoms and gut discomfort. If you’re not a black coffee drinker but want to avoid irritation from dairy and refined sugars, try making your own coffee creamer at home. 

Does Low-Acid Coffee Help With Acid Reflux?

This might be your first question if coffee has been giving you heartburn. Low-acid coffee typically involves beans grown in specific regions that produce less natural acidity, and they undergo a longer roasting process to break down more of the acids. 

Low-acid coffee is often easier on a sensitive stomach, and it’s a great place to start. But while you may find a brand you love for brewing at home, you’re not always guaranteed to find low-acid coffee everywhere you go. 

Ready to stop the heartburn but not ready to give up your morning ritual? There’s another option for you to explore.

Kick Your Coffee’s Acid

While low-acid coffee has been selected and processed to contain lower levels of acid, coffee alkalizers neutralize the acidity of any coffee beverage that’s already been prepared. So if you already have a brand you love or a favorite coffee shop you frequent, neutralizing your coffee’s acid allows you to keep your coffee routine and lose the acid.

Alkamind’s Acid-Kicking Coffee Alkalizers combine alkaline minerals with healthy fats and fat-burning enzymes while adding a hint of sweetness and flavor, including vanilla, hazelnut, mocha, or salted caramel. One scoop in your morning coffee neutralizes the acid and keeps you feeling full and energized without the jitters.

And if you already have a way of preparing your coffee that you love and don’t want to change the taste, give Acid-Kicking Black Coffee Alkalizer a try. It’s not limited to black coffee; this blend of alkaline minerals neutralizes 99% of any coffee’s acid without changing the taste, so you can enjoy your cup the way you like it without the heartburn afterward.

This unflavored version in convenient, individually wrapped packets is designed to work with the coffee you already enjoy at home or on the go, whether that’s a plain espresso, an iced coffee, a flavored latte, or anything in between. Simply add one packet to your coffee to neutralize the acidity in up to 22 ounces. 

How to Enjoy Coffee While Managing Reflux

If you love coffee but don’t always love the way it makes you feel, start paying attention to the other factors surrounding how and when you drink your coffee. This can help you figure out whether coffee itself is triggering your reflux symptoms or whether something else is involved. 

Identify Your Personal Triggers

If you suspect your morning coffee routine is setting you up for a day of reflux symptoms, keep a simple food journal. Take note of what you put in your coffee, whether that’s dairy, non-dairy creamers, sugar, or some other sweetener. You may notice patterns that can tell you whether it's coffee that’s giving you trouble or something else.

Consider How Much You Drink

If you’re consistently drinking several cups of coffee throughout the day, try cutting back. You might find out that drinking smaller amounts at a time makes a difference, or that limiting yourself to one full cup in the morning with your breakfast gives you the boost you need without triggering heartburn. The goal is finding the right amount that works for your body instead of assuming you have to give up coffee altogether.

Drink Coffee With Food

Coffee stimulates the release of stomach acid and gastrin, while caffeine can relax the LES at the same time. Without food to absorb the coffee or act as a buffer, this can worsen heartburn. So if you’re noticing reflux symptoms when you drink coffee first thing after you wake up, try waiting to drink your coffee with or after breakfast to see if that makes a difference in how you feel.

Pay Attention to Timing

Sometimes a cup of coffee sounds amazing alongside an after-dinner dessert, but if you’re experiencing reflux at night, this could be contributing to your symptoms. However, the coffee itself may not be to blame. When you lie down soon after a meal, you lose the support of gravity keeping your stomach contents down. That’s why it’s best to plan your meals to allow yourself at least three hours before lying down after you eat. 

Explore All Your Coffee Options

If regular coffee simply isn’t agreeing with you, experiment with different coffee types and brewing methods. You might try:

• Selecting quality, low-acid beans

• Preparing your coffee using the cold-brew method

• Switching to decaf

• Using coffee alkalizers specifically designed to neutralize your coffee’s acid

Keep Your Routine; Lose the Acid

For coffee lovers, this is so much more than a drink. It’s a ritual that sets the tone for the day or gives you a boost when you need it most. But when that ritual is leaving you uncomfortable, you want to know why, and you want to know how to fix it. 

Understanding the relationship between coffee and acid reflux is the first step. Understanding how it affects you personally is next. And finally, the goal is finding a way to keep your coffee routine without sacrificing your health. That’s where Acid-Kicking Coffee Alkalizers come in. Neutralize the acid, replenish your minerals, and enjoy your cup without worrying about how you’re going to feel afterward.

However you take your coffee, kick the acid!