Acidity is an integral factor for coffee enthusiasts, shaping and balancing its gustatory profile and offering variety. Unfortunately, however, too much acidity may also cause discomfort for some individuals with acid reflux or stomach ailments such as GERD. As such, some individuals seek low acid coffee (also encompassing caffeine-free options) in order to address dietary needs. In this article, we’ll look into what differentiates low acid from caffeine free brews before answering this important question: is caffeine-free coffee acidic?

Acidic components in coffee depend heavily upon its type, variety, growing region and roasting process. Arabica beans typically have lower acidity than Robusta ones while its acidic compounds can be broken down during roasting for optimal flavor – lighter roasts typically yield greater acidity while darker-roasted coffee has less.

As acidity levels can still be affected, even after using specific bean varieties and slow roasting techniques to lower acidity levels, some people still experience digestive issues. Acid reflux specialist Celeste Robb-Nicholson points out phenolic acids left after decaffeination may trigger symptoms including heartburn, esophageal inflammation and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).