Best Low Acid Coffee Brands in 2023 (For Sensitive Stomachs)

The acids in coffee are what give it the bright, tart flavors that many find appealing. But not all coffee drinkers were created equal and for those with sensitivities, they can also lead to heartburn, acid reflux or tooth decay.

Sensitive stomach? Don’t like the taste of acidic coffee? Rather than switching your morning coffee to decaf (oh god) you can try beans engineered for low levels of acidity, that still taste great. In this guide we show you how to choose the best low acid coffee beans, and give you a range of options.

Here are the best low acid coffee brands:

1. Lifeboost Coffee
2. Low Acid Coffee Blend (Volcanica Coffee)
3. Caffe Vita Organic Sumatra Gayo River
4. Komodo Dragon Coffee (Volcanica Coffee)
5. Hawaiian Kona (Volcanica Coffee)
6. Java Planet Medium Roast
7. Mommee Coffee Half Caff Organic Coffee
8. Tieman’s Fusion Coffee

Top 8 Low Acid Coffee Brands

Product	Brand	Details
Best Overall Best Overall	Lifeboost Coffee	Light, Medium, or Dark Varying tasting notes Nicaragua origins	click to check price
Best Single Origin Best Single Origin	Caffe Vita Organic Sumatra Gayo River	Medium-dark roast Black currant, maple, earthy notes Sumatra, Indonesia origin	CLICK TO CHECK PRICE
Budget Pick Budget Pick	Low-Acid Coffee Blend (Volcanica Coffee)	Medium roast Chocolate, Nuts, and Tangerine notes South America, Sumatra origins	GET 10% OFF (CODE: HG10)
Most Exotic Flavor Most Exotic Flavor	Komodo Dragon Coffee (Volcanica Coffee)	Medium roast Fresh Tobacco, Cocoa, and Floral Notes Indonesian origin	GET 10% OFF (CODE: HG10)
Best for Coffee Geeks Best for Coffee Geeks	Hawaiian Kona (Volcanica Coffee)	Medium roast Smooth, Nutty, and Luscious notes Hawaii, USA origins	GET 15% OFF (CODE: HG15)
Best for the Environment Best for the Environment	Java Planet Medium Roast	Medium roast Floral, Chocolate, Caramel, and Allspice notes Guatemalan origin	SEE ON AMAZON
Best Low Caffeine Option Best Low Caffeine Option	Mommee Coffee Half Caff Organic Coffee	Dark roast Butterscotch, Toffee, Caramel notes n/a	SEE ON AMAZON
Best Blend Best Blend	Tieman’s Fusion Coffee	Dark roast Smooth, Bold notes Central and South American origins	SEE ON AMAZON

All of the options reviewed in this article are great for certain subsets of the population and are some of the finest coffees you can find.

1. Lifeboost Coffee – Best Overall

Specifications

• Roast level: Light, Medium, or Dark

• Tasting notes: Varies
• Origins: Nicaragua
• Certifications: Organic, Fair Trade, Kosher

click to check price

When you buy this low acid coffee from Lifeboost you’re buying some of the healthiest and most sustainable coffee money can buy.

Sitting 5700 feet above sea level in the lush green rain-forest of the Nicaraguan Highlands sits a tiny 6 acre farm. The soil is pristine (almost untouched) the rivers are full of natural minerals, and here, under the canopy of humongous guava trees grows a gorgeous, high-quality gourmet coffee.

The coffee plants are harvested by the smiling local farmers; washed with local chemical free spring water, then dried naturally in the clean fresh sunlight.

And since you’re looking for wow acid coffee that’s high in flavor; you’re in for a treat. Sitting at a PH level of just 6.0 (water being 7.0) means these beans will not give you any of the uncomfortable side effects that usually come with regular coffee.

This low acid coffee is available in a range or roasts and flavors, but is limited in supply so see if you can grab some by checking out their store here. Here’s what Scott said when he tried them:

Here’s where you can learn more about Lifeboost coffee and what they do.

2. Low Acid Coffee Blend (Volcanica Coffee) – Budget Pick

Specifications

• Roast level: Medium

• Tasting notes: Chocolate, Nuts, and Tangerine
• Origins: South America, Sumatra
• Certifications: Kosher

GET 10% OFF (CODE: HG10)

This delightful Low Acid Coffee Blend comes from Volcanica Coffee – a leading online coffee bean company that supplies some of the finest gourmet coffees on the market. Volcanica’s large variety of whole bean options are sourced from the best growing regions around the world, and especially those defined by rich, volcanic growing soil – a condition renowned for yielding incredibly high-quality beans.

The blend itself is made from beans that are naturally low in acidity, which brings the added benefit of not needing to be dark roasted to achieve that low acid label. This low acid coffee is sourced from Arabica varietals in lower altitude growing regions like Brazil and Sumatra. These factors allow this exquisite blend to deliver a unique flavor profile that is both scrumptiously low-key and naturally gentle on your stomach.

3. Caffe Vita Organic Sumatra Gayo River – Best Single Origin

Specifications

• Roast level: Medium-dark

• Tasting notes: Black currant, maple, earthy
• Origin: Sumatra, Indonesia
• Certifications: Organic, Kosher

Click to Check Price

Coffees from Sumatra are often naturally low in acid due to the unique processing method used in the region. Sumatra is one of the wettest climates where coffee is grown, so sun drying isn’t an option. Instead, a process called “wet-hulling” (aka Giling Basah) is common. 

Giling Basah yields low acid coffee with a full body and distinct earthy character. Sumatran beans shine with a medium or dark roast, and their dense mouthfeel makes them a popular inclusion in espresso blends.

A skilled roaster can produce an exceptional Sumatran single origin, such as this tasty example from Seattle’s Caffe Vita. These certified organic coffee beans are grown in a fertile valley in the Gayo Highlands. The coffee has a syrupy mouthfeel and robust flavors of black currant, maple, and earth. As you’ll brew, you’ll note balanced aromas of sweet blackberry, bitter hops, and spicy cinnamon.

4. Komodo Dragon Coffee (Volcanica Coffee) – Most Exotic Flavor

Specifications

• Roast level: Medium

• Tasting notes: Fresh Tobacco, Cocoa, and Floral Notes
• Origins: Indonesia
• Certifications: Kosher, Rainforest Alliance

GET 10% OFF (CODE: HG10)

Of course, Volcanica coffee doesn’t stop at with their blend. This high-quality company has some other excellent low acid options to choose from. Case in point: Komodo Dragon Coffee.

Komodo dragons – the largest lizards in the world – live freely on the Indonesian island of Komodo and Flores. But they aren’t the only amazing thing coming from the island paradise. Volcanica’s Komodo Dragon coffee beans grow from the abundance of fertile, volcanic soil present there. These beans are medium roasted, wet-hull processed, and notably lower in acidity – an attribute that is accentuated by the processing method.

The flavor profile includes floral, chocolate, and woody notes, and to top it all off, our friends at Volcanica have managed to keep them available at a very reasonable price.

5. Hawaiian Kona (Volcanica Coffee) – Best for Coffee Geeks

Specifications

• Roast level: Medium

• Tasting notes: Smooth, Nutty, and Luscious
• Origins: Hawaii, USA
• Certifications: Kosher, State of Hawaii 100% Kona

GET 15% OFF (CODE: HG15)

If you’re a fan of supporting a “grown in the U.S.” coffee experience or want to experience some of the best coffee in the world, another excellent Volcanica option is Hawaiian Kona. Defying the company’s typical desire for high-altitude beans, it aligns with the volcanic soil part of the deal, as it’s grown in the rich earth of the Hawaiian islands. Because Hawaii falls at a higher latitude than most coffee growing regions, it has become famous for its exceptional coffee grown at low elevations.

These particular beans are grown on the slopes of Kona, a district on the Big Island of Hawaii. The climate on these slopes is absolutely ideal for coffee plants. With a mild weather year-round and protection from the hot sun, these beans are Shade Grown, ensuring that the coffee trees are in the ultimate environment for growing low acid coffee.

This is Peaberry coffee, a unique mutation that occurs in only 5% of coffee cherries. Instead of producing two coffee beans, each coffee cherry produces only one: the peaberry. As a result, it receives twice the nutrition and twice the flavor! It is also guaranteed to be “pure Hawaiian Kona Coffee,” meaning it hasn’t been “watered down” by other inferior beans in a blend. These low acid coffee beans are dry-processed and medium-roasted, delivering gentle hints of acidity and silkiness. The flavor is nutty, with hints of tropical fruit and a velvety mouthfeel.

6. Java Planet Medium Roast – Best for the Environment

Specifications

• Roast level: Medium

• Tasting notes: Floral, Chocolate, Caramel, and Allspice
• Origins: Guatemala
• Certifications: Organic, Fair Trade, Bird Friendly, Rainforest Alliance, Kosher

SEE ON AMAZON

Java Planet Organic Coffee is a great option for those looking for a low acid coffee product with a lighter roast. While most low acid coffee offerings favor a dark roast to further remove tartness, many consumers find dark roasts too bitter. Java Planet offers a medium (along with dark, French, and espresso) roast in order to appeal to all palates, without

The other major selling point of Java Planet beans is their commitment to including the date of roasting on every bag of beans. This ensures that you know precisely how fresh the product is.

They source their exclusively Arabica beans from Guatemala where they are shade grown without the use of pesticides. The flavors of the medium roasted coffee are described as floral and chocolate, with notes of caramel and allspice wrapped up in a dark chocolate and pecan finish.

Java Planet also carries the certified USDA Organic label, which we cover in detail in our article on organic coffee beans.

7. Mommee Coffee Half Caff Organic Coffee – Best Low Caffeine Option

Specifications

• Roast level: Dark

• Tasting notes: Butterscotch, Toffee, Caramel
• Origins: n/a
• Certifications: Organic, Fair Trade, Kosher

SEE ON AMAZON

Mommee Coffee is marketed towards women in all stages of child-bearing. From trying to conceive through pregnancy and breastfeeding, women are often advised to limit caffeine and take dietary precautions as stomachs can be more sensitive. It was devised by a pregnant woman to fill a void she found in the coffee market. Which is not to say that men and women in any life-phase can’t enjoy it!

Mommee Coffee is processed using a water method that promises to avoid the use of harsh chemicals during decaffeination. Additionally, it is certified USDA organic, fair trade and low in acid making it an ideal guilt-free choice. The company offers a range of caffeine choices — decaf, quarter-caf, half-caf, and full caf — but the half-caf is popular for striking the right balance between energy and sensitivity.

Their low acid coffee has been tested and found to have acid levels five times lower than commonly available coffees. They are particularly low in chlorogenic acid, which is considered the major contributor to acid reflux.

8. Tieman’s Fusion Coffee – Best Blend

Specifications

• Roast level: Dark

• Tasting notes: Smooth, Bold
• Origins: Central and South America
• Certifications: Kosher

SEE ON AMAZON

Tieman’s Fusion Coffee offers another blended option, in this case through the incorporation of Matcha Green Tea, Rooibos Red Tea, and Goji berry powders. As a starting point, they source 100% Arabica beans from Guatemala and Ecuador, with Colombian beans for great balance. Then they optimally blend and roast them for a low acid brew.

The addition of Matcha green tea is said to boost energy for 5 -7 hours, the Rooibos Red Tea settles the stomach, and Goji berry powders offer anti-inflammatory benefits. Tieman’s Fusion Coffee offers five times the body’s daily requirements for anti-oxidant protection.

They pride themselves on still offering a delicious brew that is “coffee first”. This is a drink that was designed with coffee lovers in mind and the additives are there to enhance, rather than mask, the delicious natural coffee flavors.

How to choose great low-acid coffee

Acidity is measured on the pH scale, which ranges from 0 (extremely acidic) to 14 (extremely basic) with pure water falling square in the middle at 7.

For reference, most coffees typically have a PH balance of around 5, which is actually less acidic than juices like orange (3-4) or cranberry at 2-3 (1). Surprisingly, dark roasts often have less acid than lighter.

You’ll hear 2 major terms thrown around when looking for coffee with low levels of coffee: Treated low-acid coffees and inadvertent low-acid coffees (2). What do these means?

Treated low acid coffee beans are put through processing techniques designed to reduce acidity. E.g. a natually high-in-acidity coffee may be roasted using a very slow or interrupted roasting process will have a positive effect.

Inadvertent low acid coffee refers to coffees that are naturally low in acid. Coffee plants grow at low altitudes tend to be low in acid (as a general rule). If you like the sound of this, look for bean from regions such as:

• Sumatra, Indonesia
• South America countries such as Peru and Brazil
• Guatemala
• Mexico
• Nicaragua

..as these regions tend to produce inadvertent low acid beans. Hooray!

Can you reduce the acidity levels of normal coffee?

Maybe you have a favorite coffee already that you don’t want to stop drinking?

The short answer is: yes, there are a few things you can do to reduce the acidity in your favorite coffee without compromising the taste (too much). Take a look at our article on coffee acidity here where learn a few simple hacks. But here are the ones you should try: first:

Avoid light roast coffee’s altogether

The more of coffee is roasted, the more acids (flavors) are killed. It’s a fine line – you don’t want to remove all the acids, just the stomach upsetting ones, when roasting. But if you struggle with acidity; a medium to dark roast is a better choice for you. You could try dark roast coffee as a general rule, but keep reading as we have some great recommendations.

…Or, cold brew your light roast coffee

Light roasted beans are typically higher in acidity, but cold brewing can reduce those levels down to manageable levels. So if you find a light roast that you really love, just cold brew it and you should be OK.

Additives help

In the article we mentioned earlier, there are a few suggested additives that will reduce acidity problems. When brewing and drinking coffee, adding milk, salt, or eggshells (yes, eggshells) can combat high acidity. Find out more how and why here.

But since you’ve read this far, I’m guessing you’re looking for a cup of Joe that’s known to have less acid naturally. Here are our top picks, in no particular order.

The Verdict

If you’re looking for an all-around pleaser with low acid coffee that also has great flavor, opt for Lifeboost coffee. Their ability to offer a variety of roasts shows their faith in the quality and flavor of their beans. And their commitment to roasting beans only before they are shipped guarantees the freshness of the coffee arriving at your doorstep!

Now that you’ve selected the right beans, learn how to brew with them with your brewer of choice. If you enjoyed this round-up, please share it with your friends.