HEALTH – Which coffee type is easier on the stomach: light or dark roast? (2024)

FAQs

HEALTH – Which coffee type is easier on the stomach: light or dark roast? ›

Recent research suggests that dark roast coffee beans might be the go-to choice for coffee drinkers with sensitive stomachs. The study revealed that dark roasts are gentler on the stomach than their lighter roast counterparts, thanks to a specific compound that inhibits excessive acid production.

Dark Roasts - a study published in 2010 found that dark roast coffee is easier on the stomach than light roasts because it produces an ingredient that prevents hydrochloric acid from building up in the stomach.

Consider a Darker Roast

A 2014 study showed that a dark roast coffee contained a balance of chemicals that produced less stomach acids than a medium roast. The dark roast had higher amounts of a chemical compound called NMP. It also had lower amounts of two other compounds known as C5HTs and chlorogenic acids (CGAs).

One of the best options for coffee lovers with acid reflux is Iron Brew Coffee. Iron Brew Coffee is known for its low acidity level, making it a favorite among those with sensitive stomachs.

Light roast, medium roast, and dark roast coffee beans will have varying levels of acidity, dark roast having the lowest acid coffee, and light roast the highest acid level. In addition, it will also change the entire flavor profile of the coffee beans and your cup of coffee.

Overall, lighter roasts generally have less caffeine and more antioxidants than darker roasts. The type of bean can affect the caffeine content, but both Arabica and Robusta beans can give you the full health benefits of coffee.

Dark roasting beans may destroy up to nearly 90 percent of chlorogenic acids, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients thought to account for many of coffee's benefits, so light roast would be better in this respect.

Opt for Darker Roasts

Besides origin and roast, perhaps the most major factors affecting acidity is roast level, since roasting is the science of working with coffee's natural acidity to bring out the desired flavors. It's well known that darker roasts are less acidic.

A recent landmark study by the Zoe Project found that those who drank black coffee had more good gut bacteria and therefore a healthier, more diverse microbiome, than those who didn't.

If you find that coffee upsets your stomach, there are several things you can do to minimize its unpleasant effects. These include drinking it with food, choosing a lower acidic roast, switching from regular milk to soy or almond milk, and cutting back on additives.

What is stomach-friendly coffee? ›

Coffee with optimal, low acidity is stomach-friendly. So not so much the very lowest acidity but rather the precise acidity is what we aim for with this coffee. According to the pH scale ( a scale of 1 to 14), sun-grown, coffee has an average acidity of about 4.8-5.1. The lower that number, the higher the acidity.

Switch coffee types: If you're a coffee lover, consider switching to decaffeinated, low-acid varieties such as Puroast Coffee. Low-acid options are gentler on the stomach and may reduce symptoms associated with high acidity levels in regular coffees.

Ultimately, the best type of coffee is the one that doesn't aggravate your symptoms. In the large-scale prospective cohort study from 2023, instant coffee and ground coffee were particularly associated with a lower risk of IBS.

It's strong, filled with caffeine, acid, oils, aromas—and it's a lot for your stomach to handle without something else to spread out the impact. If you drink coffee on an empty stomach, you're bound to have tummy trouble. The natural laxative effects won't feel good. Your stomach will probably over-produce acids.

Recent research suggests that dark roast coffee beans might be the go-to choice for coffee drinkers with sensitive stomachs. The study revealed that dark roasts are gentler on the stomach than their lighter roast counterparts, thanks to a specific compound that inhibits excessive acid production.

Light roast coffees are less bitter, sweeter, and can have a citrus aroma. While dark roasts carry a more pronounced bitterness with an aroma reminiscent of nuts or chocolate. Medium roasts are more balanced in that they have body while still carrying complex brighter notes.

It turns out that caffeinated coffee can help kick-start your day and your colon. Research shows that high-octane java cranks up activity deep down in your gut 60% more than water and 23% more than decaf coffee. But as we mentioned, decaf coffee also can help move things along due to those acids.

Ultimately, the best type of coffee is the one that doesn't aggravate your symptoms. In the large-scale prospective cohort study from 2023, instant coffee and ground coffee were particularly associated with a lower risk of IBS.