Is Espresso Less Acidic Than Coffee? Find Out Now

Is Espresso Less Acidic Than Coffee?  

There are a lot of different coffees out there.

French press, instant, drip, cold brew are all popular right now, but an espresso is a specific type of coffee that has a different taste and effect compared to regular coffee. 

Essentially, espresso is a more concentrated form of coffee which is usually only 1oz compared to the average 8oz coffee. 

The process for brewing espresso generally requires a specific espresso machine which forces pressurized hot water through the coffee grounds.

You can sometimes use a normal coffee maker, but an espresso machine is best.

Espresso is often used as the base for coffee-based drinks in coffee shops like Starbucks. 

Espresso has more caffeine ounce for ounce compared to regular coffee. It has around 63mg in 1oz compared to 12-15mg in 1oz of normal coffee.

In this way, it's like a smaller, more condensed version of a regular coffee. 

Espresso also has a bolder and more intense taste than normal coffee. In fact, other brews can taste like flat or dull coffee compared to espresso.

It's got a noticeable kick, and it tends to be preferred by coffee enthusiasts who love drinking coffee with that unique flavor.  

So, is an espresso acidic? Well, given that an espresso is like an intense coffee, you might expect it to be more acidic, but that’s not the case. 

The average pH level of regular coffee is 4.5-5, whereas the average pH level of espresso is 5.5-6, so even though they are both acidic, an espresso is less acidic and closer to being neutral.  

The reason an espresso is less acidic than regular coffee all comes down to the coffee beans.

The longer you roast coffee beans, the more the acidic compounds break down and the less acidic it will taste. 

Espresso beans are all dark roast coffee beans, usually a unique espresso roast which is an even darker roast than usually.

This means they have been roasted for a longer time than medium or light roasts. This is ultimately what gives espresso coffee drinks a higher pH level and makes it less acidic than coffee. 

Is Espresso Less Acidic Than Cold Brew Coffee? 

Cold brew coffees are less acidic than regular coffees because of the brewing method.

Cold brews use cold water (or room temperature water), which means the coffee beans don't break down as much, and fewer acids are released. 

Cold brew coffee is also brewed for longer in the cold water, meaning that acids present in the coffee beans themselves will actually deteriorate and won’t be present in the finished coffee.   

Both espresso and good quality cold brew coffee are low acid coffee options, but an espresso is less acidic on average.

This is primarily due to the longer roasting time of the coffee beans, but if you are using low acid beans in your cold brew coffee, then it will be less acidic than a regular espresso.    

Is Espresso Less Acidic Than Drip Coffee? 

This coffee made through a slow brewing method where hot water is gradually poured through the grounds, allowing it to absorb the coffee drink's unique flavors. 

In this method, there is less absorption of the acids from the grounds, so it tends to be slightly less acidic than regular coffee.

However, this type of coffee is usually made with a light or medium roast coffee, which are more acidic than dark roast espresso beans. This makes drip coffee more acidic than an espresso.  

Is Nespresso Less Acidic Than Regular Coffee? 

Nespresso's have an average pH level of 5, which is slightly acidic and fairly standard for regular coffee. 

While there are a range of different flavored Nespresso’s with different caffeine content, there isn’t any real fluctuation in terms of acidity.

The acids within Nespresso coffee can vary depending on whether it contains dark roasts, medium roast, or light roast coffee, but the actual acidity won't change. 

This means that Nespresso’s are roughly the same acidity as a regular coffee, but less acidic than an espresso.  

Does Espresso Cause Acid Reflux? 

Acid reflux is the informal term for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It’s a condition that causes your stomach acid to travel up your throat, giving you a burning sensation.

It's very unpleasant and can cause long-term damage if it happens regularly.

Some people are more prone to GERD than others, and most people find that their reflux is triggered by certain types of food or drink.  

Coffee is a common trigger for those who suffer from acid reflux. Coffee itself can make some people's stomachs create excess acid, but generally, the leading cause is caffeine.

Caffeine can irritate your body and cause your esophagus to open, allowing stomach acid to travel up your throat.

Not everyone will respond this way to caffeine, but if you do, then you need to be careful how much you consume.  

Despite acid reflux being caused by stomach acid, it’s actually not really linked to the acidity of the coffee.

Espresso blends have more caffeine, so even though they make less acidic coffee, they are more likely to cause acid reflux than regular coffee.

Espressos do contain a specific enzyme that actually settles the stomach and can counteract the effect, but they are still considered a trigger for acid reflux in caffeine-sensitive people.  

Switching to decaf coffee is a good way to avoid acid reflux because there's no caffeine to irritate your stomach.

Even low acid coffees can still trigger reflux, so if you know that you're prone to acid reflux, you're best avoiding espressos and switching to a decaf blend.  

Coffee Acidity Chart  

All coffees are generally between 4.5 and 6 on the pH scale. To put this in context, orange juice is 3pH, and tomato juice is 4pH, so coffee is only mildly acidic.

The nuances between coffees are generally caused by the beans and the roasting process. The longer they roast, the less the acidity, but the more bitter the taste. The chart below gives a guide: 

How Do I Reduce The Acidity In My Espresso? 

An espresso is a low acid option which is less acidic than coffee, but if you want to reduce the acidity even further, there are a few ways to impact it: 

Select The Right Beans 

The soil and environment a coffee bean is grown in will impact how acidic your coffee is. There are two main coffee beans to choose from, Arabica coffee or Robusta coffee.

Arabica has more citric and phosphoric acid than Robusta, and it's more acidic. If you want a low acid espresso, you should consider selecting Robusta beans.  

Similarly, certain regions naturally produce lower acidity beans. Kenyan coffee beans have high volumes or acidic compounds, but coffee beans from Sumatra are considered one of the least acidic, so by using these in your espresso, you can lower the acidity.  

Use Fine Grinds 

Espressos are made using a quick brewing method that relies on intense pressure rather than a slow process.

Unfortunately, this means you can't really customize the brewing time to make it a very low acid coffee, but you can customize how fine your coffee grounds are. 

Traditional coffee often uses coarse ground coffee, and you can use it in espresso machines too.

This acidic taste gives you loads of flavor, but can also impact your stomach more than a lower acid coffee. 

Using finer grounds will help to extract more acid from the coffee and lower the espresso acidic qualities.

So, if you want to reduce the acidity and create a low acid coffee, you should use as fine a grind as possible.  

Avoid Hard Water 

Coffee is about 97% water, so the type you use will impact the taste and flavor.

Hard water has high levels of calcium and magnesium, which can make the coffee more acidic, and high sodium soft water can also have the same effect. 

If you live in an area with impure water, you can use bottled or filtered water to lower the acidity of your espresso.  

Control Water Temperature 

Coffee lovers enjoy experimenting with their coffees and controlling the temperature is the best way to make a less acidic cup of espresso shots.

The hotter the water you use in the brewing process, the more acidic the espresso will be. 

Generally, espressos are brewed at 94-96 degrees Celsius (201-204 Fahrenheit) but lowering this to 90-94 degrees Celsius (194-201 Fahrenheit) can make the coffee less acidic.  

Add Milk 

Milk and cream have a neutral pH of around 7, so when they're mixed with espresso, they will neutralize some of the acidity, leaving you with a low acid coffee. 

Adding milk and sugar can help to lower the acidity, but beware because some sweeteners can make your espresso more acidic.  

Common Espresso Vs. Coffee Acidity Questions 

Is instant espresso less acidic? 

No, instant espresso is generally just as acidic as a regular one unless it’s being made with lower temperature water.   

Is espresso hard on the stomach? 

Despite being higher in caffeine and a bolder flavor, espresso is actually less harsh on your stomach.

This is primarily due to the beans, and it's been shown that they release a substance that helps limit stomach acid production.  

What is a better drink for your stomach instead of espresso or coffee?  

Many people find that switching to decaf coffee or espresso is better for their stomach, and some people switch to tea completely.

If you do want to stick with coffee, then cold brew may be the best option.  

Conclusion

Despite being higher in caffeine and having a bolder taste, espressos are actually less acidic than regular coffee.

This is because espresso coffee beans are roasted for longer, which breaks down the acids inside.  

Remember, the acids within coffee contribute to the flavor and aroma, so higher acidity isn’t always a bad thing.

Hopefully, this guide has helped explain espresso acidity, and you now have a better understanding of what impacts the acidity of coffees generally.