hashnuke

I had been searching for what triggers my GERD. A chatgpt session gave me some info about what could be a possible trigger for me – coffee – and specifically the acid in the coffee. Some probing helped me build some understanding about coffee. Notes below.

• For some folks, it is the caffeine that triggers GERD. For some others like me, it might be the acid content.
• Robusta has high acid content, and popular in Vietnam. Arabica beans are relatively low acid and are popular in India.
• Dark roast reduces acid in coffee beans.
• Coffee beans from low-altitude regions have lower acid.

Options to make low acid coffee

• Add a PINCH of baking soda to hot brew coffee (careful – adding too much can have other side-effects).
• Add milk to coffee to reduce acidity.
• Or make cold brew coffee.

Making cold brew coffee

Mix coffee powder in cold water and let it rest for few hours (internet recommends about 12hrs), and then use your preferred method – Aeropress or anything else to extract the coffee.

This concentrate can be used stored and used a few times by diluting a part of it for every cup.

Brewing coffee with hot water and then cooling it or adding ice doesn't make it low-acid. And that is not cold-brew too.

Coffee must be cold-brewed to be low-acid. But heating cold brew coffee doesn't change the acid content in coffee.

Positive side-effect: Acid can wear out teeth enamel. And cold brew being low acid, doesn't affect the teeth enamel like hot coffee does (again, relative to hot brew).

If coffee can trigger GERD, why is it not a problem in India?

Indian filter coffee is also brewed with hot water, but Indian coffee powder usually is usually 20%-30% Chicory mix, which balances the acid in the coffee. And in addition, the restaurants in India serve coffee with milk. This helps reduce the acidity too.

Notes for coffee in Vietnam

• Arabica coffee is available from Lam Dong province in Vietnam.
• Cà phê phin is not cold brew.
• “Cà phê ủ lạnh đen” is what I have to ask for in Vietnam.