You might have heard about the crazy things people put in their coffee. Good ol’ sugar, cinnamon, lemon, and salt. Salt in coffee isn’t half bad, to be honest. Baking soda is new, though. Baking soda is not a common ingredient when brewing a cup of Joe. However, coffee can have acidity and harsh flavors. Like pineapple in pizza, we find out if baking soda can go in coffee.
Technically, you can put anything you like in coffee. However, you can add baking soda to coffee to improve the taste. Baking soda, when added in portions, can neutralize the acidity in the cup of your brew. It can counteract the acid reflux from overly acidic coffee.
Is it safe to add baking soda to coffee?
There should not be any harm in adding baking soda to the cup of your brew. It is safe to add baking soda to coffee. However, you need to measure quantities.
First, adding baking soda is a neat trick to masking any woody or bitter taste in your coffee. As a coffee lover, you might find your brew too strong. Adding baking soda does the trick to get you that smooth morning drink.
There are health benefits of using baking soda in coffee, such as relieving heartburn or stomach-related issues caused by coffee.
When brewing a pot of coffee, as little as ¼ teaspoon of baking soda is enough to do the trick. Excessive amounts of baking soda may cause a stomach upset due to the high sodium content.
Early symptoms of excessive use of baking soda are vomiting and diarrhea. Treat these symptoms at home by drinking a lot of water.
It is also best to consult with the doctor before adding any amount of baking soda to your brew, especially if pregnant.
Benefits of adding baking soda to coffee
Adding baking soda to your cup of coffee doesn’t only bring out a smooth aromatic drink. There are health benefits to boot. Here’s how your body can benefit from a baking soda and coffee combo.
Prevents heartburn
Heartburn and acidity are common problems for coffee lovers. A regular cup of Joe may cause mild or severe heartburn and acidity. Medium and light roast coffee can be acidic for some coffee lovers. Dark roast breaks down the long chains responsible for making coffee acidic.
Baking soda neutralizes the acidity found in coffee while giving the brew a rich taste. The alkalinity of baking soda offsets the acidity left even after roasting green coffee beans.
It is common for doctors to recommend baking soda for heartburn. You can fight heartburn by adding baking soda to clean drinking water or mixing it in your cup of coffee.
Reducing acid reflux
The right amount of baking soda can help you enjoy your brew without any aftermath.
Acid reflux can cause discomfort after taking a cup of well-brewed coffee. Certain coffee beans have acid levels that may trigger gastric acid release after a cuppa. Coffee lovers with a history of acid reflux might experience more intense gastric discomfort after drinking coffee.
Baking soda acts as an alkaline eliminating acidic properties found in coffee beans.
It relieves stomach upset
People with a sensitive stomach or underlying digestive issues may suffer stomach upsets from drinking coffee. Adding ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to your pot prevents you from experiencing stomach discomfort after drinking a cup of coffee.
Baking soda has also been related to slowing down the growth of cancer cells. This is because cancer cells are known to thrive in acidic environments. Baking soda turns acidic environments alkaline. That is why adding a dash of it to your coffee is important.
Note: Baking soda is not 100% efficient in cancer treatment. You still need professional medical attention for cancer.
It might relieve gout
Gout is a known form of arthritis that occurs when there is excess uric acid crystallizing in the joints.
Baking soda helps in lowering the uric acid levels in the blood. Alkaline in baking soda helps in breaking down the uric acid structures. Once the uric acid is broken down, it becomes easy to filter through the kidneys and expel through urine.
Does putting baking soda in coffee make it less acidic?
A small amount of baking soda to your pot or cup of coffee helps neutralize the acidity in coffee.
Coffee has a pH of 5. For comparison, lemons have a pH of 2, while water has a pH of 7. However, acidity in coffee is determined by the roasting method and beans used. Dark roast coffee is significantly less acidic than medium or light roast coffee.
Adding baking soda similarly lowers acid concentration in light roast, medium roast, and dark roast coffee.
Using the right amount of baking soda balances out the acidity in coffee and upgrades its taste profile. You can use a smaller serving of baking soda in less acidic dark roast coffee. Still, the recommended amount of baking soda to lower acidity in coffee is only a ¼ of a teaspoon.
References
Science News: The ingredient of dark roasted coffees may make them easier on the tummy
