Coffee does increase stomach acid as both caffeinated coffee and decaffeinated coffee increase stomach acid production and stimulate the production of gastrin, which is a hormone that triggers gastric acid secretion.
Caffeine also acts on your stomach's bitter taste receptors that further induce acid production.
Caffeine in the coffee also relaxes your lower esophageal sphincter or LES, which is the muscle that keeps your stomach acid from flowing backward into the esophagus, which leads to heartburn and acid reflux.
Although coffee also can directly irritate your esophageal and stomach lining as coffee naturally contains chlorogenic and other acids.
If you want to drink coffee, but also experience heartburn, acid reflux or other stomach discomfort, you should eat first and then drink your coffee after or with the meal, as eating low acid and high fiber foods helps to buffer the acid.
And switch the roast of the coffee as dark roast coffee undergoes a longer process of roasting, which breaks down more natural acids and is often gentler on your stomach.
Cold brew coffee is also brewed slowly and makes it naturally lower in acidity than traditional hot drip coffee.
And you should limit or avoid high fat dairy, creamers and artificial sweeteners in your coffee as it can trigger additional digestive upset, so instead use low fat milk or plant based alternatives.
To test your stomach acid at home you can use the Baking Soda Test or even the Betaine HCl Challenge.
Although these methods of testing stomach acid at home are mainly theoretical and not clinically diagnostic.
To get an accurate diagnosis of your stomach acid, you should see a gastroenterologist to have a professional stomach pH test done.
However to use the baking soda test, to test your stomach acid is to mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 4 to 6 ounces of cold water.
Drink the baking soda and water mix first thing in the morning or on an empty stomach, before eating or drinking anything else.
Then time how long it takes to burp after you drink the baking soda and water mix.
If your stomach acid is normal, you should then burp within 2 to 3 minutes.
If you have low stomach acid, it can take longer than 3 minutes to burp or you may not burp at all.
And if you have excess stomach acid you may burp frequently or early or even experience loud burping.
The baking soda test for stomach acid testing at home relies on the reaction that occurs between your stomach acid also known as hydrochloric acid and the baking soda as a base to create carbon dioxide gas, which causes you to burp.
For the Betaine HCl Challenge test for testing stomach acid at home it involves an over the counter supplement called Betaine Hydrochloride or HCl, which is an over the counter supplement that is designed to increase stomach acidity.
To use the Betaine HCl test for testing stomach acid, you eat a high protein meal, of at least 6 ounces of meat.
Then midway through your meal, you take one Betaine HCl capsule (often around 650 mg) with pepsin.
Then finish your meal and observe your body's reaction.
For the results.
If you have low stomach acid, you should feel no difference or mild heaviness.
If you have adequate or high stomach acid, you might feel a burning, heat or mild heartburn sensation in your chest.
Although if you take any anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, corticosteroids or if you suspect you have stomach ulcers you should not do the Betaine HCl challenge.
Low stomach acid, which is also known as hypochlorhydria often also presents itself alongside of a distinct set of physical signs, which include gas and bloating shortly after eating, indigestion or the feeling that food sits in your stomach for a long time, undigested food in your poop and weak or brittle fingernails.