This Type Of Coffee May Help Prevent Unnecessary Heartburn

Even if you can't make it through the day without a cup (or three) of coffee, you may want to rethink the kind of coffee you enjoy. Otherwise, you could pay a painful price for your caffeine jolt. That's because coffee is one of the foods that can give you acid reflux, which may cause an unpleasant feeling called heartburn.

Heartburn occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that sits at the bottom of your esophagus, relaxes and allows undigested or partially digested food and liquids to travel from your stomach back toward your mouth. Because those substances have mixed with the gastric juices in your stomach, they can cause a stinging sensation in your throat and chest as the acid irritates the lining of your esophagus. (Here's what it really feels like when you have heartburn.)

Coffee can cause heartburn because of its acidic profile. As soon as the brew combines with the acids in your gut, it becomes even more acidic. Consequently, if it "backwashes" toward your mouth, you can bet it's probably going to feel yucky. However, if you love coffee, you don't necessarily have to give it up to avoid heartburn. Instead, switching from a light or medium roast to a dark roast variety could spare you from heartburn.

Dark roast coffees originate from fresh green coffee beans that have been roasted at high temperatures for about 15 minutes, which is the longest time that any coffee beans are generally roasted. As the beans heat up, they become puffy, turn a deep brownish hue, and may take on an oily sheen. Dark roast beans produce a beverage that tends to be bolder and heavier taste-wise than their light roast counterparts. However, dark roast brews can be a better option if you constantly experience heartburn after sipping your morning java.

What makes dark roast java potentially easier on your esophagus? According to a 2014 review in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, the answer lies in the chemical composition of dark roast coffees. Because of their unique balance and ratios between numerous chemicals, dark roast coffees discourage excessive stomach acid production. (In other words, you might be able to stop taking Tums every day and avoid the product's unwanted side effects.)

Indeed, dark roasted beans bring less acid to each cup of coffee than light roasted or medium roasted beans do. And limiting any excessive gastric acid can have benefits if your favorite coffee keeps re-entering your throat.

Of course, switching to a dark roast coffee blend might not solve your heartburn completely, even though it promises advantages. Here's why: Some general coffee attributes can fuel heartburn, such as caffeine. When you drink caffeinated beverages, your stomach will likely respond to the caffeine by producing a greater amount of gastric acid.

Coffee may also weaken the normal function of the LES. Therefore, even if you're enjoying a rich, dark roast coffee, you might still experience the uncomfortable and unpleasant sensation of heartburn.

There's one more consideration to keep in mind about the relationship between coffee and heartburn: the foods that accompany each cup. For example, any kind of alcoholic coffee drink could make your propensity toward heartburn even worse, since alcohol can trigger a more relaxed LES, putting you at a higher risk of unnecessary heartburn. (Here's why you should never mix coffee and alcohol).