If coffee tends to do a number on your stomach, but you love the brew too much to give it up, switch to a darker roast for less digestive woes and more cup-of-joe enjoyment.


Photo by eclectic echoes.

Scientists at the University of Vienna are conducting research on the effects of coffee in its various forms on the lining of the stomach and stomach acidity. So far the results weigh strongly in favor of darker roasts causing less disruption of the stomach's natural balance.

To explore the science behind these gentler brews, Somoza and her colleagues used water and three other solvents to extract compounds from regular commercial coffee blends. Each solvent extracted a different profile of compounds, including caffeine and N-methylpyridinium, a ringed compound that doesn't appear in green coffee beans but is created in the roasting process. Stomach cells exposed to each suite of compounds upped their acid secretion, except for the cells exposed to the extract containing NMP.


In addition to switching to a darker roast, just switching to a higher quality coffee can help. Cheap coffee is almost always made with Robusta beans which have a higher caffeine content than higher quality—and pricier—Arabica beans.

Check out the full article at the link below. Have a tip or trick for keeping your stomach happy? Let's hear about it in the comments.

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Why Dark Coffee Is Easier on Your Stomach [Wired]