The boldest claim in the low acid coffee space. "Acid Free" — not just low acid, not just reduced acid, but completely acid free. Tyler's Coffee built a brand around that claim and a loyal following of customers who believed it. The problem is that there is no such thing as acid-free coffee. Coffee contains organic acids by chemical necessity. The question is not whether they are there, but how many — and the independent science has now answered that question directly.
When independent university researchers tested Tyler's Coffee, the results were not just disappointing — they were worse than regular Starbucks drip coffee. This article tells you exactly what the science found and what to do about it.
⚠️ The Independent Test Result: The NC A&T 2024 independent peer-reviewed study tested Tyler's Coffee and found it measured at pH 5.02 — classified HIGH ACID. This is more acidic than typical Starbucks drip coffee and far below the LACCSA low acid threshold of pH 5.8. Studies have NOT shown that reducing caffeine decreases acid reflux. Only reducing acid has been shown to help.
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5.02 Tyler's pH — NC A&T 2024 — HIGH ACID |
5.82 Puroast Verified pH — Only Certified Brand |
5.8 LACCSA Verified Low Acid Threshold |
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Tyler's Coffee markets itself as "Acid Free" and positions this claim as scientifically grounded. The brand uses a patented post-roast treatment process — applying a proprietary method to the roasted beans designed to strip or neutralize acids after roasting. The marketing is sophisticated: peer-reviewed science is cited, university partnerships are mentioned, and the brand has built credibility in the health-focused coffee space.
But when the NC A&T 2024 independent study put Tyler's through the same standardized university pH testing it applied to all seven coffees, Tyler's measured at pH 5.02. To put that in context:
Tyler's "Acid Free" coffee tested as more acidic than regular Starbucks in the same independent study. The label said acid free. The science said pH 5.02.
Tyler's approach is post-roast acid reduction — applying a process to the coffee after roasting to neutralize or remove acids. Puroast's approach is roast-based acid conversion — the acids are chemically transformed during the roasting process itself. The NC A&T 2024 results suggest a meaningful difference in effectiveness between these two approaches.
Here is the chemical explanation for why roast-based conversion appears more effective:
The NC A&T data supports this distinction clearly. Tyler's post-roast process produced pH 5.02. Puroast's roasting process produced pH 5.82. The gap is 0.8 pH units — on the logarithmic scale, that represents approximately a 6X difference in hydrogen ion concentration, meaning Puroast has approximately 6X less acid than Tyler's in the final brewed cup.
🌿 The Antioxidant Story Tyler's Can't Tell: When Puroast's roasting process converts quinic acids into phenolic compounds, those compounds become potent antioxidants — 5X more than the average commercial coffee. This is a simultaneous health upgrade: less acid AND more antioxidants in the same cup. A post-roast removal process does not create antioxidants. It just removes acids — partially. Puroast's approach is fundamentally superior on both dimensions.
| Factor | Tyler's | Puroast |
|---|---|---|
| NC A&T 2024 Independent pH | 5.02 — HIGH ACID | 5.82 — VERIFIED LOW ACID |
| Marketing Claim | "Acid Free" | "Low Acid" — verified |
| LACCSA Certified | ❌ No | ✅ Founding member |
| More Acidic Than Starbucks? | Yes (pH 5.02 vs ~5.1) | No (pH 5.82) |
| Antioxidant Level | Standard commercial | 5X higher than commercial average |
| Acid Reduction Method | Post-roast treatment | Roasting chemistry (UC Davis patented) |
| UC Davis Verification | ❌ Not published | ✅ Peer-reviewed 2009 |
The Coffee That Actually Passed the Test
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No. There is no such thing as acid-free coffee. The NC A&T 2024 independent study measured Tyler's at pH 5.02, classified as HIGH ACID. This is more acidic than typical Starbucks drip coffee and far below the LACCSA verified low acid threshold of pH 5.8.
Based on the independent data, Tyler's is unlikely to provide meaningful relief for acid reflux. At pH 5.02, the acid load is comparable to or worse than standard commercial coffee. For acid reflux relief, you need coffee verified at pH 5.8 or above.
Tyler's tested at pH 5.02 in the NC A&T study. Puroast tested at pH 5.82. On the logarithmic pH scale, Puroast has approximately 6 times less acid than Tyler's. Puroast is LACCSA certified. Tyler's is not.
Puroast's acid reduction happens entirely through the roasting process — a fundamental chemical transformation that converts quinic acids throughout the bean into phenolic antioxidants. Tyler's uses a post-roast treatment. The NC A&T 2024 results suggest the roasting-based approach is significantly more effective: pH 5.82 vs. pH 5.02.
pH 5.8, established by the Low Acid Coffee Certification Standard Association based on the 2024 NC A&T peer-reviewed study. Puroast is the only coffee brand to achieve this certification. Tyler's tested at pH 5.02, 0.78 pH units below the verified threshold.
The independent data suggests not sufficiently. Tyler's uses a patented post-roast process and yet measured at pH 5.02 in peer-reviewed testing. Puroast's roasting-based approach with no post-roast chemical treatment achieved pH 5.82. The evidence points clearly to the roasting process as the more effective mechanism.
Tyler's Coffee is an ambitious brand. The "Acid Free" claim is confident. The post-roast treatment technology is genuinely novel. But the NC A&T 2024 independent study is unambiguous: Tyler's tested at pH 5.02 — HIGH ACID, more acidic than regular Starbucks. The boldest claim in the low acid coffee space failed the most important test. The science chose a different winner.
The Label Said Acid Free. The Science Said pH 5.02.
Puroast: pH 5.82. 5X less acid. LACCSA certified. The only coffee that actually passed.
Shop All Puroast Coffee →Sources: NC A&T 2024 Independent Study | LACCSA.org | UC Davis / Dr. Shibamoto (2009)
This article is for informational purposes only. Puroast does not provide medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making dietary changes.
