Attention post-op coffee drinkers!

Are there any good decaf and/or low-acid brands of coffee you can recommend? How about chains like Dunkin or Starbucks? Since having the surgery, I've found out I'm sensitive to caffeine. The program I'm in doesn't allow it anyway, but they did say I could drink decaf, especially if it's low acid.

Thank you for your help!

Right after my surgery I got a decaf Pike's Place from Starbucks that was drinkable. All the others I tried tasted like a$$. Don't even think about trying the Kroger's Private Selection Decaf. TOTALLY undrinkable!

I couldn’t tolerate coffee for a month after my surgery, it was a very sad month

most of Starbuck's coffees are way too acidic for me, but I may have never tried the decaf that the above poster mentioned.

we have a local chain that has coffee I can tolerate, but that's not going to help you. They do sell some low-acid coffees on amazon. Some large grocery stores may carry them as well. Also, the darker roasts tend to be less acidic than lighter roasts, for some reason.

Ok, I have a love / hate relationship with coffee. Either I get the extreme jitters or I am just sick (dumping) when drinking coffee. I seem to tolerate Starbucks SF vanilla Latte or McDonalds SF vanilla Latte's (nonfat version). I can brew my own Dark Roast coffee, but this also gives me the jitters. A coffee expert told me that the darker the roast the lower the acid, which totally threw me off until it was explained that the darker the roast the more time the bean is roasted and the more acid is extracted from the bean. I love coffee but when I am out and not near a bathroom its risky. Some may relate...LOL

I miss coffee a lot. I found a protein shake that has caffeine in it and is flavored like a latte. Tasty and I get my caffeine kick. What's the deal with caffeine anyway? Why can't we have it during the first 30 days? (I'm totally cheating with my protein shake by the way).

18 minutes ago, GotItDoneInHarlem said:

I miss coffee a lot. I found a Protein Shake that has caffeine in it and is flavored like a latte. Tasty and I get my caffeine kick. What's the deal with caffeine anyway? Why can't we have it during the first 30 days? (I'm totally cheating with my Protein shake by the way).

re: caffeine - I think some (probably most) surgeons think it's hard on healing stomachs (the acid in coffee is, too). Be glad you only have to wait 30 days - I had to wait six months! (although some surgeons let you drink it right away, so there doesn't seem to be a consensus on this...)

Edited March 2, 20206 yr by catwoman7

Since I am at least a pot & a half a day drinker of coffee, and a 5 year vet, I have some experience.

When talking coffee, we all say coffee but we don't all mean the same thing. Coffee to me is regular coffee with cream. My uncle says coffee and it means black. My coworker says coffee and it is this whipped cream covered sundae in a huge cup with enough sugar to kill a diabetic.

The first thing to debunk is that coffee is diuretic. Caffeine is diuretic yes, but the amount of liquid present in a cup of coffee is more than enough to offset that. It will not dehydrate you.

When coffee is said to be acidic, that is actually in reference to the flavor; not the pH level. Our own saliva is more acidic than coffee and our stomach is far more acidic than that. And our stomach is producing hydrochloric acid all the time. Like, as soon as they close the stomach acid is back in production.

https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-deal-with-acid-in-coffee-224482

The only things to truly be cognizant of is that caffeine, regardless of its source, attaches to the same receptors that Vitamin D and Calcium bond to. So if you take supplements for those, don't take them with coffee. The other thing is that coffee can stimulate the bowels. Some people have always been like this, a good strong cup can send me to the bathroom relatively quick. That was before surgery and still happens today. Some people never had that issue before and now they do. It's not uncommon.

22 hours ago, JRT Mom said:

Right after my surgery I got a Decaf Pike's Place from Starbucks that was drinkable. All the others I tried tasted like a$$. Don't even think about trying the Kroger's Private Selection Decaf. TOTALLY undrinkable!

Thanks for the heads up (and I won't)!

21 hours ago, AngieBear said:

I couldn’t tolerate coffee for a month after my surgery, it was a very sad month

That is sad...are you able to tolerate it now?

21 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

most of Starbuck's coffees are way too acidic for me, but I may have never tried the Decaf that the above poster mentioned.

we have a local chain that has coffee I can tolerate, but that's not going to help you. They do sell some low-acid coffees on Amazon. Some large grocery stores may carry them as well. Also, the darker roasts tend to be less acidic than lighter roasts, for some reason.

That's interesting. I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Thanks!

15 hours ago, ScoutCR said:

Ok, I have a love / hate relationship with coffee. Either I get the extreme jitters or I am just sick (dumping) when drinking coffee. I seem to tolerate Starbucks SF vanilla Latte or McDonalds SF vanilla Latte's (nonfat version). I can brew my own Dark Roast coffee, but this also gives me the jitters. A coffee expert told me that the darker the roast the lower the acid, which totally threw me off until it was explained that the darker the roast the more time the bean is roasted and the more acid is extracted from the bean. I love coffee but when I am out and not near a bathroom its risky. Some may relate...LOL

Oh no! That's unfortunate. I really miss coffee...had no idea I was that addicted until after my surgery. I miss it but I'm afraid I won't be able to tolerate it.

3 hours ago, BigViffer said:

Since I am at least a pot & a half a day drinker of coffee, and a 5 year vet, I have some experience.

When talking coffee, we all say coffee but we don't all mean the same thing. Coffee to me is regular coffee with cream. My uncle says coffee and it means black. My coworker says coffee and it is this whipped cream covered sundae in a huge cup with enough sugar to kill a diabetic.

The first thing to debunk is that coffee is diuretic. Caffeine is diuretic yes, but the amount of liquid present in a cup of coffee is more than enough to offset that. It will not dehydrate you.

When coffee is said to be acidic, that is actually in reference to the flavor; not the pH level. Our own saliva is more acidic than coffee and our stomach is far more acidic than that. And our stomach is producing hydrochloric acid all the time. Like, as soon as they close the stomach acid is back in production.

https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-deal-with-acid-in-coffee-224482

The only things to truly be cognizant of is that caffeine, regardless of its source, attaches to the same receptors that Vitamin D and Calcium bond to. So if you take supplements for those, don't take them with coffee. The other thing is that coffee can stimulate the bowels. Some people have always been like this, a good strong cup can send me to the bathroom relatively quick. That was before surgery and still happens today. Some people never had that issue before and now they do. It's not uncommon.

Wow, I learned a lot here. Coffee to me is regular coffee with cream as well. Are there any brands you could recommend or is it just a matter of watching the caffeine?

7 minutes ago, kc892020 said:

Wow, I learned a lot here. Coffee to me is regular coffee with cream as well. Are there any brands you could recommend or is it just a matter of watching the caffeine?

For me personally, Boston Stoker coffee always seem to go right through me. I can't even finish my second cup before I have to head to the bathroom. Doesn't matter the flavor or roast, but definitely the brand. That is the only coffee I tend to avoid for physical reasons. I don't like Starbucks anything since they use Sumatran beans and they just have too much of an earthy flavor. I prefer the "fruity" beans like real kona. Dunkin Donuts coffee is a great bean in my opinion and it is available reasonably priced at any grocery store around here. Maxwell House is too astringent to me, but Folgers is a fine everyday coffee IMO.

As for the caffeine levels, I honestly don't pay attention to it since it doesn't appear to be a problem for me. I take my regular supplements with water after I am done with coffee in the morning around 10:30. I'm back to coffee by 4 though until about 7 or 8.

On 3/2/2020 at 2:34 PM, BigViffer said:

For me personally, Boston Stoker coffee always seem to go right through me. I can't even finish my second cup before I have to head to the bathroom. Doesn't matter the flavor or roast, but definitely the brand. That is the only coffee I tend to avoid for physical reasons. I don't like Starbucks anything since they use Sumatran Beans and they just have too much of an earthy flavor. I prefer the "fruity" beans like real kona. Dunkin Donuts coffee is a great bean in my opinion and it is available reasonably priced at any grocery store around here. Maxwell House is too astringent to me, but Folgers is a fine everyday coffee IMO.

As for the caffeine levels, I honestly don't pay attention to it since it doesn't appear to be a problem for me. I take my regular supplements with Water after I am done with coffee in the morning around 10:30. I'm back to coffee by 4 though until about 7 or 8.

I always drank Folgers pre-op, I think I'll try it again. Hopefully, it agrees with me. Thank you!