The LACCSA Campaign
The Low Acid Coffee Consumer Standard Association (LACCSA) Campaign is a coordinated effort to bring clarity, consistency, and transparency to the growing low acid coffee category. Low acid coffee already exists. Consumers are buying it. Brands are selling it. What has been missing is a shared definition—and a clear path toward long-term alignment.
The Core Problem
Today, “low acid coffee” has no widely accepted meaning. Products using very different methods—roasting profiles, caffeine reduction, additives, or treatments—may all make similar claims. Without a standard, consumers cannot reliably compare products, material differences may not be clearly disclosed, and the category risks confusion and loss of trust over time.
Our Campaign Objective
The objective of the LACCSA Campaign is two-fold: Near term, establish a clear, testable, and transparent reference standard for low acid coffee. Long term, support the development of a true standard of identity for low acid coffee, grounded in evidence and consumer relevance.
Why a Standard of Identity Matters
Historically, many food and beverage categories began with informal claims before evolving toward clearer definitions. Without a shared identity, claims drift, consumer expectations fragment, and enforcement becomes reactive rather than preventative. LACCSA’s campaign is designed to lay the groundwork for a future standard of identity.
A Phased Approach to Building the Category
Phase 1: Definition & Education—Publish a clear, pH-based definition of low acid coffee. Explain why consumers seek low acid options. Clarify differences between low acid, reduced acid, and caffeine-reduced products.
Phase 2: Transparency & Verification—Reference standardized testing and measurement protocols. Encourage voluntary verification and disclosure. Begin building comparative datasets to strengthen consistency.
Phase 3: Alignment & Identity—Enable voluntary adoption across brands and retailers. Refine definitions as data and research mature. Support the emergence of a recognized standard of identity that protects both consumers and the integrity of the category.
What This Campaign Is Not
The LACCSA Campaign is not a regulatory mandate, legal action, or judgment on quality, taste, or sourcing. It is not an attempt to restrict innovation. It is a standards-first initiative intended to create clarity before confusion becomes entrenched.
Why This Matters Now
Interest in low acid coffee is accelerating faster than the frameworks that define it. When categories grow without clear definitions, consumer confusion increases, trust erodes, and regulation eventually follows—often bluntly. The LACCSA Campaign is about shaping clarity early so future standards reflect real data and consumer needs.
How to Participate
Participation in the LACCSA Campaign is voluntary. Brands may align with the standard, researchers and labs may contribute data, retailers may reference a clear definition, and consumers gain clarity about what claims mean. Standards work best when built collaboratively and adopted willingly.
The Long-Term Vision
The ultimate goal of the LACCSA Campaign is trust. A market where “low acid” has a clear, shared meaning, methods are disclosed honestly, consumers can choose confidently, innovation continues within a transparent framework, and over time, clarity supports a true standard of identity benefiting all stakeholders.