Очень простой способ сделать это:
String replaceCharsByNumbers(String stringToChange) {
return stringToChange
.replace('a', '2')
.replace('b', '2')
.replace('c', '2')
.replace('d', '3')
.replace('e', '3')
.replace('f', '3')
.replace('g', '4')
.replace('h', '4')
.replace('i', '4')
.replace('j', '5')
.replace('k', '5')
.replace('l', '5')
.replace('m', '6')
.replace('n', '6')
.replace('o', '6')
.replace('p', '7')
.replace('q', '7')
.replace('r', '7')
.replace('s', '7')
.replace('t', '8')
.replace('u', '8')
.replace('v', '8')
.replace('w', '9')
.replace('x', '9')
.replace('y', '9')
.replace('z', '9');
}