Does Decaf Coffee Have Caffeine? The Truth About Decaf

If you’re a coffee-lover, like me, but keep on experiencing some palpitations after drinking your favorite coffee then you might probably have tried to order a decaffeinated coffee in your go-to shop just to still have a sip of your favorite drink in the morning. Well, you may say, “it doesn’t have caffeine, so this might be perfect for, still, a coffee lover like me”, but are you sure? Is it really caffeine-free? Or is it not? How much do you really know about decaf coffee? And what’s the real truth about it?

Well, thank you for reading this, we can all get the fact straight once and for all, and address your questions about decaf coffees.

You see, I once believed that decaf coffee is 100% free of caffeine, so it had been my choice whenever I order my favorite coffee in my fave shop. That’s what I believe until I did some research about it, and boy did I got it all wrong.

Time to get the fact straight dude.

What is really decaffeinated coffee?

Well, to start with, decaffeinated coffee is just like regular coffee but with its caffeine removed on it. Well, not 100% as you might know it. At least 97% of the coffee beans had been removed of its caffeine. So, to start, it’s not really caffeine-free. It still is a COFFEE, so it’s only right to have caffeine, right? What were you thinking?

How Is It Made?

Coffee beans supplier in the Philippines and other coffee beans suppliers in the world make a coffee bean decaffeinated in one of these three methods: using either organic solvents, water, or carbon dioxide. Unroasted coffee beans are soaked or steamed until caffeine is dissolved and extracted.

The solvent-based process uses a combination of water, ethyl acetate, and methylene chloride. It is combined to make a solvent that extracts the caffeine by evaporation. On the other hand, the Swiss water process relies on osmosis to extract coffee beans caffeine, while the other process uses carbon dioxide that is a natural compound found in coffee as gas to remove the caffeine and leave its other flavors intact.

The decaffeination process of coffee bean can really alter the taste and smell of the coffee, making it milder than the usual and with a different color. Still, the type of roasted coffee you buy will affect the flavor more than the decaffeination process.

How much caffeine can be found in average decaf coffee?

So, are you really concerned about how much caffeine can be found on your cup of decaf coffee? Here it is. Just think that you are drinking an 8-ounce cup of decaf coffee, that cup of coffee only contains an average of up to 7mg of caffeine, compared to a regular cup of coffee with 70-140mg of caffeine.

Though 7mg of caffeine can be considered low, this may still pose some concern for individuals who are advised to cut their intake due to some health problems. For some, even the small amount of caffeine could increase their blood pressure, agitation, heart rate, and anxiety. Thus, moderation should still be observed while drinking your favorite coffee even if it’s a decaf.

To Whom Is Decaf For?

We get it, coffee is your life. But while many people can enjoy drinking their favorite coffee with a higher amount of caffeine, some people may need to avoid it. So sad, right?

If you are someone who experiences anxiety, headaches, insomnia, an increase in blood pressure, irritability, or nausea after drinking a regular coffee then you may consider drinking decaf as an alternative.

Individuals who are taking medications that can interact with caffeine might also be required to take caffeine-restricted diets. Even, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding is advised to lower their caffeine intake.

If you are someone who experiences negative side effects when consuming large doses of caffeine, you should opt for decaf. Drinking a decaf dark roast that is often less acidic and has lower caffeine is your best option. Still, we don’t want to be the expert here, it is still best to consult your doctor especially if you have a serious medical condition if you are going to continuously drink your fave coffee.

It is important to note that people react differently when they are taking caffeine. It might be difficult to take away caffeine altogether in your system especially if you’re such a coffee addict like me. But having a decaf instead of the regular may be a good idea when ordering your next cup of coffee in the shop right next to your office. It might also be a good idea if you will avoid a cup right before your bedtime.