Well, What is Decaf Coffee Anyways?

Decaf coffee, short for decaffeinated coffee, is a kind of coffee that is (mostly) caffeine free. It’s created by removing most of the caffeine from coffee beans, while ideally preserving the taste and flavor. 

Decaf coffee exists in many shapes and forms, and there are multiple ways to decaffeinate coffee. Some of these involve chemicals, while others are completely natural. Some preserve the rich flavor of great coffee beans, while others mar these flavors through harsh decaffeination methods. 

In general, methods such as the Swiss Water Process, the Ethyl-Acetate Process, and the CO2 Method preserve the flavor of coffee beans, and do not contain any additional chemicals. Other processes, such as most forms of the Direct-Solvent Method, have complicated histories, and are known to produce harsher tasting coffee beans.

Decaf coffee can be prepared identically to caffeinated coffee. As with any coffee, it must be prepared properly. Decaf’s quality is affected by its decaffeination method, the quality of the beans, their level of freshness, and the brewing process. Buying great beans and treating them properly is crucial to enjoying a cup of decaf, just like it is with caffeinated coffee.

Is There Any Caffeine in Decaf?

Decaf coffee is not fully decaffeinated. It does, however, contain far less caffeine than caffeinated coffee. A typical cup of decaf coffee contains approximately 2 milligrams of caffeine, compared to an average of 90 milligrams found in a standard cup of regular coffee. Decaffeination methods matter here too. The Swiss Water Process, for example, removes 99.9% of the caffeine from coffee beans.Decaf coffee contains most of the same health benefits as caffeinated coffee. It also contains additional benefits due to its lack of caffeine.

While caffeine has some positive benefits of its own, it can also pose a problem for people with anxiety disorders or high blood pressure. Decaf contains most of the rich antioxidants found in caffeinated coffee. Please note that this does not serve as medical advice, and that coffee should never be used in place of medication.