The misconceptions about Decaf Coffee - Does it contain caffeine?

Many people think that decaffeinated coffee is a good option for those who want to enjoy the taste of coffee without getting too much caffeine. However, there are many misconceptions about what decaf actually means and whether it contains caffeine at all.

There's no difference in the amount of caffeine between regular and decaffeinated coffee beans. The only difference is how much caffein has been extracted from the bean before packaging it as ground or whole bean coffee. Why does this matter? Well, because most people don't know that they're drinking more than they thought when they drink a cup of "decaf."

Read on to find out more information about how much caffeine there really is in your decaf coffee and what you should be looking for when buying one.

In this blog post we will discuss:

1. How is decaf coffee different to regular coffee

2.How is decaf coffee made vs regular coffee?

3. How much Caffeine do different types of Decaf Coffee contain?

4. Who should drink decaf coffee?

1.What are common misconceptions about Decaf Coffee?

Decaf coffee has a lot of misconceptions about it. One of the biggest is that decaf coffee does not have caffeine. The truth is, a cup of decaffeinated coffee can still contain anywhere from 5-25 milligrams (mg) of caffeine!

It also depends on what type of decaf coffee you drink and other factors like how it's brewed or where its grown etc.

The word "decaffeinated" can be misleading as it is commonly assumed that the process of decaf includes removing caffeine. This isn't always the case, and some decaffeinated brands still have a small amount of caffeine in them. In order to qualify for labelling as "decaf," coffee must contain less than 1% of its original caffeine content.

Another misconception is that decaf coffee tastes bad. This isn't always the case either, and in fact some people prefer it over regular because they don’t want to feel jittery or have a caffeine headache after drinking their cup of joe!

2.How is decaf coffee different to regular coffee?

First, caffeine content. Decaffeinated coffee has less than 10 milligrams of caffeine per cup whereas regular coffee can range anywhere from 100 to 300 milligrams in a single serving. This means that people who want to limit their intake of caffeinated beverages could consider drinking decaf to avoid getting too much caffeine. 

Second, taste! The taste profile varies significantly between different types of beans as well as roasting techniques but in general you will find that decaffeinated coffees have a lighter body or smoother flavor since it doesn't contain any of the compounds that give coffee its bitter taste. Decaffeinated beans tend to have less acidity than their caffeinated counterparts.

3.How is decaf coffee made and how does it differ from regular?

Decaffeinated coffee is created through an extraction process when the caffeine-filled solids are removed from the bean during processing. This can be done either with water or a solvent like ethyl acetate or methylene chloride.

Decaf coffee is made from removing caffeine from regular coffee beans. T

The process of making decaf differs depending on what type of decaf you're drinking: 

- Water Process Decaffeination:

Usually, to create coffee, the process starts with green beans—the unroasted seeds of coffee plants—which are soaked in water and then roasted at high temperatures to create different types of coffees like dark roast, medium roast, light roast, etc.

For decaf coffee there is no roasting involved; instead the beans are soaked in boiling water until they're soft enough and dried. It's also called "Swiss water process." It removes approximately 97% of caffeine from coffee beans with no chemical additives or flavour loss. This is followed by using activated charcoal to remove the flavour compounds left behind so that they don't end up in your cup.

There are other methods that can be used to remove some (or all) caffeinated content in green bean coffees.

- Chemical Method:

Decaffeinated beans are soaked in a chemical solvent such as methylene chloride or ethyl acetate, which removes the caffeine. This process can take anywhere between 12 to 24 hours for one batch of ground up raw material (beans).

Decaffeinating coffee requires using chemicals to remove caffeine from the beans. There are two main types of chemical treatments that can be used: methylene chloride or ethyl acetate.

Ethyl acetate, which is found in fruit juices, does not leave behind any traces of chemicals in the final product.

Methylene chloride on the other hand, is found in paint remover and other industrial cleaners which has been linked to cancer by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This type of treatment leaves behind traces of methylene chloride in decaf-coffee so you may want to avoid this option if you're concerned about your health or have certain sensitivities.

Note: Brands don’t have to disclose their process on the label. Coffee Brands don’t have to disclose their process on the label. So if you're looking for decaf coffee, look for solvent-free, chemical-free, Swiss-water, or certified organic labeled decaf on the label.

4. How much Caffeine does Decaf Coffee contain?

The word "decaffeinated" may make you think that all caffeine is removed from the coffee beans. But there are two types of decaf coffees: one has 99% of the caffeine removed, and the other has 97.5%. The first type gives you a reduced jittery feeling, while the second type still leaves some of its caffeine in for those who want to keep their energy levels up during the day but not have a full-fledged cup of coffee.

5.Who should drink decaf coffee?

Decaf coffee is great for people who want to enjoy the taste of coffee without the caffeine (or minimal amounts of caffeine). It's also good if you're pregnant and don't drink regular black tea either, because it has less caffeination in comparison with an average serving (12mg) but still contains some amount that can disrupt sleep patterns when consumed too close before bedtime which means there are other options available than just water!

Pregnant women may also avoid any caffeination during her pregnancy and would prefer not drinking regular black tea either because she may want something that tastes like coffee.

Decaf coffees can be helpful for those who suffer from insomnia as well since caffeine can disrupt sleep patterns if consumed too close before bedtime.

Conclusion

Decaffeinated coffee is an alternative for those who can't drink regular coffee. While there are some assumptions made about the amount of caffeine in your decaf coffee, make sure to read the label to make sure it was what you had intended to drink.

Alternatively, if you wanted to stay away from any type of caffeine, you may want to consider herbal teas. Not just any herbal teas, a coffee flavoured tea with many health benefits such as prebiotics for gut health, helping with digestion and bloating.

Click here to find out more about this healthy coffee alternative.