Coffee is one of the most popular and most enjoyed beverages in the world. Although many love drinking it, not everyone can manage the caffeine. Fortunately, decaf coffee exists.
Regular vs Decaffeinated Coffee Beans
Regular coffee beans contain caffeine, which is a natural alkaloid responsible for the coffee’s effects and bitterness. It occurs naturally in coffee beans as a defence against insects. This explains why robust coffee beans contain higher levels of caffeine – they are grown at lower altitudes where more insects are present.
For us humans, caffeine offers a number of benefits including improved focus, increased metabolism, mood boost and enhanced athletic performance. These stimulating effects are in fact, the most common reason why people drink coffee. The amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee depends on the type of coffee as well as the brewing process. Generally, a cup of brewed coffee contains around 95mg of caffeine while a double espresso shot has around 120 mg of caffeine.
Decaffeinated coffee beans are the same regular coffee beans that go through a chemical process to remove caffeine from the grains. It differs from regular coffee in a way that 97% of its caffeine content is removed. By removing the caffeine, decaf coffee can also lose some of its flavours and aroma, resulting in a coffee with a milder taste and less bitterness and acidity.
Decaf coffee can be prepared and enjoyed in the same way as regular coffee, but you don’t get to enjoy the stimulating effects of caffeine. This makes decaf coffee an ideal beverage to be consumed late in the afternoon or by those who are sensitive to caffeine.
What Is Involved in the Decaffeination Process?
The decaffeination process begins with regular coffee beans in their raw form (before they are roasted). The process usually involves the use of chemicals that help strip the caffeine from the beans. Once the caffeine is extracted from the green coffee beans, the beans are then roasted and ground as normal afterwards.
In the past, decaff coffee used to be associated with an inferior taster. However, the decaffeinated coffee beans of today go through modern decaffeination processes that ensure there’s little to no alteration in the flavour of the beans.
What Is the Point of Drinking Decaf Coffee?
Drinking moderate amounts of coffee doesn’t have any negative effects on the body. For most adults, consuming less than 400 mg a day is considered completely safe. However, some people have sensitiveness to caffeine, leading them to experience negative effects in smaller amounts. For these individuals, the consumption of caffeine can cause disrupted sleep, high blood pressure, restlessness and anxiety and even increase the risk of heart diseases.
If you’ve been experiencing any of these effects, the caffeine in your regular coffee can be the culprit. Switching some or all of your cups of coffee for decaf coffee can be a good idea.
Is Decaf Coffee Good for Your Body?
Coffee consumption is linked to a number of health benefits, including longer life. The great news is that these benefits don’t come from caffeine, but instead from the other compounds in coffee which still present after the decaf process. For example, the process of decaffeination doesn’t reduce the level of antioxidants present in coffee. So if you are looking to cut out caffeine but still want the benefits of coffee, decaf coffee is still a healthy option. Benefits of drinking decaf coffee include:
You Won’t Have Through Falling Asleep
If you love coffee for its bold taste rather than its caffeine energy boost, you might want to enjoy it after dinner. Drinking a decaf won’t cause you to be hours awake in the bed staring at the ceiling and regretting your decision.
It Won’t Affect Your Anxiety
Drinking too much caffeine if you have anxiety isn’t a great idea because it can send your body into alarm mode even faster. So for those times when you want to drink a coffee but are already feeling a bit anxious, drink decaf instead.
It’s Safe With Certain Medications
Caffeine can negatively affect certain types of medication, so why risk if you are taking them. Instead, enjoy a harmless cup of decaffeinated coffee.
It Won’t Affect Your Diet
Like regular coffee, decaf is naturally low in calories if consumed on its own, which means it won’t impact your diet. However, if you add a lot of sugar and cream, you can significantly increase the calorie content. You can add a bit of sweetness to your decaf coffee with a xylitol sugar substitute, which contains 40% fewer calories than table sugar.
It Won’t Harm Your Sensitive Stomach
If you suffer from conditions like heartburn or acid reflux, then you know that caffeine can set your stomach on fire. Thanks to decaff coffee, you don’t have to feel you’re forbidden from even enjoying a great cup of coffee again.
