Decaffeinated Coffee

What is Decaffeinated Coffee?

Decaffeinated Coffee Beans (also known as Decaf Coffee) come from the same place as regular Coffee: The Coffea plant. The difference between the two is that in the case it has had its caffeine removed. Caffeine is a stimulating chemical compound found in at least sixty plants. It provides an energy boost upon consumption, having first been discovered during the 19th century.

A few decades later, in 1905, German Coffee merchant Ludwig Roselius found a way of removing caffeine from Coffee Beans. His process used benzene, a potentially toxic hydrocarbon, which, thankfully, is no longer in use.

Today, the industry has perfected the safest and more efficient methods of decaffeination. But you’re probably still wondering, “How do they decaffeinate Coffee?”

How is Coffee Decaffeinated?

There are four primary methods of decaffeination in use now. The first involves the chemical methylene chloride as a solvent, which extracts the caffeine from raw materials, including Loose Tea and, of course, Coffee.

It accounts for 96-97% of the content, though our family-run business steers clear of it. Another somewhat similar process uses Ethyl Acetate as a solvent, but, again, we avoid it.

The two methods utilised by The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company take a far more cautious and, indeed, fundamentally better approach. The first is what the industry calls the Co2 Process.

This is where pressurised liquid carbon dioxide extracts up to 98% of small caffeine molecules while leaving the large flavour molecules intact. The Water Process, too, is effective and, above all else, natural.

How Much Caffeine is in Decaffeinated Coffee?

The chances are you’ve noticed that when talking about decaffeination, a 100% figure hasn’t shown up. Nor will it. The reality is that no type of Decaf Tea or Coffee is void of the stimulant in its entirety. Indeed, a trace amount remains, no matter what. You can expect about 5-10 milligrams of caffeine in coffee left behind in your brew, which, admittedly, isn’t much.

But does it still have the potential to influence your energy levels? Though unlikely, there is a chance of such a small caffeine amount doing just that, particularly among those who’re caffeine sensitive.

We’ll talk more about potential Decaffeinated Coffee side effects later. The time has now come to explore its well-documented health benefits, as supported by the latest scientific research.

Decaffeinated Coffee Benefits and Risks

A common misconception is that Coffee, regular or decaf, offers little in the way of medicinal qualities. While not as renowned as, say, the Benefits of Green Tea, there is nevertheless a possibility of it improving life in small yet significant ways. For example, evidence has found positive correlations between Decaffeinated Coffee and blood pressure, whereby it supports the cardiovascular system.

Another striking correlation is between Decaffeinated Coffee and type-2 diabetes, the findings of which indicate that consumption might reduce risks.

However, perhaps most remarkable of all, even Decaffeinated Coffee and weight loss could be a thing! Just don’t expect it to work miracles. Remember that, for the most, its main function is to prevent you from experiencing the effects of caffeine.

Decaffeinated Coffee Side Effects

Is Decaffeinated Coffee bad for you? Not when enjoyed in moderation. But overconsumption could lead to issues, including Decaffeinated Coffee and constipation, diarrhoea, heart complications, anxiety, digestive complaints and drowsiness.

Can Decaffeinated Coffee cause headaches as well? It could be a possibility, although, by buying it you can reduce the risks compared to regular Coffee.