What are the pros and cons of decaf coffee?

What advantages and disadvantages does decaf coffee have over regular caffeinated coffee?

Decaffeinated coffee has come a long way since its early days in 1900s, when the process of removing caffeine from coffee beans often resulted in a lacklustre final product. Today, there are high-quality decaf coffees available, making it easier than ever to enjoy all the flavour of coffee without the caffeine.

However, there are still some pros and cons to consider before making the swift switch to decaf.

Advantages of Decaffeinated Coffee

Enjoy All the Antioxidants

Contrary to popular belief, decaffeinated coffee has been shown to contain almost the same amount of antioxidants that you'd find in regular coffee. Decaf coffee has only slightly lower antioxidant levels than regular coffee, and this is thought to be due to some decaffeination processes that can damage or remove certain compounds.

Antioxidants are important because they help protect your cells and keep you functioning optimally, and they've been linked with a host of health benefits including reduced inflammation, improved heart health and a lower risk of cancer. Decadent Decaf's Swiss Water Decaf Process ensures that our coffee beans are decaffeinated without the use of chemicals, so you can be sure you're getting the maximum amount of antioxidants in every cup.

Lower the Risk of Disease

Another one of the top decaf coffee health benefits is that it has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. One study found that people who drank coffee habitually, both regular and decaf, had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes than those who didn't drink coffee at all.

Another study showed that decaf was able to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease just as much as regular coffee did. Two or more cups of decaffeinated coffee per day has also been proven to lower the risk of colorectal cancer, which is one of the most common cancers in the world.

Another decaffeinated coffee benefit is that it's often less acidic than regular coffee. This is important because acidity can contribute to stomach problems like heartburn and indigestion. If you find that regular coffee bothers your stomach, switching to decaf may help alleviate those symptoms. 

Get a Better Night's Sleep

If you're struggling to get a good night's sleep, you’ll definitely want to make the move to decaf. Caffeine is a stimulant, so it can stay in your system for 6 to 8 hours after you drink it.

This means that if you have a cup of coffee in the afternoon, you're likely to still feel the effects when you're trying to go to bed at night. If you have trouble sleeping, decaf coffee can help you avoid the caffeine jitters and get a restful night's sleep.

Because caffeine inhibits adenosine - a neurotransmitter that makes you feel sleepy - switching to decaf coffee can eliminate this obstacle and help you catch some much-needed Z's.

Caffeine was also shown to double the levels of epinephrine and cortisol in the body, which are two hormones that are heavily involved in the stress response. Decaffeinated coffee has not been shown to have this effect, making it a good choice if you're trying to reduce your stress levels and relax before bed.

Disadvantages of Decaffeinated Coffee  

Chemicals May Be Used in the Decaffeination Process

Some decaffeination processes use chemicals like methylene chloride or ethyl acetate to strip caffeine from coffee beans. These chemicals can sometimes leave residue on the beans, which may end up in your cup of coffee.

While most of these residues are below levels that would pose a health risk, some people prefer to avoid them altogether.

Using a Swiss Water Decaf Process, Decadent Coffee leverages the power of this eco-friendly, chemical-free, 99.9% caffeine-free water process to ensure that every cup of our coffee is free of unwanted chemicals while still retaining the rich flavour that coffee lovers crave.

Decaf Coffee Still Contains A Little Caffeine

Yes, decaf coffee does still contain caffeine. While decaffeinated coffee has less caffeine than regular coffee, it still contains a small amount. In fact, according to the FDA, at least 97% of the caffeine must be removed in order for a coffee to be considered decaffeinated.

This means that a cup of decaf coffee may still contain up to 3% of the original caffeine content. For some people, this is enough to cause similar side effects as regular coffee, including jitters, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.

Decadent Coffee's Swiss Water Decaf Process removes 99.9% of the caffeine, making it an excellent choice for those who are sensitive to even small amounts of this stimulant.

The good news is, depending on how you see it, is that decaffeinated coffee has been linked to drowsiness so if you are looking for an after-dinner coffee that won't keep you up all night, decaf may be just what you need.

The Final Word on Decaf Coffee

Decaffeinated coffee has a host of benefits and some potential drawbacks associated with it. However, the decaf coffee benefits seem to outweigh the cons for most people.

Decaf coffee is a great way to enjoy the flavour of coffee without the unwanted side effects of caffeine. It's also important to remember that while decaffeinated coffee does have some downsides associated with it, these are mostly noticed when drinking large amounts of coffee - both decaf and caffeinated.

A far cry from the weak and watery decaffeinated coffees of the past, Decadent Coffee's Swiss Water Process decafs retains all the flavour and body of their caffeinated counterparts.