What’s the (Real) Difference Between Decaf and Regular Coffee?
Decaf vs. regular coffee. What’s the difference?
It all started in 1906 when the first decaffeinated coffee became widely available after a German merchant believed his father passed away from what he believed was a caffeine overdose.
His goal was to rid coffee of this “poison.” In this article, we’ll answer questions like how is decaf coffee made and how is it different from regular coffee?
Table of Contents
1. What Is Decaf Coffee and How Is It Made?
Wondering how decaf coffee is made? The process is called extraction, and there are a few popular ways of doing this.
The most common is by taking coffee beans and washing them in high heat water. This removes the caffeine and many of the oils and flavors of the beans. Those beans are often discarded, and the wash is retained.
Another set of beans gets washed in the previous coffee bean juice. This helps retain the beans’ flavors while still removing some of the oils and caffeine in the bean, essentially decaffeinating it.
2. How Does the Taste of Decaf Coffee Compare to Regular Coffee?
If you told someone to take a sip from two separate, identical mugs, one filled with decaf and the other with regular coffee, there’s a good chance they’d identify a difference.
When the caffeine is removed from coffee beans, so are some of the flavors and oils that are commonly associated with coffee. This results in a smoother, less bitter drink as the acidity levels are also lowered.
Many brands of decaf try to replicate the ‘authentic’ coffee flavor in their decaf. Others work to accentuate the less-bitter nature of a cuppa decaf.
3. Is Decaf Coffee Healthier Than Regular Coffee?
There are a lot of coffee myths out there, one of which is that coffee is unhealthy. This is far from the truth. The cream and sugar put into coffee are far worse for you than the actual drink itself.
Coffee is low in calories and is a stimulant for the body. That said, there are side effects. For example, caffeine can cause jitters, and the drink’s acidity can cause heartburn.
Decaf coffee doesn’t have these side effects. Decaf is the way to go if you’re sensitive to caffeine or have a sensitive stomach.
4. Are There Any Other Benefits to Drinking Decaf Coffee Instead of Regular Coffee?
Yes! If you’re wondering does decaf coffee has caffeine, the answer is yes. It’s significantly less than its caffeinated sibling but can still help you jump-start your day.
Further benefits are that drinking it later in the day can help keep you going without worrying about keeping you up at bedtime.
5. How Do You Make a Perfect Cup of Decaf Coffee at Home?
To get the best cuppa joe, you need the best kind of coffee bean minus the caffeine. Whole beans are our recommendation. The fresher the coffee grounds, the more flavor you’ll experience in your coffee.
That said, our decaf won’t leave you disappointed
Get Yourself Some Decaf Coffee
Downward Dog Decaf can help you start the day feeling fresh and bright, without the post-caffeine jitters. So get yourself a bag today.
Go with the whole bean if you’re someone who prefers to grind their coffee, or if you want to cut off some of the work, get yourself one of the pre-ground options.
Drink your decaf coffee straight or add cream or sugar to make it a perfect morning delight.