Will there ever be caffeine-free coffee?
It's been rumoured for years that we are on the verge of a caffeine-free coffee bean, but it's never borne fruit. When, oh, when will I be able to enjoy that delicious elixir of vitality in the evening without worrying about lying awake all night?
Lord I hope not!!
Isn't that what they call De-Caf???
@hobbitss: Decaf isn't a caffeine-free bean, but a bean that has been processed to remove most. I don't know firsthand, because I'm not a blaspheming decaf drinker, but I'm told it affects taste as well.
@hobbitss: Yeah, this person is likely concerned about the un-healthy ways that most companies decaffeinate coffee.
There is a natural way of doing this, although seldom used any more, called the Swiss Water Method, where the beans are decaffeinated by using only water, no chemicals.
If you care to know more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decaffeination
My caffeine came from Coca-Cola and I've given it up for better sleep and a decrease in calories...
I can still hear it...
It calls my name...
Mid afternoons are the worst, I can hear laughter coming from the direction of the nearest Coke machine.... And then a gentle voice begins to call my name seeking my attention....
Caffeine.... Yummmmmmmmmm....
@dmmutti: From what I understand, the Swiss method does taste better, but it's still not a coffee that tastes like leaded. What's been promised, these past ten or so years, is a bean that will taste like regular coffee, but not have the stimulant affect that regular coffee has. Of course, maybe that bean I'm waiting for will end up being like margarine with its technically correct claim of "no cholesterol".
Caffeine free coffee is like non-alcoholic beer ... what's the point?! ^_^
Caffeine free coffee will always taste different than the good stuff regardless of the method used to achieve its decaffeinated state.
Caffeine has its own (bitter)taste. When you take that out of coffee it is going to change the flavor to some degree.
I believe caffeine is actually the standard for bitterness (I just did a quick google search looking for something other than my memory to back this up and didn't find anything conclusive, but I'm pretty sure I've heard this before from a source I trusted at the time).
Anyway, caffeine is very bitter and its flavor is important to good coffee, especially for those of us that do not like sugar in our coffee (we also tend to like hoppy beers, though hops are not bitter because of caffeine).
@kmeltzer: Amen to that!
For those asking what the point is: Caffeine-free coffee would be a godsend for those of us who like coffee but have heart issues or other health problems that preclude or limit our intake of caffeine. I for one would welcome a caffeine-free coffee with open arms.
I don't know, but this reminded me I could use a cuppa joe right about now. Thanks!
If there is ever a truly caffeine-free coffee, it will certainly be GMO. No organic for you!
So, would you caffeine-intolerant people who like the taste of coffee ever drink this:
The best route is the swiss water decaf method that removes a majority of the caffeine through the simple process of applying water. That being said, expect to pay a bit more for gourmet coffee that is decaffeinated as the process does add time and cost.
Instead of the chemical dihydrogen monoxide, used in the Swiss process, how about the chemical carbon dioxide, used in the supercritical fluid extraction process? It leaves more flavors intact. CO2 is not organic, but then, neither is water.
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