For those who love the taste of coffee but don’t want the jitters, decaf seems like the perfect solution. But how healthy is it really? Some argue that the decaffeination process strips coffee of its benefits, while others swear it’s just as rich in antioxidants—minus the caffeine crash.
With concerns about chemical processing and potential health perks, it’s worth taking a closer look at what’s really in your cup. So, if you’ve ever wondered whether going decaf is a smart move or just a watered-down version of the real thing, you’re not alone.
According to Nation Wide Coffee, decaf coffee is similar to regular coffee but contains 97% less caffeine. The mentioned source explains that manufacturers soak coffee beans in water and a solvent like methylene chloride or ethyl acetate to remove caffeine.
“On average, a 236-ml cup of decaf coffee contains up to 7 mg of caffeine, whereas a cup of regular coffee can contain anywhere between 70-140mg. It should be noted that there can be slight variations in caffeine content across different decaf coffees, dependent on which decaffeination process has been undertaken,” states the above source.
The About Coffee website states that decaf coffee is linked to numerous health benefits, including improved memory, cognition, mood, reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, multiple cancers, and increased longevity. A study found that drinking 3 cups of coffee per day reduced overall mortality by 12%. Health authorities like the World Health Organisation, California’s OEHHA, and the American Cancer Society have all concluded that decaf coffee reduces the risk of various cancers, including skin, mouth, throat, liver, and endometrial cancer.
The Eating Well publication claims that decaf coffee may stain teeth yellowish, but this can be reduced with milk. It is also stated that decaf coffee can increase the frequency and severity of palpitations and arrhythmias for those sensitive to caffeine and those with certain heart conditions. “If you’re super sensitive to caffeine, you may still want to be careful about how much decaf coffee you consume.”
Also see: Could coffee be your new liver medicine?
