How Much Caffeine is There in Decaf Coffee?

 What is decaf coffee?

Decaffeinated (decaf) coffee is made from coffee beans that have had at least 97 percent of their caffeine removed. The majority of coffee's stimulating properties are attributed to caffeine, a naturally occurring alkaloid present in coffee beans. It also increases the bitterness of the coffee.

The coffee plant, as a protective measure against insect predation, produces caffeine. This means that in order to grow coffee devoid of caffeine, the beans must be cultivated in an environment free of insects, such as at very high altitudes.

This is the reason why Arabica coffee has lower caffeine content than Robusta coffee. The former is raised at higher altitudes, where there are fewer insects. Less caffeine is present in decaffeinated coffee that uses beans from higher altitude coffee plants.

Is there caffeine in decaf coffee?

Yes. Caffeine is present in decaf coffee, but in small amounts. There is no decaf coffee available that is 100% caffeine free. In order to be designated decaf coffee at least 97 percent of the caffeine is removed during the decaffeination process.

Darker coffee roasts and instant decaf coffee typically have lower caffeine levels and promise to let you enjoy your cup of coffee without concern.

In general, the species of coffee, the roast profile, and the brewing technique all affect how much caffeine is present in a single cup of coffee.

Instead of utilizing a chemical solvent to extract the caffeine from green coffee beans, the carbon dioxide decaf procedure, also referred to as the "sparkling water method, uses carbon dioxide.

The Swiss water decaf technique is claimed to produce the lowest level of decaf coffee. During the process, the coffee beans are decaffeinated using simply water, which removes 99.9% of the caffeine. This decaffeination procedure does not use any chemical solvents and is certified organic.

What is the “Swiss Water Process”? The Swiss Water Process is a patented decaffeination method that uses only water to remove 99.9% of a coffee's caffeine content. Heat and time are also employed, but clean water is the only added ingredient.

Need help with the amount of caffeine in your decaf coffee?

Contact our caffeine content specialists to help you determine the quantity of caffeine in your decaf coffee aka Coffee without caffeine.