It is estimated that decaffeinated coffee accounts for 10% of coffee sales worldwide. You’d think that decaf consumers would be taken seriously wouldn’t you? Sadly, asking for a decaf is all too often scoffed at and more than likely served out from a grotty old tub gathering dust under the worktop.
Great tasting decaf does exist out there with all the taste potential of fully caffeinated coffee, and contrary to popular belief it doesn’t necessarily require vat-loads of chemicals to remove the caffeine. So whether you drink decaf out of choice, or for health reasons, be sure to follow these tips and rest easy that you can still enjoy your regular cup of joe as much as the fully caffeinated man/woman sitting next to you.
I can hear some of you asking ‘Why would anyone in their right mind want to give up caffeine?’ Well, whichever way you look at it, caffeine is considered a drug, and the most widely consumed drug in the world for that matter. Like most drugs, you can get pretty addicted to the stuff; it is estimated that the average person has already knocked back 3 coffees by the time they get to work. And whilst there is indeed research out there supporting the benefits of drinking coffee, there are also fundamental characteristics of caffeine that make it unsuitable for some people.
Caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands to release hormones that raise blood pressure, so those with already high blood pressure may want to consider cutting back on their caffeine. The stimulating effect of these adrenal hormones can also interfere with sleep, so not good news for insomniacs out there. Caffeine has also been linked to nervousness, anxiety and palpitations and can even interfere with the body’s absorption of minerals such as iron, zinc and calcium.
There are various ways in which caffeine is removed from coffee beans. Many methods use chemicals such as trichloroethylene and methylene chloride to extract the caffeine from the beans before they are roasted, so in a way, some decaf blends can contain more chemical residues than regular coffee, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water just yet. The Swiss Water method, devised in the 1930s, is a completely natural method that simply uses water to remove the caffeine. As the caffeine is extracted, however, many of the more subtle flavour notes get lost, hence the bad reputation decaf gets for tasting like dish water. But coffee manufacturers are getting more and more savvy about finding ways to extract the caffeine whilst leaving the complex flavours where they belong, clever coffee geeks! The bad news is that not everyone uses the Swiss Water method, and not everyone cares a great deal about the flavour of their decaf either. So how do we track down a Swiss Water method decaf that retains all of its wonderfully complex flavours?
As the Swiss Water method is the only pure and clean method for removing caffeine, you can rest assured that buying 100% organic coffee means that it has been made using the Swiss Water method. It usually says so on the label, but if you can’t find those exact words, keep your eyes peeled for the organic logo. This works when you are out and about as well. Most coffee shops are quite proud to announce if they use organic beans, so use this as a sneaky way to navigate your way towards a cup of Swiss Water decaf.
To ensure good taste however, you have to go one step further and hunt down coffee brands renowned for selecting quality beans with exceptional depth of flavour. So either order some of the following beans online and make your coffee at home, or look out for independent coffee shops that stock these brands:
Worka decaf filter, Yirgacheffe — buy the beans online or visit my personal favourite cafe Notes on St. Martin’s Lane, which proudly uses these delicious beans.
Sumatra decaffeinated, Indonesia — buy the beans online or head over to one of their cafes in Covent Garden, Borough Market or Bermondsey.
Decaf El Bosque, Guatemala — buy the beans online or pop along to one of their London cafes in Soho Square or Brick Lane.
And what about those of you who swear by your Nespresso machine? Well I’m pleased to tell you that those tiny little red pods contain decaf coffee that uses the Swiss Water Method, so no problem there!
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