If You MUST Drink Decaf...

I have this nightmare that one day I'll develop an intolerance to caffeine and *gasp* chocolate.  In this dream I walk around licking the rim of an empty cup, depressed and hollow-eyed, not from lack of sleep but from thwarted desires.  What would I do without my 3 favorite things in the world?  Coffee, tea and chocolate make life worth living! 

Because of this nightmare, this product - D+Caf - caught my eye.  It tests your beverage for caffeine to insure that - if you MUST drink decaf - your cup really does contain unleaded.  I had to try it.

In case you don't know, decaffeinated beverages are not totally caffeine free.  Under federal regulations in the U.S., caffeine levels have to be 2.5 percent of the product or lower in order for a product to be labeled "decaffeinated."  (Check out this article if you're interested in how decaf becomes decaf.  Or this great article if you're a home roaster who needs decaf beans.)  Now, according to most sources, an 8 oz cup of regular drip coffee contains between 104-192 mg caffeine.  Tea can run between 20-90 mg caffeine per 8 oz cup.  What is being sold as decaf varies, too, but this study showed that your average restaurant unleaded can contain caffeine ranging from 8.6 milligrams to 13.9 milligrams, and Starbucks decaf espresso contained 3 mg to 15.8 mg of caffeine per shot.

Which isn't too bad IMO.   But obviously if you have to cut caffeine out of your life entirely, drinking "decaf" won't do the trick.  (Prune juice maybe?  Gaaaah.)

Swenyway, this little D+Caf strip-doo-dad tests for caffeine levels of less than 20mg per 6 oz cup.  I did the test using Millstone Hazelnut Cream, regular and decaffeinated, using the same amount of coffee / water and same brewing method.  The picture here shows the results of the test strips.  Yes, the one on the left is the decaf, the test strips worked.

But I must confess I was a bit disappointed.  I was hoping for something more precise.  Something ... well ok, something less than a tricorder readout, but closer to a pool chlorine test strip maybe, that would show me a range.  Colored stripes ranging from green (really really LOW caffeine level) to RED for "danger zone".   These little strips are more like a pregnancy test.  It's either yes or no.  Heh.  So, if the little line on the left is all you see, then you're safely in the unleaded zone.  If you see two lines, or one dark line on the right, you've got too much go-juice in your cup. 

That is valuable info if you have a caffeine sensitivity and really REALLY need to know what you're drinking.  I still would like to see more precise information, but I might have to keep a supply of these on hand, just in case my nightmare ever does come true.

Related: Can't Get Enough Caffeine?

Comments

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[Tory Burch Flats]

Colored stripes ranging from green (really really LOW caffeine level) to RED for "danger zone".

[Tory Burch Flip flops]

do something scrumptious with all those seeds after carving your punkin!

[Tory Burch Flip flops]

Coffee, tea and chocolate make life worth living!

[Cam Cowan]

Has anyone ever heard of Ganoderma Lucidum? I recommend having your coffee enriched!! Please Check out www.myganoexcel.ca/excelyourself

[Alex]

no matter what coffee you drink the best creamer is coffee mate.as a member of the coffee mate brew crew I would say you should try their seasonal flavors
* Sugar & Spice: It's everything nice! Enjoy the flavors of the holidays with sweet sugar and cinnamon spice.
* Gingerbread Latte: The sweet spiciness of gingerbread paired with the delicious flavor of a coffeehouse latte.
* Eggnog Latte: Nothing says "holiday" like the taste of eggnog.

[Lauren]

Usually, decaf is a waste - but if you desperately need the taste of coffee late in the evening then I totally understand the need for decaf. But absolutely not first thing in the morning!

[Nick Boodris]

If you like coffee like I do, try healthy coffee without the acidity and the jitters and caffeine crash. Regular coffee dehydrates, raises blood pressure and raises stress levels in the body. Please visit my blog. http://www.myfoodserviceblog.com

[louis vuitton]

I will mix a little decaf in with reg. coffee. Not for the purists, maybe, but it fills the cup and decreases the buzz a bit.
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[Blooming Tea]

I should get one of those testers, it sounds a really handy thing. I'm trying to cut off my caffeine intake as well, so from coffee, I shifted to drinking green tea. Worked for me so far. However, i just want to know the real amount of caffeine present in my green tea. thanks

[true religion clothing]

Those testers you have look like they belong in an 8th grade science lab
true religion clothing

[Jeen Dee]

Tea doesn't have as much caffeine as coffee does, but if you're watching your blood pressure, I would suggest drinking Decaf Tea just to be on the safe side.

[Hunter Fan]

Coffee and early mornings - nothing can beat that.

[Watch Phone]

"No one would ever drink decaf if they saw or knew how they dec it "..

Agree, as the saying goes..you love the hotdog but not how it is made.

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[VnODRY]

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[Arthur Cundy]

Hmm... I didn't know that decaffeinated coffee is not really caffeine free. Maybe I really have to put much thought on this now. I have made a lot of research about coffee already and my next plan is to find more about decaf

[Countrytraders]

I just love decaf. All coffee lovers contact - Roasted Coffee Beans from Blue Mountain Coffee Roasters from Jamaica. http://www.countrytraders.com

[Shenms52]

EWE! for a min I thought u were going to tell me you were diabetic..was that the catch ? Scared me!
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CoraLeee!

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pleasing to the eye" and its fruit "tasted good" (but was bad, bad, bad! ;-)), the "Tree of the

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[Gourmet Coffee]

Mixing decaf and regular is a solution that works for me after I've had a few cups. The problem with the coffee I like is that it has so much caffine, I just can't drink as much as I like.

[nuna]

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[Edward]

I read the post made by Robin Ells about JavaFit and what she didn't mention was the fact that this coffee taste great...It took the Javulation Coffee Company 2 years to get this coffee so that you couldn't taste the vitamins and minerals. It's a patented formula and their were clinical trials run to prove that it does what they say it does.

I drink the Energy Extreme and the Diet Plus and I'm loosing weight...Yippie.

I urge all coffee drinkers to take her up on her offer to send you a sample. I know you're all going to love it as much as I do.

[Robin Ells]

JavaFit Vitamin Fortified Functional Coffee, made with Arabica Beans! Taste Great...Contact me for a FREE sample!

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The company has been in business since 2002 in Florida and has marketed their product successfully through traditional retail methods.  While they have been successful, they have not been able to expand significantly outside the State of Florida.  What they found when marketing retail is that people wanted to taste the coffee before they bought it…much like you. The company brought in a team of marketing specialist and it was determined that the best way to market the coffee was on a direct basis…lucky for you and me.

[Jessica]

My mom has acid reflux so she can't have caffeine or chocolate, this might work for her.

[Carole]

Interesting concept - a tester....

In this house, unfortunately we do have to cut our caffeine consumption, not because of blood pressure, but because of anxiety issues. We still buy and grind good quality beans, so we're not losing taste, just the buzz (which is fine by me - I happen to like the taste of coffee). Since we drink mostly Americano's, here at home we've cut down to 1/4 caffe. When out in the world and we want a cup of coffee, we generally have a split shot. Works for us and we don't feel like we're compromising anything.

[Abigail]

Wow! I am getting an unusual high just by looking at these pictures...I am definitely hitting the stores and get my choco dose...got to have one!

Even chocolate is perfect for a cup of espresso

Rock on!

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[brian]

Coffee in moderation is fine. Excess of anything is bad. I found the article at www.jacksoncoffeeco.com to be on point about this.

I used these strips and found that they are not as accurate as one thinks.

Hi, I can't seem to subscribe to this, Thanks.

[Cashmere]

Best not to drink Coffee at all...

Where are your related posts?

[Arthur John Cole]

Decaf is the way forward however a good balance is the key to a healthy coffee habbit. There are plenty of good decaf brands out there so we have no excuse if we choose to drink decaf only. I don't go cold turkey for caffine like some people so I find I can take it or leave it. Depends on my mood.

[ChasingSanity.com]

Decaf coffee does little to help you speak with the dead. No really, read: http://www.chasingsanity.com/coffee-cheaper-than-a-psychic/

[David Rodriguez]

Check this awesome coffee class out...I am going.

Coffee Expert: From Plant to Cup
on February 23, 2009- February 24, 2009 at 9:00am-5:00pm.

It's a pricey class, the cost is $795, but it seems worth it. Check out the site and the description below.

www.internationalculinarycenter.com/rec
In this two-day intensive, created for devoted coffee lovers and industry professionals, students will dissect every detail that goes into crafting a superior brew. Class begins with a fascinating botanical and historical overview of the bean, touching on coffee’s cultural significance through the ages, before embarking on an in-depth study of coffee in two of its elemental forms, espresso and cappuccino.

[David]

Was just wrapping some coffee mugs, beans and cookies for Lovely Daughter and Son&Heir ("heir" means he gets to care for me in my old[er] age *heh*) and thought of you Christine. Merry Christmas.

As to decaf... you know, some *cough* biblical scholars assert that, because it was "pleasing to the eye" and its fruit "tasted good" (but was bad, bad, bad! ;-)), the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" in Genesis must have been the world's one and only decaffeinated coffee bean tree...

Caffeine=Good.
Decaf=The Devil's Brew.

[Stemulite]

I've always wondered about caffeinated vs. decaffeinated coffee, but have stuck with the 'hard stuff' most of my life. OR, I go half and half.

Those testers you have look like they belong in an 8th grade science lab. What were those for?? Testing pH levels? Probably very similar technology.

[Mamasaid]

I need my caffeine but think this is great for people who simply can't have it for health reasons. I don't know what I'd do without my Kona coffee. I order it online at https://konaluna.com and make it at home so I don't even have to leave the house for this gourmet treat - bring on the caffeine!

[Boake Moore]

No one would ever drink decaf if they saw or knew how they dec it - and don't tell me the swiss water process is safer. It maybe safe but its not safe. Drink green tea and save your health or drink the real mccoy -

Boake Moore
www.missiongrounds.com

[Amber]

If they were going to make something accurate, I'm sure it would be just like those old do-it-yourself chemistry kits. Not so very portable.

PS. Did the tall bearded one give you any of that toffee?

[bartolomo]

I rarely drink decaf. Occasionally, if I think I've had too much caffeine on a given day, I will mix a little decaf in with reg. coffee. Not for the purists, maybe, but it fills the cup and decreases the buzz a bit.

[Bluzica]

Decaf is really only if you have to do it (blood pressure etc.). It's a shame and it's not what coffee is about.

I recommend drinking coffee (or decaf if you have to) with this
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