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?
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Posted by: vincent | July 21, 2011 at 12:20 PM
Colored stripes ranging from green (really really LOW caffeine level) to RED for "danger zone".
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Coffee, tea and chocolate make life worth living!
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Posted by: Alex | January 16, 2011 at 08:44 AM
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!
Posted by: Lauren | November 09, 2010 at 10:32 AM
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Posted by: Nick Boodris | October 29, 2010 at 11:03 AM
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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Posted by: louis vuitton | August 26, 2010 at 08:48 PM
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
Posted by: Blooming Tea | August 06, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Those testers you have look like they belong in an 8th grade science lab
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Posted by: true religion clothing | July 14, 2010 at 01:42 AM
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.
Posted by: Jeen Dee | March 15, 2010 at 01:59 PM
Coffee and early mornings - nothing can beat that.
Posted by: Hunter Fan | March 13, 2010 at 06:45 PM
"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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Posted by: VnODRY | February 11, 2010 at 10:39 AM
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
Posted by: Arthur Cundy | February 02, 2010 at 07:53 PM
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Posted by: Countrytraders | January 29, 2010 at 03:36 AM
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Posted by: shallu3 | November 08, 2009 at 09:55 AM
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.
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Posted by: nuna | October 05, 2009 at 05:57 PM
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.
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Posted by: Robin Ells | September 09, 2009 at 07:33 AM
My mom has acid reflux so she can't have caffeine or chocolate, this might work for her.
Posted by: Jessica | September 02, 2009 at 01:42 PM
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.
Posted by: Carole | May 15, 2009 at 11:43 AM
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
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Posted by: Abigail | May 04, 2009 at 11:11 AM
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.
Posted by: brian | April 20, 2009 at 07:08 PM
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Posted by: | March 12, 2009 at 02:14 AM
Best not to drink Coffee at all...
Posted by: Cashmere | March 05, 2009 at 08:40 PM
Where are your related posts?
Posted by: | February 12, 2009 at 11:24 PM
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.
Posted by: Arthur John Cole | January 18, 2009 at 01:26 PM
Decaf coffee does little to help you speak with the dead. No really, read: http://www.chasingsanity.com/coffee-cheaper-than-a-psychic/
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Posted by: David Rodriguez | January 14, 2009 at 12:19 PM
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.
Posted by: David | December 23, 2008 at 03:06 PM
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.
Posted by: Stemulite | December 04, 2008 at 08:14 AM
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!
Posted by: Mamasaid | November 19, 2008 at 03:18 PM
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 -
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Posted by: Boake Moore | November 06, 2008 at 08:44 PM
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?
Posted by: Amber | November 06, 2008 at 03:12 PM
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.
Posted by: bartolomo | November 06, 2008 at 07:52 AM
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.
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Posted by: Bluzica | November 05, 2008 at 08:28 AM