A friend recently gave me a capsule coffee machine, so I've been buying and trying out various coffee capsules. The thing is, drinking coffee in the evening feels like a burden because of the caffeine, so I looked into decaf coffee, bought some, and tried it. Today I'll share my review and explain how decaf coffee differs from regular coffee.
How Decaf Coffee Differs from Regular Coffee
What Decaf Coffee Is
Decaf coffee refers to coffee made after the caffeine has been removed from or reduced in the coffee beans. It has a taste and aroma similar to regular coffee, but its low caffeine content makes it suitable for people sensitive to caffeine or for drinking in the evening.
How Decaf Coffee Is Made
Decaf coffee is produced through several methods. The most common ones include water processing, solvent extraction, carbon dioxide gas processing, and supercritical CO2 processing. These methods remove the caffeine from the coffee beans, and the remaining beans are then roasted to make decaf coffee.
Caffeine Content: Decaf vs. Regular Coffee
Because the caffeine has been removed, decaf coffee has a much lower caffeine content than regular coffee. While regular coffee contains about 95mg of caffeine, decaf coffee contains only about 2mg.
According to the International Coffee Association, at least 97% is removed, and there are decaf coffees with even more removed than that.
The Taste and Aroma of Decaf Coffee
Decaf coffee has a taste and aroma similar to regular coffee. Even though the caffeine is removed, the characteristics of the coffee beans are preserved, so you can still enjoy the pleasure of drinking coffee. Decaf tends to be a bit smoother with a slightly bitter taste, making it a good alternative for people sensitive to caffeine.
Benefits and Cautions of Decaf Coffee
On the plus side, decaf coffee can offer health benefits just like regular coffee. Some studies suggest that coffee supports long-term health and may reduce the risk of various diseases. Regardless of caffeine content, coffee has benefits such as boosting metabolism, antioxidant effects, improved cognitive function, and diabetes prevention.
As for cautions, you still need to be careful when drinking decaf coffee. People who are sensitive to caffeine may react even to decaf with its very low caffeine content, so adjust to your own situation. Also, since decaf still contains a certain amount of caffeine, drinking unlimited amounts is not a good idea.
My Review After Trying Decaf Capsules
In my case, since I use a Dolce Gusto capsule machine, I tried two types of compatible decaf coffee capsules. To get straight to the point: they were good. There wasn't much difference in either aroma or taste, so I drank it in the evening without worry and still fell asleep well.
At first I worried that decaf and regular coffee might taste or smell very different, but after trying it I realized the difference is small. If I had to point one out, I'd say it's a little more bitter. But that ultimately comes down to individual and coffee-to-coffee differences, so the best thing is to try it yourself.
In my case, I drink regular coffee during the day, and when I just want a quick whiff of coffee after dinner in the evening, I brew a decaf capsule.
Conclusion
Decaf coffee can be a great alternative for people sensitive to caffeine or those who need to limit their caffeine intake. The caffeine is removed, but the taste and aroma are preserved, so you can still enjoy the pleasure of coffee. If you've been hesitant to try it, I'd like to say there's no big difference, so you don't need to worry!
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