Decaf...Or Is It?

@simone10 (54180)

Louisville, Kentucky

December 8, 2015 5:13am CST

A friend of mine told me the other day that decaf coffee still has caffeine in it. I didn't believe her so I Googled it and sure enough, she is right. The FDA only requires 97% of the caffeine to be removed in order to label an item decaffeinated. While a normal cup of coffee could have 85 mg of caffeine, decaf can have between 3-16 mg of coffee. That may not sound like a lot but if you drink a lot of coffee during the day, I'm sure it would add up quickly. I don't drink decaf a lot because my stomach normally won't let me drink coffee past 10am. But on those rare occasions when I do want coffee later in the day and don't want to be kept up all night from caffeine, I have been drinking decaf. I had no idea that I was still ingesting caffeine. No wonder I still had trouble sleeping on those nights. My friend has a heart condition and can't drink caffeine because it makes her heart race. Her heart doctor was the one who told her this. Did you know that decaf actually does contain caffeine?

19 people like this

21 responses

@JudyEv (381749)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Dec 15

I thought the level was so low as to be of little consequence but if it affects you I guess even a little is too much.

5 people like this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

It is low and it probably doesn't bother most people unless you drink a lot of coffee a day. I was just surprised because I didn't think it had any caffeine at all.

2 people like this

@salonga (27775)

• Philippines

9 Dec 15

I know. But I feel safe because I don't drink any kind of coffee anyway.

3 people like this

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@salonga (27775)

• Philippines

9 Dec 15

@simone10 I guess it is a habit not easy to kick.

2 people like this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

13 Dec 15

@salonga No, it's not easy as I have tried before. It can cause headaches if you try to quickly to stop.

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

I wish I didn't drink coffee but I have since I was a teen.

2 people like this

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Patsie Hatley is Deceased

@Hatley (163772)

• Garden Grove, California

9 Dec 15

gosh im lucky I g uess as I drink three c ups a day of regular coffee,loveit and it does not bother me in any way at all./

2 people like this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

I drink all I want in the morning but can't drink it after 10am or I will be up at night.

@Blondie2222 (28610)

• United States

9 Dec 15

I didn't know that either but then again i don't drink decaf just regular coffee. I only have my 2 cups in the morning and then that's it for the day.

2 people like this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

23 Dec 15

I normally drink regular coffee and only have decaf at night if I am really cold, just to warm me up.

@rocky1980 (530)

• Chandigarh, India

9 Dec 15

I don't drink coffee but I drink too much tea in a day. Generally 7 to 8 times.

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@rocky1980 (530)

• Chandigarh, India

9 Dec 15

@simone10 Idon't like cold tea. In our country, people don't serve cold tea to their guests and but who prefer or like having cold tea generally have it in cafes and hotels.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

That is a lot of tea drinking. I wish I liked hot tea but I just don't like the taste. I will drink cold tea though.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

13 Dec 15

@rocky1980 I guess it's just the difference in the culture of our countries. Here in the states, we drink a lot of iced tea.

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@Marilynda1225 (91013)

• United States

9 Dec 15

I knew that decaf wasn't 100% caffeine free but that it only has a minimal amount. I usually switch to decaf in the afternoons if I'm in the mood for coffee but it usually doesn't interfere with my sleep at night. You must be super sensitive to caffeine if it bothers your sleeping

2 people like this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

23 Dec 15

I am really sensitive to caffeine. I can drink a glass of tea for lunch or dinner and it will keep me awake.

@slund2041 (3314)

• United States

8 Dec 15

I did not know that decaf coffee still has caffeine in it. It looks like they would not be allowed to put any amount of caffeine in decaf coffee.

2 people like this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

I agree with you and that is what I always thought too. But according to the FDA, it has to be 97% caffeine free.

@sofssu (23660)

•

10 Dec 15

I don't drink decaf.. and I drink a lot of coffee..I have no problems drinking a huge mug of coffee and going to sleep.. I guess each person metabolizes differently.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

15 Dec 15

I guess so. When I was younger, caffeine didn't bother me but now that I am older, I can't drink it past 10am or I will be up all night.

@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

8 Dec 15

Yes I knew and I also know that to remove caffeine they use chemicals that remain in the coffee. So I only drink regular coffee no later than 10 in the morning.

2 people like this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

I didn't know that. I do drink regular coffee but like you, only until 10am.

1 person likes this

@gudheart (12659)

•

23 Dec 15

I found that out too not so long ago. I have decaf and it is okay for me as I find too much caffeine gives me bad headache. They should still say it on the back of the coffee jars how much it is has in it.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

24 Dec 15

I agree, it should be on the label so people will know. I had no clue until my friend told me about it.

@jillybean1222 (6406)

•

8 Dec 15

Yes, it does have just a very little.

2 people like this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

I wasn't aware that it had any caffeine at all.

@T_gray (7772)

• Salina, Kansas

10 Dec 15

I thought I heard that somewhere too. It is crazy huh. I didn't like when I heard chocolate had caffeine in it. when I was giving up caffeine I didn't want to give up my chocolate too!! hehe

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

23 Dec 15

Oh no, who wants to give up chocolate? Not me. And yes, I had hear the same about caffeine and chocolate.

1 person likes this

@whiteream (8567)

• United States

9 Dec 15

I know, there was some but it didn't think it work affect you. But I guess even a little can be too much for some people.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

My friend has a heart condition so any little bit affects her. It's a good thing her doctor told her.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

13 Dec 15

@whiteream I'm glad he said something to her as well.

@whiteream (8567)

• United States

9 Dec 15

@simone10 Most people don't think about unless they know someone who can not have it. I am glad, her doctor let her know.

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@fishtiger58 (29819)

• Momence, Illinois

8 Dec 15

How interesting I had no idea. I think decaf tastes different so I don't drink it. However since ( dare I say it ) menopause I have a lot of trouble getting to sleep. I drink a ton of coffee everyday and have had to cut down just to sleep when in my younger days it never bothered me. I am not happy about it.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

I have had the same problem with menopause. I haven't been able to sleep through the night in about 8 years because of it. Caffeine used to not bother me either. I could drink diet cokes all day but now I have to drink caffeine free.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

13 Dec 15

@fishtiger58 I know what you mean. Not only do I have trouble going to sleep, I also have trouble staying asleep. That's why I am usually up at 4am every morning.

1 person likes this

@fishtiger58 (29819)

• Momence, Illinois

9 Dec 15

@simone10 Once I get to sleep it's no problem really, it's the getting to sleep that troubles me.Drives me crazy.

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@Theresaaiza (10487)

• Australia

9 Dec 15

Still not as bad as regular coffee in terms of caffeine content. Even green tea has a bit of caffeine. For me I am not heavy coffee drinker. I drink coffee to wake up so there's no point for me drinking decaf unless I'm just looking for a coffee fix without the immediate effects of caffeine which are palpitations, and anxiety

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

No, it's not as bad but when you are thinking it doesn't have any caffeine, then it can be bad. The only time I drink decaf is if I am really cold and need to warm up.

@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

8 Dec 15

Yes, I know about that. It is just impossible to soak away the caffeine from the coffee. I drink two cups of coffee today, and I think that is enough for the whole day.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

I usually drink about 3 cups of coffee in the mornings when I wake up.

@bluebirdfly (188)

• Guangzhou, China

9 Dec 15

Why not try to taste a cup of chinese tea, tea is benifit to our body.i have keep drunk tea for more than 20 years.and there are many kinds of teas to choose.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

I don't like hot tea at all. I have tried it so many times prepared different ways I just don't care for it.

@GreatMartin (23670)

• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

10 Dec 15

Yes I knew that but I would rather drink 10 cups of decaf over 10 cups of real coffee--and, of course, nutritionists say caffeine is good for you!!

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

23 Dec 15

I have to have my regular coffee every morning. It's what wakes me up.

@mom210 (9170)

• United States

9 Dec 15

I don't drink it, but no I did not know this.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

23 Dec 15

It's a little crazy when it says 'decaf' and yet their is caffeine in it.

@PainsOnSlate (21845)

• Canada

8 Dec 15

I didn't know but I can't drink it after breakfast. Its an early morning thing, If I drink it at night even decaffeinated it keeps me up all night.

1 person likes this

@simone10 (54180)

• Louisville, Kentucky

9 Dec 15

I don't drink caffeine after 10am. I do drink decaf sometimes at night if I am really cold and want to warm up. It keeps me up also but I didn't know why until now.

1 person likes this